How To Negotiate Almost Anything

Negotiating is an art form. It can be a complex process but one well worth mastering. If you can master it, you can save yourself a lot of money. How you negotiate will determine the failure or success of the negotiation. 

Negotiating Rules of Thumb

Negotiate with Respect

When negotiating never suggest that someone's services are not worth what they are asking. Rather than saying, "It's not worth it", say something like, "I really can't afford more that much for this service right now.

Negotiate with Cash 

Give the person you are negotiating with a cash incentive by offering to pay in cash if they would agree to lower the price.

Know Your Bottom Line

Before you begin to negotiate, decide your bottom line and what you are willing to pay. 

Pick Your Battles

The best negotiations happen when you deal with the actual contractor rather than the contractor's employee.

Justify Your Offer

Give the person you are negotiating with a reason to drop their price. For example, if you are having your house painted, ask the painter if he will drop his price if you purchase the supplies. 

Be Prepared

Before entering a negotiations, make sure you are absolutely clear on what outcome you want to achieve. Plan your questions, strategies, alternative offers and suggestions based on how the other party may respond.

Hold Firm and Be Willing To Play

Sales experts suggest that sales people rarely cave in on the first round, so don't give in to the first "no" or to the first offer. Remember, negotiation is a game. It's the "art of the deal." To win the deal you must be willing to play.

Be Prepared To Walk Away

This is single most important strategy to getting what you want out of life. If you aren't prepared to say, "No" and mean it; then you are likely to end up settling for a lesser outcome. Before entering into any negotiation, know in advance exactly what you are and are not willing to concede.

Don't Argue

Don't get into an argument when negotiating. This will only create a negative dialogue between you and the person you're trying to negotiate with. Arguing, deaming the other person and getting into a power struggle with not help you to win a negotiation.

Negotiations should be a win-win for both people involved in the negotiation. This helps the people involved to keep good working relationships afterwards. Only consider win-lose negotiation if you don't need to have an ongoing relationship with the other party. If the other party feels as if they "lost", they will be less likely to want to work, or negotiate, with you again.