How Should Divorcing Sellers Compare Multiple Offers?

The house receives two offers.

One is $710,000.

The other is $700,000.

Take the $710,000?

Maybe.

But Lisa isn't going to recommend choosing an offer based on one number at the top of the page.

Concessions change the picture

Suppose the $710,000 buyer requests $15,000 in seller concessions.

The $700,000 buyer requests none.

Now the financial difference looks very different.

Financing, appraisal risk and timing

Suppose the higher offer also has financing concerns, an aggressive appraisal contingency and a closing date that creates another month of carrying costs.

Meanwhile, the lower offer has strong financing and terms that fit the sellers' timing beautifully.

Which one is actually better?

Lisa compares offers as packages

That is why Lisa compares offers as packages.

• Price matters.
• Estimated net matters.
• Financing matters.
• Concessions matter.
• Due-diligence terms matter.
• Appraisal exposure matters.
• Closing date matters.
• Certainty matters.

Divorce can make transaction certainty particularly valuable because if the deal falls apart, the former spouses remain connected to the property longer.

Timing has financial value

Lisa also understands that timing can have financial value.

A slightly lower offer that eliminates another month of mortgage, HOA and other carrying costs may compare differently than it appears at first glance.

That does not mean sellers should automatically take the fastest offer.

It means timing belongs in the analysis.

A good offer review lets both owners see the same information

A good offer review should allow both owners to look at the same information and understand the tradeoffs.

This is where Lisa's negotiation experience becomes especially valuable.

She doesn't simply forward an offer and ask:

“What do you want to do?”

She wants clients to understand what they're agreeing to and where the risks are.

That is exactly the kind of information divorcing homeowners need.