Jeremy Black -  Flip This House

As the latest recruit in the popular team of A&E's hit show Flip This House, Jeremy Black is making waves. Formerly an Abercrombie model, Jeremy is known for his good looks and charismatic charm that allows him to easily transact with people. Lest you think the guy is all talk, this slick ex-model is actually inclined with numbers and is team leader Nathaniel "Than" Merrill's right hand when it comes to finding good investment properties.

Their winning team on the hit housing show was pioneered by Than who became successful in the real estate business after playing for the NFL. Together with Paul Esajian, he created CT Homes. As the construction expert and creative force behind all of their renovations, Paul persuaded his big brother, JD, to join the team as project manager. Jeremy is the latest addition to the brilliant team.

Jeremy provides a lot of personal insights and tips in the team's website to give wannabe investors a head start. As a born negotiator, he believes in the importance of negotiating often and effectively, as it is an integral part of living. Furthermore, he reinstates that the quality of one's negotiating determines the quality of that person's life, be it in the real estate business or outside, like personal matters of day-to-day life. 

Here are some of the main negotiating tips that Jeremy has imparted:

Overcoming Fear

According to Jeremy, fear keeps a person from initiating a negotiation and hampers the growth of more experienced negotiators. He shares, "When I first started negotiating I was terrified. I was afraid of confrontation and rejection. More importantly, I was afraid that what I was asking for wasn't negotiable. I was wrong! Negotiators of all experience levels should remember when confronted with the fear to negotiate that fear is; False, Evidence, Appearing, Real and should therefore continue with the negotiation and stop fearing what does not in fact exist."

Creating Rapport

According to Jeremy, successful negotiation begins with finding a common ground, no matter how little or seemingly insignificant that common ground may be. He shares, "Solid rapport literally enables both parties to achieve their desired objectives. Rapport occurs when you and your counterpart attain both trust and a positive relationship. Your goal is to move from agreement to agreement rather than from disagreement to agreement."

Building Credibility

Jeremy emphasizes the fact that prospective buyers are always skeptical when negotiating and the real estate investor must first and foremost destroy this skepticism and build trust. He shares, "People will question your ability to close and more importantly your willingness to keep your end of the deal. I build my credibility from the moment I make contact with the seller. I do so by being truthful in all aspects of our relationship. I fully disclose everything that I am planning to do with the property. A comfortable seller is a happy seller. When meeting with sellers I always bring along a "credibility package" highlighting our business and what we do. The "credibility package" includes testimonials, an example of a past deal, and real estate terms and definitions. I like to educate my sellers on my business so that they feel like a part of the process in the services I provide. Making the seller part of the process builds credibility, as well as building rapport, which will lead to a mutually desirable outcome."

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