4 Tips To Make Your Strongest Offer on a Home

Monday, March 18, 2024

Primary Blog/For Buyers/4 Tips To Make Your Strongest Offer on a Home

Does It Make Sense To Buy a Home Right Now?

Monday, March 18, 2024

Are you thinking about buying a home soon? If so, you should know today’s market is competitive in many areas because the number of homes for sale is still low – and that’s leading to multiple-offer scenarios. And moving into the peak homebuying season this spring, this is only expected to ramp up more.

Remember these four tips to make your best offer.

1. Partner with a Real Estate Agent

Rely on a real estate agent who can support your goals. As PODS notes:

“Making an offer on a home without an agent is certainly possible, but having a pro by your side gives you a massive advantage in figuring out what to offer on a house.”

Agents are local market experts. They know what’s worked for other buyers in your area and what sellers may be looking for. That advice can be game changing when you’re deciding what offer to bring to the table.

2. Understand Your Budget

Knowing your numbers is even more important right now. The best way to understand your budget is to work with a lender so you can get pre-approved for a home loan. Doing so helps you be more financially confident and shows sellers you’re serious. That gives you a competitive edge. As Investopedia says:

“. . . sellers have an advantage because of intense buyer demand and a limited number of homes for sale; they may be less likely to consider offers without pre-approval letters.”

3. Make a Strong, but Fair Offer

It’s only natural to want the best deal you can get on a home, especially when affordability is tight. However, submitting an offer that’s too low does have some risks. You don’t want to make an offer that’ll be tossed out as soon as it’s received just to see if it sticks. As Realtor.com explains:

“. . . an offer price that’s significantly lower than the listing price, is often rejected by sellers who feel insulted . . . Most listing agents try to get their sellers to at least enter negotiations with buyers, to counteroffer with a number a little closer to the list price. However, if a seller is offended by a buyer or isn’t taking the buyer seriously, there’s not much you, or the real estate agent, can do.”

The expertise your agent brings to this part of the process will help you stay competitive and find a price that’s fair to you and the seller.

4. Trust Your Agent During Negotiations

After you submit your offer, the seller may decide to counter it. When negotiating, it's smart to understand what matters to the seller. Once you do, being as flexible as you can on things like moving dates or the condition of the house can make your offer more attractive.

Your real estate agent is your partner in navigating these details. Trust them to lead you through negotiations and help you figure out the best plan. As an article from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:

“There are many factors up for discussion in any real estate transaction—from price to repairs to possession date. A real estate professional who’s representing you will look at the transaction from your perspective, helping you negotiate a purchase agreement that meets your needs . . .”

Bottom Line

In today's competitive market, let’s work together to find you a home you love and craft a strong offer that stands out.

customer1 png

Hi, I Am Kim Dorman

Long & Foster Realtor

As your real estate agent, I hope you’ll think of me as your trusted advisor, your practiced negotiator, your skilled house-hunter and your neighborhood expert. Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or just looking, I’ll diligently work for you every step of the way. My goal is to deliver a joyful, seamless experience at every phase of the home buying or selling journey.

Need Some Extra Help?

Check Out These Free Guides

TESTIMONIALS

Hear What Others Say

Kim Dorman, with Long and Foster Real Estate, went above and beyond in handling the recent sale of our home! She gave us lots of information on all the steps involved in selling, as well as excellent recommendations for contractors for any needed repairs. She was very knowledgeable about all the steps involved and very willing to explain the whole process. We would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell their home!

DONNA

We called Kim, once again, to help us find our home upon our return to the area. She was quickly responsive and strove to understand all of our desires for a new home, and advised us in all aspects of the search. She helped us to quickly find a home we love, answered or sought answers to any questions we came up with, and walked us through the entire process from the search to the closing. Kim is a brilliant advocate and is vastly experienced. We highly recommend her for any real estate need.

JACK

Being a first time home buyer, my boyfriend and I were a little nervous about the home-buying process. Kim right away made us feel at ease and was able to speak to us first about the process before going all in. She discussed the housing market and what we can expect.... We are very happy with Kim and would strongly recommend using her for buying or selling your home.

RACHEL

Kim has truly been a lifesaver for our family - we had a cross-country move in a very tight timeframe (during COVID-19, no less) and she helped us find a home that met our needs even with all of that working against us. She was very professional, extremely responsive, and thorough to ensure we found the right place for us. We really enjoyed working with her on a personal level, too! She is fantastic!

ALYCE

Kim is amazing! She is easy going and full of energy and helped us find our perfect home. She then made dealing with a very difficult seller seem effortless. I would definitely (and have) recommend her to family and friends. Don't hesitate to have Kim Dorman help you with buying or selling!

MATT

Kim puts her clients first and is willing to go the extra mile to assist them. She is very knowledgeable and very thorough in answering questions and providing information we weren't aware that we needed. She is very reliable and accessible, both by phone or email. We have already recommended her to others and will happily do so again. We will gladly work with her again when it comes time to sell our house.

NANCY

14-1-IMG png

Book a Free Discovery Call

Click The Button Below to submit your contact information. After you submit your information, you can book a FREE Discovery Call! I can't wait to get to know you and hear where you are at in your real estate journey!