British reserve stops home buyers getting best deals

ONLY one in five home buyers tries to get the price reduced because they are too embarrassed to haggle, a survey has found.

A poll of 2,000 British people found that 80 per cent do not negotiate when buying a house, the biggest purchase in most people’s lives.

The study, by Moneysupermarket, also found that 41 per cent of those surveyed said they never bartered over the price of anything, despite there often being “wiggle room”, which can drive costs down. Among the top bills which can be reduced are broadband, mobile phone and gym costs.

A total of 82 per cent said they never quibbled over their mobile phone deal, with 90 per cent saying they did not try and get a better deal when they were having building work done.

Despite this just over 70 per cent said they believed they could get costs down by 15 per cent, but that they felt “too embarrassed” or that it would be “rude” to haggle. The main reason people refuse to barter to get a better deal is because they are too embarrassed, with 44 per cent saying they would ask for a better price.

Those living in London were the most reserved, with 53 per cent saying they would not be prepared to negotiate a better deal, with those in the south east the most likely to barter for a price cut, with just 31 per cent saying they never haggled.

Joseph Valente, the former Apprentice winner who has worked with Moneysupermarket to offer advice to customers, said: “The art of negotiating isn’t reserved for extroverts – anybody can learn how to conduct themselves to get the best cost possible”.

Sally Francis-miles, of Moneysupermarket, said: “Classic British reserve means as a nation we tend not to wear our hearts on our sleeves or display lots of emotion on a daily basis. However, it can also mean we’re not the best at haggling and ultimately getting a better deal.”