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How to write a strong offer
1. Offer above the asking price. You’ll have to offer more than the asking price if you want to win in a multiple-offer situation, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to bring too much more money to the table. An extra $2,000 might be enough to draw the seller’s attention. As long as you don’t offer far more than the asking price, this shouldn’t change your monthly payment that much.
2. Limit your inspection. Many sellers worry about deals falling apart because of issues during the inspection. However, if you waive your inspection entirely, you could be on the hook for costly repairs. Instead, you can limit your risk by reducing the inspection period or agreeing to only ask for major repairs.
3. Cover the appraisal. With home prices rising so quickly, many houses aren’t appraising for their final sales price. Normally, the buyer and seller would negotiate to see who’s responsible for the difference. However, you can make your offer more attractive by agreeing to cover a potential appraisal gap. If you’re already fully underwritten, you can waive your appraisal contingency entirely. If not, then you can offer appraisal gap coverage, which is where you’ll cover any gap up to a certain amount you choose.
4. Be flexible. Sellers might want different things concerning the timing of their sale. You can work with the seller’s agent and either offer an extended closing or a quick closing to coincide with the seller’s needs. Doing so can help your offer stand out to the seller. To sweeten the deal even more, you can also offer a leaseback agreement or post-occupancy period, where you let the seller stay in their house after closing to give them time to move and/or find another house. These agreements usually last for anywhere up to 60 days and can be a great way to offer your seller a flexible closing.
If you’re tired of competing, have hope. Interest rates are rising, and it looks like the competition from buyers is easing up slightly. While we still expect to see a seller’s market for a while, it may get easier to purchase a home in the coming months.
If you’d like to take a look at what’s presently available on the market, you can view our multiple listing service here:
Click here to see all available homes in your area.
If you have any questions about making your offer more competitive or buying homes in general, feel free to call or email us. We would love to help you navigate this market.
