4 Tips for Making Your Best Offer on a Home

Are you planning to buy a home this spring? Though things are more balanced than they were at the height of the pandemic, its still a sellers market. So, when you find the home you want to buy, remember these four tips to make your best offer.

1. Lean on a Real Estate Professional

Rely on an agent who can support your goals. As Bankrate notes:

. . . select the best real estate agent for your needs. They will be a critical part of your home buying process.

Agents are local market experts. They know whats worked for other buyers in your area and what sellers may be looking for in an offer. It may seem simple, but catering to what a seller needs can help your offer stand out.

2. Know Your Budget

Understanding your budget is especially important right now. As Sandy Higgins, Senior Wealth Advisor at Capstone Financial Advisors, puts it:

Understand your current budget what are your expenses, hows your spending, would you need to make changes?

The best way to understand your numbers is to work with a lender so you can get pre-approved for a loan. It helps you be more financially confident, and it shows sellers youre serious. That can give you a competitive edge.

3. Think Through Everything Before Making an Offer

Todays market isnt moving at the record pace it did during the pandemic. That means you may have a bit more time to think before you need to make an offer. According to Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com:

In general, you likely have more time to make an offer, although that's certainly not a guarantee. If youre on the fence about a home or its asking price doesnt quite fit your budget, you might want to keep an eye on it, and if it doesnt sell right away, you may have some room to negotiate with the seller.

While its still important to stay on top of the market and be prepared to move quickly, there can be more flexibility today. Lean on the advice of your agent as you explore the options in your market.

4. Work with Your Advisor To Negotiate

During the pandemic, some buyers skipped home inspections or didn't ask for concessions from the seller in order to submit the winning bid on a home. Fortunately, todays market is different, and you may have more negotiating power than before. When putting together an offer, your trusted real estate advisor will help you think through what levers to pull.