Negotiating an offer

Assuming the potential buyer likes the property they may wish for a second viewing or they may just wish to make an offer. If they call to make an offer you are now entering the negotiation stages of the sale:-

When you receive the offer do not enter into a negotiation there and then. Listen to the offer and any conditions they wish to impose carefully, go away and consider the offer. Be sure you understand the terms of their offer – they may insist you stop actively marketing the property.
 
Discuss and think over. How much more/less is this than your desired selling price?
 
When replying with a ‘counter offer’ consider that this will become ever decreasing circles aiming towards a specific point. You must consider if they make another offer what it would be. You need to be sure the negotiation is aiming toward a price you are happy to accept.
 
If you have a figure in your mind stick to it, don’t be prepared to be negotiated down with talk that things need doing to the property. You don’t need to be told what needs doing, you already know and that was considered in your asking price.
 
If you cannot agree exactly on the money what other terms could be negotiated to make the sale worthwhile. Can they move quickly? Can they wait for you to find somewhere else? Generally these non-monetary terms can have significant value i.e. not having to put furniture in storage can save hundreds of pounds, not having to rent a house can save thousands of pounds.