How to Present the Best Offer on Your Dream Home
Here is how to present the best offer on your dream home! You decide to make an offer on the home you love and you want it accepted, or at least you want to reach agreement with the seller after some negotiations. You go into the negotiation thinking that the seller will make your dreams come true, because you want this home! It can be challenging enough when it’s just you and the seller, but when there are multiple offers, the odds are not in your favor to begin with.
You want to put your best foot forward, of course. But there are some key ways that buyers can, and do, sabotage offers. The good news is these are all unavoidable.
GET LENDER PRE-APPROVAL
You need to have a strong lender pre-approval letter. If you try to buy without a strong pre-approval letter, you will quickly ruin your chances of getting your offer accepted period. Most buyers need to use a mortgage to buy a house so you MUST get pre-approved – and not just pre-qualified -by a reputable lender who does a thorough job of checking your credit, assets, income and debts. Think about it from the point of view of the seller. If you and your lender cannot document you are financially qualified to buy the property, and close, why would the seller accept your offer?
Not including a letter will send a pretty strong message to a seller that you are not financially qualified or you are not taking the process seriously. The letter must be current. Pre-approvals need to be updated after a period of time – check with your lender on expiration – and an outdated letter will wave a red flag.
OFFER A COMPETITIVE SALE PRICE
Submitting a low ball offer is a quick way to sabotage what you are submitting, especially in a market where there are multiple offers and many homes are selling at or above asking price.
In certain price points lower offers may be less of an issue, typically at the high end, but this is something to discuss with your agent. The risk with a low offer is that you will not only sabotage your chances of negotiating with the seller but your offer might simply be rejected out-right, without a counter, or even ignored. And while sellers may be counseled by their agents to not take low offers personally, the reality is many will be insulted and that harms your chances of further discussion, or eliminates them entirely.
REQUEST REALISTIC TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Offers are NOT just about price. Terms and conditions, other than price, are important too and can prevent negotiations or at least make them more challenging. The more demanding you are in your offer, the greater the likelihood the seller will say no, especially when there are cleaner offers to consider. If you want to present the best offer possible on your dream home, then take the time to find out what is important to the seller. For example, if they really want or need 30 days and you demand 60 or more, or vice versa, that’s a problem.
If your offer is a low one and you are making requests the seller deems unrealistic, your offer is at even greater risk of rejection.
Asking for the seller to pay your closing costs will likely be an issue, at least in a seller’s market. You might demand all the appliances, as well as request the seller leave other items, but if the seller already stated certain appliances aren’t staying, and you are asking for personal items, that will also make your offer a no go. Put yourself in the seller’s shoes…are you being unrealistic about your terms and conditions?! And adding insult to injury by including a low price.
INCLUDE A STRONG EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT
What is typical for a deposit (EMD) will vary by the market, but a low deposit is certainly not going to demonstrate to the seller you are a serious buyer. This is even more critical when there are multiple offers and others are submitting substantial deposits. If your deposit is lower that what is typical for the marketplace, or not competitive with others, you can be sure the seller will not be impressed, and the listing agent will be advising them on this as well. Don’t be cheap and sabotage your offer!
MAKE YOUR OFFER COMPLETE
Sloppy paperwork and errors are a big red flag and will sabotage your offer, even a good one. You want to start off on the right foot, don’t you? A sloppy offer could suggest you and your agent are going to be sloppy about other things as well during the transaction…this will not pave a smooth path to closing. You want to present the best offer on your dream home. Take the time to check your offer.
Any offer submitted should be complete, without errors, contain all the appropriate signatures, and include all the necessary paperwork (that will vary from state to state, and even by market). Before you sign you should review the offer in its entirety, whether you do this in person with your agent or online, and make sure it represents your wishes correctly.
MOVE QUICKLY TO PRESENT THE BEST OFFER
They say “when you snooze you lose” and that’s certainly a strong possibility in a busy seller’s market. Waiting to make an offer because you need to think about your decision will certainly sabotage your offer pretty quickly in many cases.
This is not to say you should decide hastily…that can be a huge mistake, too. But being prepared to move forward, by being pre-approved, understanding the local market conditions, and creating a strong offer and clean terms and conditions, will maximize your chances and avoid sabotaging all the efforts made in creating an offer in the first place.
UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL MARKET CONDITIONS
This is key, and it covers a lot of issues if you want to present the best offer on your dream home. The local market conditions – such as buyer demand and available inventory – play a big role in pricing, whether there are multiple offers, the types of terms and conditions included in offers, how quickly you need to move, and more.
Your agent will presumably explain these conditions to you and help you understand what they mean for your offer strategy. If your agent doesn’t you have a more serious problem!!.
Not knowing the local market conditions, or worse ignoring them and just going down your own path, despite the best advice, will surely sabotage your offer. Yes, you have the right to make decisions when offering on a property, but ignoring good advice will have consequences. Do you want to do what you want? or present the best offer on your dream home? It’s your choice! If you want the house, listen up and put your best foot forward!
Let’s Talk!
Buying a home is one of life’s biggest financial decisions, but you don’t have to navigate it alone.
A young couple came to me convinced they needed to save another $80,000 before buying their first home. After speaking with a lender, they discovered they qualified for a loan requiring far less down, and six weeks later they were homeowners. Whether you’re buying your first home, moving up, or returning to homeownership, I’m here to answer your questions and help you make informed decisions every step of the way.
If you’re thinking about buying a home in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Montgomery County, or Washington, DC, I’d love to help you develop a plan that’s right for you. Let’s talk about your goals, explore your financing options, and make your path to homeownership as smooth as possible.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lise Howe is an Associate Broker with RLAH @properties and has been helping buyers and sellers throughout Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Montgomery County, and Washington, DC for nearly 40 years. Known for her warm, personalized approach and deep knowledge of the local market, Lise believes that every client deserves honest advice, clear communication, and an advocate who genuinely cares about their goals.
Whether working with first-time buyers, downsizers, or luxury home clients, Lise combines decades of experience with a commitment to making every real estate transaction as smooth and enjoyable as possible. When she’s not helping clients, you’ll often find her walking the Capital Crescent Trail with Captain, exploring local neighborhoods, or sharing insights about the communities she loves.