Compromise quite often has a negative connotation.  I am not really sure why. Compromise can be a good thing for everyone.

No, I am not talking politics....although the same premise does apply there as well. 

I am talking real estate. In most real estate transactions, there is a fair amount of compromise.....price, repairs, and other terms are all negotiated. Too often I find parties digging in their heels about who is "right" and what is "fair".  

Right and fair really depend on perspective. 

Every once in a while I have a deal where the other side is not moving on anything and they seem empirically unfair. Most of the time, however, it seems that from their perspective at least, they are giving on something. 

Of course, my job is to negotiate the best terms possible for my buyers. The Sellers are also represented most of the time and they are working toward the best terms for their clients.  Quite often, we meet in the middle. In other words, we compromise.  Usually, both sides are happy.  Sometimes both sides are unhappy. Either case seems to indicate that we are probably in the right place. 

Buyers and Sellers need to remember that compromise is not a dirty word.  In the end, if the home is one you really want to buy (or sell) and the price is fair, try not to get too caught up in the little details that end up derailing a deal. 

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About the Author: Christine Smith is a Realtor, Buyer's Agent, Attorney, social media fan, parent and Canton resident. She writes about real estate and events in the Canton area on her blog – Canton MA Events and Real Estate.