You may shortly find yourself in a real estate bidding war if you’re one of the many first-time homebuyers looking to buy in competitive markets like Austin, TX or Denver, CO. You may also think the only way to win the house is by putting in the highest offer. While this sounds like the right and possibly only strategy, you might be surprised when a homeowner selects a lower bid.
Winning a real estate bidding war doesn’t always come down to price – there are actually many other tactics that are extremely effective. All-cash offers, pre-approval letters, and flexible timelines are all strategies that can beat out the highest offer. When you’re planning your bidding strategy, consider the following tactics to help make your offer stand out amongst the competition.
1. Get pre-approved for a mortgage
One of the first steps you should take towards purchasing a house is obtaining a pre-approval letter. A pre-approval letter states that a lender is willing to lend money up to a certain amount. These are typically acquired from a mortgage company or a bank.
Getting pre-approved is almost always beneficial when buying a house, but especially if another buyer puts in a large offer during a real estate bidding war, but isn’t pre-approved. By having this letter, you can show the seller that you’re a qualified and serious buyer, even if you don’t have the highest bid. Pre-approval letters typically have an expiration date of 30 to 60 days, however, they can be updated with reverification of your information.
2. Go in with an all-cash offer
We’ve all heard the term “cash is king,” and when it comes to real estate bidding wars it’s no different. Having cash on hand means that mortgage companies don’t need to get involved, escrow closes faster, and you don’t have to worry about appraisals. All-cash offers show the seller you mean business and are ready to buy the house today.
3. Provide a flexible timeline
Flexibility around specific details in real estate transactions is nearly as good as offering the highest bid. Sometimes sellers need more or less time in the home than the typical 30-day closing period. If you are not in a rush to move, be flexible with your closing timeline and let the seller decide when works best for them. This can go a long way in a real estate bidding war especially if competing offers come in with hard deadlines.
4. Eliminate contingencies during a real estate bidding war
Of course, there will always be contingencies when buying a house. Home inspections, financing, and appraisals are all important, however, you want to make sure that you aren’t overwhelming the seller by asking for too much. If you want to be the victor in a bidding war without the highest offer, you should remove as many contingencies as possible. However, it’s important to note that as you eliminate contingencies, you’re effectively taking risk off the home seller (which is why it’s a winning strategy) and putting it instead on yourself.
5. Write a personal letter about why you are the perfect homeowners
Almost all sellers want to make sure their home is going to people that will take care of it and love it as much as they do. Including a personal offer letter, complimenting recent renovations, stating why you would be the perfect caretakers, and sharing what you love about the home, will help you stand out. It won’t always make a major difference, but this personal touch can help compliment an offer even if it’s not the highest bid.
Real estate bidding wars can be extremely competitive, but implementing these five strategies can help your offer stand out. You should also consult with your real estate agent, as they may have additional insight on how to make your offer more attractive. In the end, the sellers are going to choose the offer that’s most attractive to them, so do whatever you can to make your offer the best on the table.
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.