Negotiating Rent

[gaijinpunch]

We all know it's a renters market. I get a bazillian hits on suumo and a handful of them work for me, although I up my budget a bit assuming I can negotiate. I know on the high end of things you can generally talk people down from their asking price quite a bit, assuming it's been up a month or so. For something a little more down to earth, say, 15-man, is an offer for 20% off the ask unreasonable?

I will likely be moving a small office (in a mansion) soon and have to do the leg work. The one I'm having now was rented before the entire world ran out of money. This time, we're trying it w/ budgetary constraints.

[GomiGirl]

Can't hurt to ask. The worst they can say is no.

You have to be prepared to either suck up the original asking rent or walk away if you don't get the price you want as it can go either way depending on the landlord. Some landlords are happy for a place to be empty for a long time as long as they get the rent they want in the end and others really want the place to be rented and will take an offer.

The only way to know is to give it a shot.

Also, a good way to negotiate on any key money is to say offer to pay an extra deposit that is fully refundable if the place is left in a reasonable condition. eg if the advertised rate is 2/2 key/deposit offer 3 deposit.

Key money is just gone but deposit money you have at least a shot at getting back.

[gaijinpunch]

I'm quite experienced in the actual field, but not quite at this level in this market. I basically won't pay key money, and haven't in my last three places. If they wanted 2/2 I offered 3 (or 4) deposit, and usually came out on top. I don't think anyone is going to expect key money these days. My current apartment we moved into brand new and there was no reikin.

Just mainly looking for (recent) tales of experience. My guess is that the places are relatively cheap to begin with so there might be some teeth sucking. The demographic that is most un-represented these days is the rich gaijin... how far his absence trickles down is the question.