Step 4 of 6 — Seller's Guide
Review & Negotiate Offers
When offers come in, price is just one of many factors. We'll help you evaluate the full picture and negotiate the best outcome.
What's in an Offer
A purchase agreement includes the offered price, earnest money amount, proposed closing date, contingencies (inspection, financing, appraisal), and any personal property included or excluded. We review every element — a higher price with weak financing or too many contingencies may be less attractive than a slightly lower offer from a cash buyer or highly qualified borrower.
Multiple Offer Situations
If you receive multiple offers, we'll help you structure a "highest and best" deadline to maximize competition. We'll rank all offers based on price, terms, and buyer strength. Sometimes an offer $5,000 lower with no contingencies and a flexible closing date is the better choice. We'll lay out the trade-offs clearly.
Countering and Negotiating
It's rare that a first offer is accepted without any back-and-forth. You can counter on price, closing date, what's included in the sale, and contingencies. We'll advise you on what's reasonable to push back on and where flexibility keeps the deal together.
Buyer Financing Red Flags
We'll verify the buyer's pre-approval letter and, when appropriate, call their lender directly to assess the strength of their financing. A pre-approval from an unknown online lender is not the same as one from a local bank with a proven track record of closing on time.
Pro Tip
Don't let emotion drive your response to a low offer. A lowball offer that opens a negotiation is better than silence. Counter strategically, not personally.
Questions About Selling?
Malcolm Wallaker and Bridger Hopkins have helped dozens of northern Minnesota homeowners sell their properties for top dollar. We'd love to talk about your home.