Knowing you have the ability to negotiate a real estate purchase agreement is empowering in and of itself – but knowing how to negotiate is even better. First and foremost, before entering any negotiation, it’s important to understand where you stand and what leverage you’re working with. If the house has been on the market for a while already, the seller may be willing to part with more in order to close the deal, but if you find yourself in a bidding war, asking for too much can actually hurt your chances. Your real estate agent can help you understand your leverage and what is a reasonable or unreasonable request.