Dave wrote:
On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 01:01:40 GMT, "Thomas Wentworth"
said:

Gordon makes sense to me... he is saying not to sit in the broker's office
and go back and forth on the price.

Hmm. Hadn't occurred to me that anyone would do that. However, as I think
about it, that's how multimillion dollar business deals get done. The
difference is, I suppose, that in business deals each side has given a lot
of advance thought and analysis to how high or low it's willing to go.

i agree that's the way to do it if you can. search the MLS (if it's
real estate, boats.com or something for boats) and go and look at a few
properties, then pick out the ones you think are reasonable, decide
what you're willing to pay for each one, then get the various seller's
brokers involved to take you to see the properties on the inside. then
just make an offer on one, whatever you think it's worth to you with a
time limit so you can move on to the next one. if they don't like it,
make an offer on the next one.

someone will sell at your price, eventually. the seller's asking price
doesn't even matter. getting your price is just a matter of time and
effort to find the right seller, sometimes it takes a while to track
down who it is, and you can't get your heart set on any particular one.
with boats i would assume this is even more true since they are just
sitting there costing money every day they aren't sold. it's not like
a piece of real estate where you can rent it out, or drop a few cows on
it to graze to cover your costs. i would imagine sellers just want to
stop the bleeding at some point and get rid of the damn thing.

this might sound funny, but i think you can get a lot of important
perspective out of thinking about all property as if it were a mundane
depreciating asset ... such a potato, then suddenly a lot of things
that sellers & brokers/agents say becomes much more amusing and
entertaining.

- we've got two other people looking at this potato, they seem serious
about it
- the owner has taken really good care of this potato
- i know the price of this potato seems high, but just look how well
it's been maintained
- this potato has been in the family for generations
- the seller built this potato with his own two hands!
- no matter how much you look, you'll never find another potato like
this potato
- i don't care what the appraiser says potatoes are worth, this one is
special
- this potato is such a good deal it's going to go fast, you need to
make an offer now!
- here, have a seat, can't you just picture yourself owning this potato