The thing was, that was the first house we bid on. Once we were sent back into the market, we realized there were other houses we would have been almost as happy with. So then it became an dollars and cents decision and not an emotional one.
Negotiation should never been an emotional issue or you're at a severe disadvantage. In your case, if I still wanted that old house, I would have renegotiated and probably offered less knowing they shopped around and couldn't get what they wanted for whatever reason. Which is perhaps where Mr. Harper finds himself right now.