Strategy for selling a house - what is the best way to proceed?

But funny, 2 months ago someone rang here and asked if we possibly know someone who wants to sell a house here in the neighborhood. They have been searching for so long

But don’t tell me someone who "has been searching for a long time" didn’t leave their contact details (?)

Now don’t tell me that someone who has "been searching for a long time" wouldn’t have left their contact details (?)

No, she asked, I answered, she thanked me and left. :)

We did it like this: sold in December, the money came through in February, handover in September, something like that. We basically lived rent-free. I always give the tip: sit down together at the table and meet each other on equal footing.

I would have really liked to do that.

I would have paid the local rent immediately upon payment of the purchase price. It's not about whether I ended up getting 5k more or less, but more about a smooth process and both parties agreeing and having a good feeling about the sale/purchase.

But if someone offers 100k less directly and already says that's final, then for me that is no basis for further talks.

I continue to watch the market; currently, a semi-detached house is listed one street away, and when I see the price set by the realtor, I have to up my own offer again :D :D

No, she asked, I answered, she thanked and left.

Then you can now play rock-paper-scissors to decide who was the bigger sleepyhead. That's how you miss business opportunities.

But if someone directly offers 100k less and already says that's final, then for me that's no basis for further talks.

In this case, at least it's immediately clear who is the fool among the parties involved, and who :-) But, as I said: at least he was polite enough to give you clarity right away. Many people these days are desperately interested at first and in the end don’t even bother to decline. In that respect, I would thank him: who knows to whom he’ll then tell how nice you are and who among those hearing it wants your property and has the money.

but more about the smooth processing and that both parties agree and have a good feeling when selling/buying.

Yes, it has to result in a win-win situation. There must be something positive for everyone. Then you don’t ask for different conditions later. Then it is final.

but if someone offers 100k less right away and already says that is final, then for me that is no basis for further talks.

That is cheeky. I know that. They badmouth our beautiful bathroom ("the bathroom is not suitable for a family of four, I have to renovate... the big children's room I have to share among my children"), although he stood in a 2-3-person house. You don’t have to talk down a house and the price. That is nonsense. They don’t deserve it. If as a buyer you say "nice house, but 50,000€ too much, how can we come to an agreement?", that will be a rather more pleasant conversation. That is the eye level many lack.
"You have to sell? Then just lower the price." Not like that!

The problem nowadays is that each of us thinks we can do everything ourselves, and others earn too much from their services.

Aren't we all a bit of a national coach, police officer, architect, cook, photographer....... I at least try to clarify for myself what I can and cannot do. Maybe through experience one has had to learn some things painfully. For that reason, I have had my photography done, had technical maintenance done before, and would maybe, if necessary, also have a property appraised for a fee. But I would always want to sell my own property myself; not only but also because of the real estate agent's commission and simply because I enjoy it.

Our beautiful bathroom disparaged

Someone came into the apartment and said there were too many windows, the ceiling too high oh dear, and this and that and everything else. I ended the conversation and told him that nothing was going to happen between us. I am not selling a bargain but a good property, and I demand this price; in return, the buyer gets a property with no skeletons in the closet. That is my approach. I find badmouthing impossible, and that always ends the conversation for me, even when buying a car. I myself do not behave that way when buying.

When a buyer says "nice house, but €50,000 too much, how can we agree?", that becomes a rather more pleasant conversation. That is the level playing field many lack. "You have to sell? Then kindly lower the price." Not like that!

yep, 100 points!