How to Handle Real Estate Counter Offers

Real estate counter offers are a fact of life when you are trying to sell a house. Rarely, does a seller come across a buyer willing to pay full asking price for their property, especially if a real estate agent is representing the seller. Read on to learn how to handle real estate counter offers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get an appraisal. Many times sellers think their homes are worth more than they are actually worth. By getting an appraisal the seller will know what their home is worth under current market conditions.

2. Decide ahead of time on the rock bottom selling price for your home.

3. Do not be persuaded by the buyer's agent to sell at a much lower price. Real estate agents are trained to negotiate the best deals for their clients, but the buyer's agent will not have your best interests in mind.

4. Make another counter offer. If the listing price of your house is $500,000, but the prospective buyer only offers $400,000, you can make a counter offer at a price you are more comfortable with such as $475,000. Counter offers back and forth could happen many times before buyer and seller come to an actual agreement.

Tips & Warnings

• Many sellers get offended when buyers make a low offer. Just remember the offer is nothing personal, the buyer is only trying to negotiate the best deal.