corp relo pkgs/negotiations (appraisal, 3%, sales, comparable)

[alise007]

We had an excellent corp relo 4 1/2 yrs ago. Not sure the same house buying options remain.

Is there any room for negotiating on the relo end if they won't "buy the house" after a few months?

It seems to be taking homes in our neighborhood about 9 months to sell.
We will also take a big hit. I think they are selling about 20K below purchase price and none of our neighbors improved their homes.

We put in irrigation, sod, fence, upgraded landscaping and are in the process of screening in the back deck. (I know bad timing on the screened porch-but didn't know about this opportunity when we started). I would say at least 1/2 the homes have screened in porches and nice landscaping. Husband hopes it would be a good selling point.

IF they won't buy the house after X # of months what other sort of things can we try to ask for to ride out the sale? Would it be crazy to ask for dbl payments/utilities for longer to help ease the move into a new house/area or a lump sum? Not really sure what options we have in this market.

[manderly6]

I'm guessing this needs to be a discussion with your employer who is offering the relo package. I can't imagine the relo company negotiating with you. They are getting paid by your employer. I guess it probably depends just how valuable you are to the company.

[Charles]

First of all, the guaranteed buyout by your company is no deal. They'll buy it from you but you won't like the amount they give you. The amount they give you is based on the average of a couple appraisals which are representative of what the house would have to be priced at to sell in like 45 or 60 days - in other words - since fast then really low.

If your neighbor just sold his house for $400K and that's what you think your house should sell for, expect the corporate buyout offer to be maybe $350K - because that's what it would have to be priced at to sell fast.

My advice, make sure you know the comps in your neighborhood and price your home 3% to 5% below the lowest comp. You're going to lose money. Face it. But your goal is to lose as little as possible. You are guaranteed to lose a lot with the buyout. You want to be the lowest priced house in your comp range - be the first sale.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by alise007

We had an excellent corp relo 4 1/2 yrs ago. Not sure the same house buying options remain.

Is there any room for negotiating on the relo end if they won't "buy the house" after a few months?

It seems to be taking homes in our neighborhood about 9 months to sell.
We will also take a big hit. I think they are selling about 20K below purchase price and none of our neighbors improved their homes.

We put in irrigation, sod, fence, upgraded landscaping and are in the process of screening in the back deck. (I know bad timing on the screened porch-but didn't know about this opportunity when we started). I would say at least 1/2 the homes have screened in porches and nice landscaping. Husband hopes it would be a good selling point.

IF they won't buy the house after X # of months what other sort of things can we try to ask for to ride out the sale? Would it be crazy to ask for dbl payments/utilities for longer to help ease the move into a new house/area or a lump sum? Not really sure what options we have in this market.

If you want the job opportunity price your house to sell.

The reason it is taking 9 months for your neighbors to sell their homes is that they are all over priced. Price it right at the sales price of the comparable houses that DID sell and I bet it takes you way less time than 9 months to sell the house. The less time you are paying for two residences the better.

[alise007]

I am sorry meant to say employer --I realize the relo company won't do much but manage the process. Just wasn't sure how much companies are will to do to make things work these days! I know they don't want to get into the home buying business anymore.