Every Buyer and Seller has different levels of risk-tolerance. We can discuss these approaches to writing an offer when the appropriate time comes.
Extreme offers generate extreme responses and often create a difficult environment for future negotiations. Fair initial offers far more often create a climate of trust between the parties and lead to mutually satisfactory transactions. The worst thing you can do is deliver an offer that offends a Seller or insults his/her home and leads them to feel that you are not a person they are willing to work with in the future.
When creating an offer, ask yourself this question. “If I was the Seller of this property and I received this offer, how would I respond to it?” If the answer is not the one you like, then alter the offer until you feel that your offer will be well received.
Be careful about placing time limits on your offers. We will discuss whether or not placing a time limit on your offer would fit in your circumstances.
Submitting the Initial Offer:
Presentation: Most offers today are delivered to the Listing Agent for presentation. It is rare that I will have the opportunity to present your offer to the Seller in person.
Personal Letter: You may want to consider including a personal letter to the Seller with your offer. We will discuss this strategy if it seems appropriate.
Questions from the Seller or Listing Agent: Be prepared to hear from me prior to any acceptance or counter-offer with questions from the Seller or Listing Agent. You must be easily available (sometimes by both phone and fax) to answer them in order to facilitate an agreement.
Possible Outcomes:
Acceptance: Your offer will be signed as written.
Counter Offer: Your terms will need to be modified in order for them to be acceptable to the Seller.
Rejection: The Seller refuses to enter into negotiations with you because of a perceived inability to reach agreement. The offer is returned marked “Rejected”.
No Response: The Seller simply chooses not to respond but your offer will remain alive until you withdraw it.
Response to Counter Offers:
Your response to a counter offer should be handled as quickly as possible in order to avoid a change of heart on behalf of the seller.
You will have a ratified enforceable contract when:
Maximize Seller’s Net Proceeds by:
Occupy at the Sellers convenience:
Reduce Risk of Buyer’s Non-performance by:
