Negotiating Pen and Ink

I always think I'm a crap negotiator, because I don't actually negotiate anything. Except that the reason I don't negotiate is because the other party's first offer always beats the hell out of whatever I was best hoping for. Like when I first accepted the offer for this position two years ago; I figured I'd negotiate a $10,000 salary bump at best over my previous position, and the first offer was for $15,000. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor to say yes.

It happened again today, while negotiating lease terms on my new apartment. I talked them down before I ever saw it, merely by asking the agent, Nelson, if the price was comparable to the first apartment he was going to show me (which I bailed on because the neighborhood was NOT for me). I indicated that I only wanted to view it if my price was agreed to, and it was an immediately done deal. Today, we discussed 1 vs. 2 year terms. I figured I'd be lucky to nab a two-year lease with a 5% increase for the second year, and would take it. Landlord offered a 3% increase for year 2 -- for a monthly rent that is still less than his original asking price before I ever saw the place.

So, renting in NYC is apparently as much a buyer's market as it will ever be. I have a two year contract on a place that I love, at a price I can definitely afford, in the sweetest neighborhood EVER. Life is so freaking amazing.

~*~

In other news, Aja is trying to lure everyone on her flist to thelittlebang -- a femmeslash fic challenge. On one hand I am incredibly tempted, because I so want to learn how to write again, and my GOD, it's fandom femmeslash, and if there's one thing I can imagine a plot for really well it would be Ziva/Jenny. Except it's 15,000 words, and in order to participate in a challenge you can't actually, you know, SUCK. And you need beta readers, and I don't participate in fandom enough to know anyone I could ask. And I'm moving, and busy with work, and don't really have a lot of time, so it would be a *really* bad idea.

Help?

First published to TheNines