In a competitive housing market, home sellers are fielding numerous offers, especially in popular cities and neighborhoods. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned property investor, it can be tough to make offer after offer with no success.
However, there are key things you can do to help ensure your time house hunting for homes is well-spent and to increase your chances of getting your offer accepted.
All-cash offer
The most effective way to increase the chances of your offer being accepted is to make it in all cash. Cash offers drastically simplify the homebuying transaction, making things easier for both parties involved.
Waive the financing contingency
A contingency is an action needing to be completed before the contract becomes valid and the sale of a property becomes final. There are numerous contingencies found in a real estate contract; however, the most standard are for inspections, appraisals and financing.
If you intend to use a mortgage loan to purchase a home, a financing contingency protects you in case you aren’t able to secure the loan in time. In other words, you’ll be off the hook for a home you can’t pay for.
In some special situations, a buyer may decide to waive the financing contingency, to signal to the seller there won’t be any delays regarding paying for the property.
Letting a seller know you’re willing to drop this contingency can make your offer more appealing than competing offers, increasing the chances of your proposal being approved.
Crafting a personal letter
Sometimes to win a bidding war, you need to get on the good side of the seller. Take the time to write them a personalized letter explaining what you love about their home and why it’s perfect for your household.
Avoid disclosing significant changes you’ll make, as this may signal to them that you don’t appreciate all their home has to offer and may undermine some of their emotional connection to the property.
Working closely with your real estate agent, you can implement these techniques and increase the chances of winning a bidding war.
About the Author
Robin Anderson Real Estate
“My Passion is people and relationships and I promise to provide my clients with exceptional service tailored to their individual needs.” -Robin Anderson
Georgia native, Robin Anderson brings her passion for people and her love of homes to work for her clients. She and her husband, Andy, have been married for over 30 years and have two adult children, Ellen and Drew. They currently live in Fulton County, but Robin has lived and invested in properties throughout metro Atlanta as well as helped clients buy and sell. She has been integral to many real estate endeavors including designing and building several custom homes, remodeling homes, subdividing land, managing rental properties, and buying and selling properties. She spent her first 3 years in real estate working with a new home builder, and she has spent the last 6 years working with buyers and sellers in her own community. Robin is highly motivated but sensitive to the fact that buying and selling homes can be an emotional experience, so she makes it a priority to keep clients closely informed throughout the process and strives to produce quick results. She appreciates the opportunity to help her clients navigate the real estate process, and she aspires to deliver quality customer service that is both informative and positive. She is driven to provide outstanding service for her clients and she is focused on building successful and lasting relationships with her clients. This personalized service earns her enthusiastic referrals from clients she is pleased to call friends.Edit
