How to come out on top in a bidding war

You found a home you love and are ready to make an offer. Congrats! But before you get too excited, remember the seller will need to accept your offer before the deal moves forward. Here are a few techniques to help you come out on top:

Remember the little things. Sure, a seller wants you to make an offer worth their time, but that’s not the only factor. Don’t forget the emotional aspect. Including a short personal letter with the initial offer can make all the difference. Pull at their heartstrings a little!

Show you’re serious. If the seller is in a hurry to get the home off the market, you might consider making an offer more attractive by shortening contract timelines. For example, maybe your offer is $5,000 less than other buyers’, but your proposed inspection period is four days shorter.

Make a deposit. Money talks, especially in real estate. Earnest money is a deposit made to a seller showing the buyer’s good faith in a transaction. Do your homework to determine what is a reasonable deposit, then exceed it.

In general, you’ll want to put yourself in the seller’s shoes and think out of the box to appeal to them. These little things can really add up to more than the sum of their parts. And don’t forget to relax. Your agent is there to support you along the way!