Whether you like him or not, former US President Donald Trump had a great strategy in trying to strike a deal with other nations that would benefit his country.
Having been a reliable presence in the real estate industry, he learned how to negotiate effectively. He even said he’d make Mexico pay for the border wall located down south.
And you may not have noticed it, but you negotiate all the time. From begging a co-worker to do your task to asking your brother to run errands your mother assigned to you, trying to get what you want is something you do subconsciously.
One of the most common situations where negotiation is required is when someone wants to renovate their home. This process is known to be very costly, which is why homeowners spend a lot of time looking for cheaper options.
When it comes to money, everyone knows that saving a little is almost always better than spending a little more.
You do not have to be a great businessman to lower your home renovation bill. All you need is to negotiate the right way and see results.
BODY LANGUAGE
According to research conducted by psychology professor Albert Mehrabian, nonverbal communication is more effective in transferring emotions to another person than verbal communication. Messages generated by an individual mostly come from their facial expression and their body’s positioning.
In situations where negotiation is happening, body language can make the difference in one party getting the long end of the stick.
Before the sit-down, you should reach out your hands and go for a shake. This gesture eases any tension present in the room. A firm one is good, but get a little too aggressive, and your deal goes out the window.
Having a clenched fist will not help your cause. Your palms should be visible to the other party. This way, they would not think you are trying to hide something.
Smiling, too, will do wonders. Having a positive facial expression conveys trust and openness, two things you want to have when trying to reach a deal. It also tells the other party that you like what is being offered.
LOWERING HOME IMPROVEMENT COSTS
As mentioned earlier, the funding needed to make your home habitable again can do a number on your bank account depending on what you want and need.
So it is vital on your part to get the best deals.
Hiring an experienced general contractor is an okay choice, but given their expertise, you’d find it challenging to have them meet you in the middle. Also, going with relatively new contractors is riskier as they may not get the job done.
A good way to approach a contractor is to try to build a meaningful relationship with them first. Then push hard for what you want to be done. You need to let them know that you are not in a hurry, and they are not the only people around that can fix your home. This is probably the only viable tactic out there.
It is common to discover other problems in your house that you didn’t know, which only adds to the overall cost. Take a damaged water heater or a blocked gas connection as examples.
In these cases, a plumber’s services are not enough. You may want to look for a contractor specializing in plumbing. These skilled workers handle problems concerning your home’s waste disposal system, water system, gas control valves, among many others. They are generally reasonable people, and soft negotiating may result in lower costs.
Carpenters, concrete specialists, roofers, and many others are constantly looking for projects to work on. Those in these occupations are not known to make a lot. Promising that you would hire them the next time you need something done will surely have them give you a discount for their services.
To even lower your costs, hire somebody who considers themselves a jack of all trades when it comes to home improvement. The process may take longer to complete, but it guarantees that you will be saving more.
Or you can ask your neighbors if they know someone just like that. Having mutual relations with those skilled workers might reduce your costs.
At the end of the day, what you want is to be saving more and spending less. You can’t convince everyone, but it wouldn’t hurt to try to get them to do things on your terms.