How to Negotiate When Flipping

Caleb Foster

Jan 6

2 min read

Updated: 3 hours ago

If you flip, you’re going to negotiate sooner or later. If that scares you, don’t worry. It gets easier the more you do it. The biggest thing to learn isn’t how to negotiate. It’s when.

Rule #1: Don’t negotiate up front on a great deal

If it’s already underpriced, don’t try to knock the price down in Messenger. The seller is about to get dozens of messages and won’t entertain your lower offer. You’ll just lose your spot.

Lock it down first. Get the address. Go see it. On some items (cars especially) you can make a lower offer once you’re standing there, because the worst they can say is no and you pay asking. More on locking it down in Facebook Marketplace Messaging: How to Get Sellers to Reply.

Rule #2: Negotiate on listings that have been sitting

Old listings are where offers work. The seller has been waiting, nobody’s bitten, and they’re usually more flexible than they were on day one.

Keep it simple: “I can pick up today. Would you take $___?”

Then be patient. I once offered $500 on a set of wheels with basically new tires. The seller countered at $800. I waited, checked back in after it kept sitting, and got them for $550. That’s the “dig” method from Three Ways to Find Deals.

Rule #3: Price in what you find in person

When you look at something in person, you’ll sometimes find a problem that wasn’t in the listing. A stain, a wobble, old tires, a code on the dash. Point it out and offer a price that matches the real condition. That’s normal and expected for anything that isn’t brand new.

This is why a thorough inspection pays. The only person who benefits from a rushed inspection is the seller. If you’re flipping cars, use the checklist in How to Flip Used Cars.

Rule #4: Make it easy to say yes

Sellers say yes to easy. A specific number, a specific time, cash, and the ability to haul it away yourself beats a vague “what’s your lowest?” every time. Never ask “what’s your lowest.” Give them a number.

When you’re the seller

Now flip it around. When you list, you’ll get lowballers and you’ll get reasonable offers. It’s tempting to either take something too low or refuse everything under asking. Do neither.

Hold out for full price for 1–2 weeks
Then lower the price steadily, or accept a reasonable offer under asking
Don’t get offended by lowballs. Reply with your price or a small counter and move on.

The full pricing approach is in How to Price Your Flips So They Actually Sell.

Bottom line

On hot deals, speed beats haggling. On old listings, patience beats speed. And when you sell, give it a couple weeks at full price before you start coming down.