Negotiating is both an art and a science.
It is an important life skill that will see you through a lot of challenging situations.
Negotiating is not just for money situations.
Negotiating happens even when you are not aware that you are doing it.
For example, a pre-schooler negotiates with his parents to allow him to go to bed at a later time.
Whether he actually gets what he wants would depend on the situation (does he have school the next morning?), how strict his parents are, his reasons for staying up late and some sort of bargain ("I'll go to bed earlier tomorrow I promise!") Is it necessary to turn on the charm? It certainly does not hurt.
However if you happen to lack charm, you can still successfully negotiate by following a few simple steps: 1) Have a clear goal It's a lot easier to steer the conversation in your favor if you know what you want.
For example, if you are looking to purchase a dining table second hand, set a price limit.
For instance, you are not going to pay above $400 for your dining table.
2) Make a low first offer Your first offer should be a little absurd.
Even if the other person does not accept, he or she will likely not raise the price way above your offer - meaning you have a higher chance of getting the price you want.
However when you 'lowball', try to stick within reasonable limits.
The last thing you want is to turn the other person off.
For example, say the table is listed for $500 and your ideal price is $400, your first offer should be around the $300-$350 range to increase your chance of getting the price you want.
3) Walk away if it doesn't work out If things do not work out in your favor, do not be afraid to walk away from the deal.
You can always try again another day with another person.
Do not feel forced to accept a deal you are not a hundred percent happy with.
Do not feel dejected either.
Take it as good practice.
4) Be Nice You don't have to force yourself to be charming - just be nice.
Even if the deal does not work out your way, be courteous and polite to the other person - a little respect goes a long way!