Are you a home buyer in Gainesville?  If so, be prepared!  Our inventory of homes for sale is falling, and that could create a Multiple Offer setting for homes that come on the market in Gainesville.

If you have been hunting for a home and you’ve finally found a perfect home that has just come on the market use these strategies when making your offer. Remember, there can be other buyers “just like you” that may want this newly listed home too! If you’re caught in a bidding war, there’s more you can do than cross your fingers.

Here are 3 strategies that may help turn the odds of winning the Multiple Offer war in your favor.

Remember that price is not the ONLY issue on an offer!

1. Help the Seller Out
Do whatever you can, within reason, to make the decision easier for the seller. This can include being flexible on the closing date to accommodate the seller’s moving plans. Although it’s not unusual for buyers to ask a seller to pay for a portion of their closing costs, now may not be the time to press your luck. If you’re able to cover your own closing costs and you don’t ask for seller assistance in your offer, you definitely could stand out. Also, the greater your down payment- the stronger your offer! This can make the seller more secure that your mortgage financing will close with no problems. That’s not to say you can’t compete against someone who is offering a larger down payment; sellers will weigh various factors as they review offers with their agent. Overall, limiting your requests of the sellers and submitting your highest and best offer are the best approaches to being competitive.

2. Be Prepared to Act Fast
Both you and your agent should be constantly monitoring homes for sale so you can evaluate potential homes as quickly as they’re posted. Make sure your agent will research the properties as much as possible before your showings so you can be prepared to make an offer on the spot if the home is a good fit. Talk with your agent about adding an escalation clause into your offer that automatically increases your bid if other buyers come in. Pay attention to your “contingencies.  Limit your inspection period to a maximum of 15 days.  Using our Florida contract “AS-IS with right to inspect” is a better option than large repair contingencies on our contract forms. Finally, include a pre-approval letter from your lender stating that you qualify for a loan in the amount of your offer.

3. Don’t Be Shy
There isn’t always a lot of cash separating the top bid from the next closest contenders. For a seller with a strong emotional attachment to their home, an extra thousand dollars might mean less than passing their house along to the right buyer. Draft a letter describing why you fell in love with their house, your agent will include this when presenting your offer to the seller’s agent.  Share a bit about you & your family, as the seller may be curious about you too and might give you the edge over the other offers.

Don’t be a frustrated buyer!  Make sure you are working with a BUYER’S AGENT in Gainesville FL!

Call us to help you find your next home in Gainesville!

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