How to Make Your Offer Stand Out in a Multiple Offer Situation

Martinez, Ca. Contra Costa County.

Tired of getting beat out in this real estate market? Try tweaking your offers to entice the sellers

As this new real estate market keeps getting hotter and hotter I hear stories of buyers getting beat out on their offers to purchase time and time again. So what can you do about it?

Tweak your offers to entice the sellers.

The last time we were in a market like this was 2005 – 2006. An agent would hold an open house and would be flooded with people and some with their agents. And some agents would sit down with their buyers at the open house and write an offer. I’m not sure what that did for the buyers but it did show the urgency. So here are a few suggestions on getting the seller’s to look a little closer at your offer.

1. Find out what the sellers wants are: Do they want a quick or long closing period? Try to be as accommodating as possible with your expectations.
2. Try to get to know the sellers a little bit. Don’t be too nosy. But find out what their interests are. There might be something you can do “outside the box” that will appeal to the sellers.
3. Do they need to rent back? Is it for a month? 2 weeks? 6 weeks? Maybe if it’s 2 – 3 weeks you can let them rent for a reduced rate. Or let them stay for free. Just get it in writing.

Is there something special about the property the sellers would like to keep? Or come back to? A realtor I respect very much once told me how he got his buyers the property they wanted. After spending some time in the house before writing an offer, the agent learned that the buyers really wanted to have Dad’s 60th birthday party at the house and were disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to once the house was sold. So this smart agent put in the contract that the sellers could have their party at the house even after it was sold. And the new buyers would help get it organized.

Sometimes it’s just a simple letter to the sellers that will appeal to them. I try to write a short letter about my buyers telling the sellers how much they love what the sellers have done to the house and that they are excited about the prospect of living and growing in the house.

Now, most sellers in this market are looking for top dollar so you may still have to pay more than you wanted for the house. But if you try to go the extra mile in your offer you may not have to write another one.

Good luck with your house hunting.

Gary Wuestenberg is a licensed California Real Estate Broker serving Martinez, Contra Costa County and Solano County since 2002. He specializes in helping homeowners negotiate the best outcomes, whether buying or selling.  He is a Certified Residential Specialist and a Certified Distressed Property Expert. For more information, visit www.help4strugglinghomeowners.com, or gwsellshomes.listingbook.com, or call (925) 370-7355.