While most home sellers do hope to get their asking price for their property, it may be more useful to think of it as a starting point to negotiations than a firm number. While it's still a seller's market in many parts of the country, you can still get some important concessions and negotiate the price down if you can sweeten the deal. EXIT Bayside Realty, real estate experts serving clients throughout the Boston area, has some tips for negotiating without overspending when you decide to buy a house.

In general, you'll get the best deal if you:

• Get Pre-Qualified: Getting a letter of pre-qualification from a lender will not only help you decide how much you can afford, it'll generally put you in a strong negotiating position when you do find that perfect house. Sellers will usually take your offers more seriously if they know your financing has already been taken care of.
• Are Flexible: Avoid getting caught up in the competitive aspect of negotiation and seriously consider every offer. Do the math to find out what the payment would likely be—if it's just a few dollars difference per month, you should strongly consider simply accepting the seller's price.
• Know The Market: Consider the prices of similar properties in the area before making an offer. If the seller's price is already consistent with other home sales in the neighborhood, you probably won't get them to come down. On the other hand, you might have some room to negotiate if you're trying to buy a house that's overpriced relative to the market and has been languishing for awhile.

EXIT Bayside Realty's real estate agents have the expertise to help you find the ideal home for your needs as well as the sharp negotiating skills to ensure you get the best price possible on your next home. Ready to buy a house? Visit them online to browse a selection of homes for sale, or call (617) 265-6111 to talk about buying a house today.