Homeowners put a lot of time, money, and effort into maintaining, updating, and decorating their homes. So, when it’s time to sell it can be frustrating to receive a lowball offer on your home.
Many sellers aren’t sure how to react to a low offer. However, with so much at stake it’s important to go into selling your home with a plan.
In this article, we’re going to talk about how to handle a low offer on your home so that you can capitalize on even the less-than-ideal prospects when selling your house.
Every offer deserves a polite response
So, you’ve gotten an offer on your home that you consider to be way too low. The first thing you need to do is to detach your emotions from the situation so that you can formulate a polite, but appropriate response.
It is the custom of many people around the world to negotiate. And one common practice in negotiation is to start with a low offer. Therefore, don’t be offended if you receive an offer that is low as it likely isn’t meant as an insult to you or your home.
We understand that selling can be frustrating, so if you need to vent, talk it over with your family or agent. Together you’ll be able to get past the initial frustration and come up with a quick, practical response to the offer.
Counter the offer anyway
Even if you think there’s a small chance that the prospective buyer will raise their offer to fit your requirements, it’s still worth providing a counter offer. This will make it clear to the buyer that you have received their offer and considered it.
Failing to provide a counter offer could mean you miss out on a serious offer in some cases, so it’s worth the small amount of time it takes to provide.
Don’t waste too much time negotiating
So, you’ve sent a counter offer and have received a response that still isn’t getting anywhere close to what you’re looking for. Now what?
In this situation, it’s best to send a concise and cordial message to the buyer that you won’t be able to adjust your offering price any further and then thank them for their time. After this point, it likely isn’t worth your time to continue negotiating.
Low offers can be helpful
If you’re getting a lot of low offers and none in the range you hope for, it could be time to reconsider a few things. You might want to try a new approach, such as staging the home or highlighting certain details that you may have missed. If your listing photos aren’t up to par you can upload new ones that are higher quality with better lighting.
Next, see if the comparable listings in your area have gone down in price. A substantial change in the local market since the time you listed your property is, in some cases, enough to influence the offers you receive.
About the Author
Kimberly Hering
Kimberly Hering's devotion to helping people achieve their real estate goals stems from her genuine enjoyment of the process. Whatever the task, Kimberly makes it her mission to get it done, however she can, without compromising her client's needs. Often, that means thinking outside the box. After working with Kimberly, clients describe her as being Trustworthy, Creative, Patient, Highly Skilled, Attentive to the Process and having a lot of Integrity.
After spending more than 15 successful years working on Wall Street, Kimberly transitioned into Real Estate, joining Alain Pinel Realtors, then moving to Zephyr, now Corcoran Global Living, in 2018. During her career on Wall Street, Kimberly was a Vice President working as an Institutional Equity Salesperson for Montgomery Securities for 10 years. She covered the top money managers throughout the US and Canada. She joined Jefferies & Co as a Senior Vice President managing the Western Region Institutional Sales group, while continuing to cover the top money managers.
Kimberly leverages her extensive experience selling equities to top money managers throughout the US and Canada, to successfully negotiating any Real Estate transaction seamlessly for her clients. Kimberly is well versed in Marin's neighborhoods, towns, cities, and education system.
Living in the Bay Area for 35 years, 25 years in Marin and having 2 sons in local Marin schools, Kimberly spends a lot of time volunteering in the community and serving on various local Boards. Kimberly has a collection of resources ranging from the best local breakfast spots to vetted contractors. With her reliable list of valuable resources, Real Estate experience and unsurpassed knowledge of Marin's many communities, Kimberly can guide her clients through every aspect of a Real Estate transaction seamlessly.
Relocating to Marin, downsizing, upsizing, first time home buying, final home purchase or sale, or a lot to build a dream home, no matter the undertaking, Kimberly works seamlessly until the job at hand is completed with 100% satisfaction.