The Dos and Dont's of Making Your Offer Stand Out

By, Lisa Roberts

Buying a home is a huge decision, both financially and emotionally. You will need to find a house that you and the rest of your family like. It also needs to be big enough; the location has to be right, preferably near your job or near your kids' school; it needs to have storage space, etc. Depending on the person, there are so many conditions a house has to have in order to be a dream home. But the thing is, even once you find that home, there is no guarantee that you will get it. The real estate world is competitive, and more often than not, demand is higher than supply. This means that you have to get educated about making your home offer stand out. So we are going to share some things you should do when crafting an offer and some things you should definitely not do.

Deposit can help you secure the home of your dreams. Alt text: Person counting money

If you want to leave a good impression on the seller, making a deposit payment is the way to go. This is a great thing to do if, of course, you can afford it. But there are ways to find money for this. For example, you can find many tips on how to sell your old home online and boost your budget this way. Usually, people give deposits that are 2 or 3 percent of the full price, but if you want to make your home offer stand out, you should give a little more. This will show that you mean business and are really interested.

A good realtor can help you craft an amazing offer Alt text: Woman pointing at a laptop

Do get a good real estate agent

One of the rules in making your home offer stand out is to get a real estate agent. A good realtor with a lot of experience is priceless in this situation, so it is absolutely worth it to pay a little more for his service. Suppose you have never given an offer on a house before. It is an absolute must that you get a professional. It's always good to ask family and friends for recommendations when searching for a realtor, as they can help you get the best one in your area. The goal is to have a professional who will guide you through this process and, most of all, help you price your offer properly. The Realtor who has been in the business a long time knows all the tips and tricks and will help you approach this task the right way.

Don't be rude

While price is the most important part of the offer, there is something to be said about the general way you communicate with the seller. Being rude or demanding can cost you your dream home. No seller wants to sell their home to someone who acts already entitled to a home they didn't even buy yet.  Also, try not to make ridiculous demands in your offer; this is something that your realtor will hopefully help you avoid. Be polite and friendly when preparing your offer, but also be very precise and plainly say what you want to say.

Show that you are serious

A very important part of the buying process is to make sure the seller takes you and your offer seriously. People want to be sure they are doing business with serious people and don't want to risk someone wasting their time. So the first thing you should do is show proof of funds. This is a document that will show the seller that you truly have the money necessary to pay. It could be a bank statement, but most often, it is a pre-approval letter for a mortgage. This will erase any doubt from the seller's mind about you being unserious and not truly interested in their property.

Don't start with a low price

As we previously said, the real estate market is competitive, and demand is higher than supply. This is why the lowballing approach is not a good idea. Most of the time, sellers don't want to go into long negotiating deals, and they would rather sell to a buyer who gives the best offer right away. You can attempt this, but it would be a huge gamble. Don't risk losing your dream home by playing negotiating games like this.

Writing a personal letter is a great way of making your home offer stand out Alt text: Person writing a letter

Write a personal letter

The financial aspect of the offer is the most important, but you should never underestimate the emotional element of selling a home. Often people who are selling are still very emotionally attached to their homes. This is especially true when someone is selling their childhood home in which they had so many happy memories. In those situations, sellers not only look for the highest bidder but also look for someone who will treat their home with respect and care. So what you should do is write a personal letter to the seller. In it, you should explain why you are buying and your long-term goals with that property. Explain what it is that attracted you to the house in the first place, and say how eager you are to move in. Here you should add that you already have a moving company picked out ( which is something that experts at Best Movers in Florida say is the usual practice). This letter can give you a leg up over other bidders.

In conclusion

These were the dos and don'ts of making your home offer stand out that will help you buy a home. As you can see, you should never be arrogant and rude to the seller. Even if you give a great price, an attitude like this can cost you your dream home. The same goes for giving a low offer at first; that is a big gamble. What you should do is show proof of funds, get a good realtor, consider giving a bigger deposit, and write a kind personal letter to the seller.