Three Offers. Easy, Right?
Three offers arrive.
$500,000.
$505,000.
$510,000.
Easy.
Take $510,000.
Right?
Maybe.
Now Let's Make It Real
Now let's make it real.
The $510,000 buyer wants a substantial seller credit, has financing and appraisal contingencies, needs your washer and dryer, and wants a closing date that creates problems for your next purchase.
The $505,000 buyer asks for less, has stronger financing documentation, appears to have more cash available and can close on the date you actually need.
Now which one is “highest”?
This is why sellers should compare estimated net proceeds and contract terms—not simply the price printed at the top of the offer.
What to Compare on Every Offer
Financing matters.
A conventional, FHA, VA, cash or other financing structure can create different considerations depending on the property and transaction.
Earnest money matters.
Not because a large deposit guarantees closing—it doesn't—but because the contract terms around earnest money can matter if the transaction later fails.
Appraisal terms matter.
A buyer offering dramatically above comparable sales may look fantastic until the appraisal becomes the central problem in the transaction.
Inspection and due-diligence rights matter.
Closing date matters.
Possession matters.
Seller concessions matter.
Home-sale contingencies may matter.
Personal property requests may matter.
Every offer is an economic package.
Buyer Strength
And then there is buyer strength.
Has the buyer actually spoken with a lender?
How solid is the financing information?
Are there obvious issues that could create risk?
No agent can guarantee that one buyer will close and another won't.
But an experienced review can identify where the transaction risks differ.
Compare the Whole Deal
This is exactly why Lisa should use an offer comparison tool when multiple offers exist.
The goal is not to have software announce:
WINNER: OFFER B.
The goal is to let the seller clearly see:
Price.
Estimated net.
Financing.
Concessions.
Deadlines.
Contingencies.
Closing.
And other meaningful terms.
Then the seller decides what best matches the seller's priorities.
Maybe that's the highest net.
Maybe speed.
Maybe certainty.
Maybe the closing date.
There is no rule saying the highest purchase price is automatically the best transaction.
Run each offer through the Seller Net Calculator so the comparison is based on real numbers.
Want to Know What the Records Say About Your Property?
Request a free Property DNA report. Property DNA can include available property, ownership/history, mortgage-related, comparable, neighborhood, school, risk, public-record and other property information depending on available sources.
Current typical turnaround is approximately 40 minutes during normal business hours, and many reports are returned within one hour or the same business day, but turnaround is not guaranteed and can vary.
Property DNA is free through Lisa. Request a free Property DNA report.
Important
Property DNA uses third-party, public-record and other available data believed reliable but not guaranteed. It is provided for informational purposes and is not an appraisal, title search, title commitment, title insurance policy, inspection, survey, legal opinion, tax opinion, environmental report or guarantee of value.
