As a Buyer's agent...the purpose of working "for the buyer" should not be to pound the seller into the ground...offer a low price, add inclusions that were not included..like the contents of the garage....Decide when the seller MUST respond without finding out if that is even plausible..sellers on airplanes, in different countries, time zones...with ridiculous deadlines...threats...threats...and more threats....lies, lies and more lies...the buyers are not qualified....(banks ays they are ore than qualified for far, far beyond the offered price). 
If you are REALLY a buyer's agent....REALLY an agent who has any integrity...how about representing your buyers honestly.....how about not throwing in nine more things in an ammendment because the seller didn't give into your price....how about just being honest and working toward getting the transaction completed with some give and take on BOTH sides...if you play the "My Way or the Highway" game...your buyers are the ones who suffer...who didn't get the niceties and inclusion that may have come their way. Now the sellers don't like your buyers...don't want to be in the room...the same building...they'll pre-sign if this comes together. Try honesty...lose the attitude...don't approach your position like a knight going into battle...try being civil...understanding there is room for compromise on BOTH sides....Your buyers will suffer because your"Don't Know How to Negotiate Fairly" attitude.
Buyers...know this...some day you will be the sellers...your agent wants the best for you...if you see that his/her approach is argumentative...no one really wins with that attitude. Interview your buyer's agent before you sign that agreement....talk to their references....know that you want a professional attitude on your side of the table...one that both you and the other side of the table can respect.
Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS
This is back to the agent controlling their buyers and not reacting. A good buyer's agent set's realistic goals and expectations for their clients. The hair on the back of my neck curls when I meet these kinds of agents.
Hi Sally and David - I like to follow Zig Ziglar's advice and try to make every transaction a win-win deal. You can get everything your buyer wants without browbeating the seller. You just have to make sure your buyer understands that he has to be reasonable. And sometimes you can trade something the seller wants for something the buyer wants. Be creative and everyone will be happy.
It should be a win/win....you shouldn't feel like you're going into battle with every transaction.
very often a seller will take an offer not because it's the highest but because they LIKE the buyers. The best thing a buyers agent can do is get the seller to WANT TO SELL TO THEM
Excellent POINT !!!!! It is why we have our buyers write the sellers a letter with the offer....if I like you, even if I never met you....I will try to help you...If I feel that you are trying to take advantage of me...everything gets very ugly very quickly !
I think sometimes Realtors take the art of negotiating too seriously. I had a Realtor several years ago tell me, "Ask for the Universe and settle for Earth. If it's a bad market, ask for Earth and settle for the United States. Or ask for the good ol' U.S. of A and settle for California." I do admit that she was good at what she did.
Here...ask for the universe and you won't get the snow shovel included....I am a fan of getting it as close to writing right the first time as possible....save the trees !