Evaluating Offers
Every offer represents a tradeoff between three factors: price, certainty, and timing.
There is no universally "best" offer—only the one that best aligns with your priorities. My role is to help you understand those tradeoffs so you can make the decision that's right for you.
Imagine a home priced at $1,000,000, with an expectation of multiple offers. Consider these scenarios — the prices are illustrative, not indicative of your home's value.
Scenario 1
No inspection (high certainty), no mortgage contingency (high certainty), very quick close (quick time), price of $1,000,000.
Scenario 2
No inspection, very low offer deposit and P&S deposit (possible low-certainty signal), no mortgage contingency, very quick close, price of $1,015,000.
Scenario 3
Inspection contingency (lower certainty), mortgage contingency but with extremely strong finances (good but not great certainty), very quick close, price of $1,015,000.
Scenario 4
Inspection contingency, mortgage contingency, average buyer finances (lower certainty), very quick close, price of $1,075,000.
Scenario 5
Inspection contingency, no mortgage contingency (high certainty), very long close (long time), price of $1,070,000, no use and occupancy.
Every offer has different advantages. Before we're in the thick of the process, it's helpful to discuss scenarios like these so we can be analytical about choices at a time when things are less emotionally charged.