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
Julie Pieczonka
Hi- I am Julie Pieczonka and I would love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I would be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
I am a retired fitness education and health education teacher. I decided to satisfy a long-time goal of mine and become a Realtor. This continues my desire to serve others and am so fortunate to have had amazing success. I served as an Ohio & Indiana Realtor, was a member of the Ohio Association of Realtor's President's Club 2015, 2016 & 2017; and a member of the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtor's Circle of Excellence Club 2015, 2016 & 2017. Realtor of the Year for Sellstate Platinum Realty in 2020.
My husband and I (and our two golden retrievers) have become permanent Florida residents as I acted as a referral agent only in Ohio and Indiana from 2018 through the present.
I am actively practice my love for Real Estate here in the Sunshine State.
I absolutely enjoy assisting my clients in one of the biggest decisions they will make in their lives —that's buying and selling real estate.
Cordially-
Your Active Agent,
Julie
