Days on Market: The longer a home has been listed, the more flexible the seller may be on price.

Comparable Properties: Review amenities and recent sales in the area to assess whether the asking price aligns with the current market.

Seller Motivation: Understand how eager the seller is to close—this can affect their negotiation openness.

Closing Costs: You can negotiate who pays for closing costs—yourself or the seller.

Home Warranty: Consider asking for a home warranty to cover any potential repairs after you move in.

Termite Inspection & Clearance: If termites are found, you may negotiate for the seller to handle the termite treatment or repairs cost.

Seller Credit: You can request the seller offer credit toward closing costs, reducing out-of-pocket expenses.

Typical Timeline: Escrow usually takes about 30 days from the acceptance of your offer.

Landlord Notice: If you’re renting, be sure to confirm how much notice you need to give your landlord before moving.

Coordinate with Your Lender: Check with your lender to make sure your financing is in place and that you can close on time.

What It Is: This is an initial deposit that shows your commitment to the property. Typically, it’s about 1% of the purchase price, though this can vary.

Refundable: Your earnest money is refundable until you remove all contingencies in writing.

Negotiation Room: While the standard is around 1%, there is flexibility depending on the situation and how competitive the market is.

Inspections & Approvals: Set a timeline for your inspections, appraisal, and loan approval. This ensures you have enough time to fully evaluate the property before moving forward.

Home Inspection: This is crucial to check for any hidden issues with the property.

Appraisal: Your lender will require an appraisal to verify the home’s value.

Once you’re ready, we’ll help you submit the offer to the seller’s agent. The seller has a few options for how to respond:

Accept the Offer: If they agree to all the terms, the deal is made.

Counteroffer: The seller can make adjustments to the price, escrow terms, or other conditions. This is very common in today’s market.

Negotiations Continue: Offers and counteroffers can go back and forth until an agreement is reached, or the parties walk away from the deal.

Reject the Offer: The seller can also choose to reject your offer without offering a counter.

Once you’ve made your offer and it’s either accepted or countered, we’ll continue to guide you through the process, ensuring you make the most informed decisions every step of the way. Together, we’ll work to get you into the home of your dreams.