What you need to know about making an offer

Now, a lot more goes into it than what I can cover here, but this will give you a good starting point so that you're not completely lost when it comes time to make your offer.

View a house and decide you want to make an offer

Before buyers can make an offer on a home, they need to find the right property. And that starts with viewing homes that are for sale. Buyers should view several homes in their desired price range and neighborhood before making an offer on a property. This will help them get a better sense of the market, and what kinds of homes are available. It's also important to view the home in person to get a better sense of its condition and layout. Once buyers have found a home that they're interested in, they can start the process of making an offer.

Analyze the property to help you decide what a solid offer looks like

After you've found a home you want to make an offer on, the next step is to have our team analyze the property. This will help you determine what a solid offer would be. We'll consider factors like the current market value of the home, the condition of the property, and any repairs that may be necessary. We'll also look at comparable sales in the area to see what other similar homes have sold for. With this information, you'll be able to make a well-informed decision about what offer to make on the property.

Write the offer and prepare essential documents

Your real estate professional should call the listing agent to get any vital information that could help build a winning bid. After that, we want to make sure we have a current preapproval letter, proof of funds, know what terms you as a buyer want, and what the seller would prefer. This will be used to put together a strong offer that the seller will be more likely to accept. By clearly understanding what you want and what the seller is looking for, you can increase your chances of having your offer accepted. With a little preparation, you can be one step closer to owning your dream home.

The seller will respond in one of three ways

The seller will then have a few options. The seller can accept your offer as is, decline your offer outright, or make a counteroffer if the seller accepts your offer, congrats! You're on your way to buying a house. If the seller makes a counteroffer, you can choose to accept it, make another offer of your own, or walk away. And if the seller declines your offer, you could try to come back with a more appealing offer (if your budget allows) or start fresh with another house.