When I talk to real estate agents, they say that an offer 10 to 15 percent lower than the asking price is no longer “insulting.” My story on Saturday may also make some buyers braver about negotiating.

When I was selling my house, which was on the market about two-and-a-half months before it went into contract, I considered a bid that was close to 15 percent lower. I think I was a little surprised, but I was willing to work with the buyer to make a deal, until they wanted me to pay for closing costs, too. Maybe I was being silly, but I wasn’t that interested. So the house sat on the market for another month before someone was willing to pay my asking price — and ask me to pay their closing costs.

At that point, with a couple of offers that were less generous it was easy to say, “Yes!” And so I technically sold my house for the asking price, but it really was about 4 percent less. I didn’t feel insulted at all. I was more than happy to sell my house and not have any more mortgage payments!