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Everything You Can Put in an Offer Besides Price
By Sonia Felix, REALTOR® | byfelix.
Oakwyn Realty Downtown
An offer is not a number
Most buyers think an offer is a price. You decide what to pay, write it down and wait.
An offer is a set of terms. Several of them are negotiable, and in a market that is not red hot, some of them matter more to the seller than the price.
What you can build in
Completion and possession dates. Sellers often care enormously about timing. A date that solves their problem can be worth more to them than a few thousand dollars.
Subjects. Financing, inspection, review of documents, sale of your current home. Each protects you and each costs you competitiveness. Knowing which to keep and which to drop is the whole game.
Inclusions. Appliances, window coverings, light fixtures, patio furniture, the shed. If it is not written in, it is not yours by default.
An upgraded appliance package. On new construction, a better range or a second fridge in the pantry can often be added if it does not require major work.
Repairs before completion. Ask for a specific item to be fixed as a term of the deal instead of negotiating a price reduction for it.
Deposit size and timing. A larger or faster deposit signals seriousness without costing you anything you were not already paying.
Parking or storage. Not always fixed, especially in newer developments.
A rent back. Letting the seller stay a few weeks after completion can be the term that wins you the home.
Ask
You can put almost anything in an offer. You may not get it. It never hurts to ask.
Buyers negotiate on price because it is the only lever they know about. The stronger position is knowing all of them, then choosing which to spend and which to hold, based on what this seller needs.
The best offer is not always the highest one. It is the one built around what the other side is trying to solve.
Build the right offer
Talk to me before your next offer. I find out what the seller needs first, then build terms around it.
Common questions
- What terms can be negotiated in a real estate offer?
Price, dates, subjects, inclusions, repairs, deposit amount and timing, parking, storage and a rent back.
- What is a rent back?
The seller stays in the home for an agreed period after completion, usually paying rent. It helps sellers who need time to move.
- Can I ask for appliances in my offer?
Yes. Anything not written into the contract is not included by default, so list what you want to stay.