When the roommates learned that their rent would be going up, they grew frustrated with the broker. The broker had known all along that there were four roommates! My daughter recognized that the broker wouldn’t want to lose this deal
— which included a commission from the landlord and his broker’s fee.
(This was such a proud- papa moment for me.) She suggested that if the broker were to decrease his fee by $1,200 (the annual increase in rent), they would accept the $100
a month increase and sign the lease. The broker agreed.
My daughter and her roommates learned some valuable negotiating lessons in finding their apartment, and they reminded me of a few as well. The biggest lesson? Expect the unexpected.
When the unexpected happens, don’t panic or complain. Instead, look for an opportunity to negotiate.
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