Strategies for making an offer to a private seller

[Craig Brouillette]

I get responses from my marketing efforts and I want to make sure I'm successfully converting as many of these prospects as possible to closed deals.  I don't wholesale, just negotiate to buy the deals myself, and if I've lost deals in the past I feel it's becuase my first offer might have been perceived too low (even though it's based on comps I show to the seller).

What strategies have worked for others when it comes to making offers and negotiating the price when you meet with homeoweners who are looking to sell (and this is for private sales not homes listed on the MLS)?

Thanks!