How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Bidding War

You’ve institute the menage you lot love. But, apparently, in addition to thus convey other buyers — in addition to it’s the same house. When several buyers desire to compete for the same property, how practise sellers select with offers? What tin post away you lot practise to increase your chances of getting the home? Freshome asked several experts to portion the secrets of winning a bidding war.


 When several buyers desire to compete for the same belongings How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Bidding War


An amicable human relationship tin post away operate inward your favor. Image: Monkey concern images/Shutterstock



Get to know the listing agent


We’re non recommending that you lot schmooze — although it mightiness help. “Befriending the listing agent is a slap-up idea,” Tracey Hampson at Realty One Group inward Valencia, CA, says. “I ever brand a betoken of speaking with the listing agent in addition to bespeak who she would similar to role for services similar escrow in addition to title.” In her state, it is the listing agent who commonly chooses. “And I enquire if at that spot is anything specific the seller is looking for,” Hampson explains. She says you lot tin post away larn a lot of data out of a telephone call.


Tory Keith, President of Natick, MA-based existent estate theatre Board in addition to Park, agrees. “A goodness buyer’s agent volition ever convey a conversation with the seller’s agent to larn a experience for how competitive the province of affairs is, whether at that spot are price likewise cost that are of import to the seller in addition to whether at that spot volition move a 2d chance to introduce best in addition to in conclusion offers.” However, if the habitation is FSBO, you lot in addition to your agent volition demand to larn to know the seller since no agent volition move involved on their end.


 When several buyers desire to compete for the same belongings How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Bidding War


Make certain your agent is upwards to the task. Image: Jeff Manes/Getty Images



Choose your ain agent carefully


It’s of import to larn to know the seller’s agent, exactly brand certain you lot know your agent equally well. “An agent’s reputation tin post away in addition to does convey an lawsuit on the offering process,” says Apr Macowicz, Broker Associate in addition to Team Owner at The MAC Group RE inward San Diego, CA. “If your agent has a reputation for beingness difficult, you lot tin post away enjoin goodbye to that home, specially inward a bidding war,” she warns.


 When several buyers desire to compete for the same belongings How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Bidding War


Try to adjust the seller. Image: 10’000 Hours/Getty Images



Make the seller’s life easier


If you lot tin post away plow over the seller to a greater extent than fourth dimension or trim their score of stress, you lot mightiness plow over yourself an edge. “One agency to brand your offering stand upwards out is past times either removing the inspection contingency or reducing the timelines on those,” Macowicz says. “If you lot tin post away larn away with having a 5-day inspection period, that looks a lot improve to the seller than a 17-day inspection period.”


This is why it’s of import to come across with the seller’s agent to respect out what the seller cares about. “There is goose egg worse than writing a sum cost cash offering to closed inward xxx days when the seller needs xc days to displace out,” says Tom Matthews of the Tom in addition to Joanne Team at Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty.


And letting the seller develop the moving appointment is some other agency to gain an advantage. “Put inward the contract that you lot volition adjust the seller’s closing/moving date,” advises Sissy Lappin, Founder of ListingDoor.com.


 When several buyers desire to compete for the same belongings How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Bidding War


Don’t underestimate the ability of offering to a greater extent than money. Image: Don Farrall/Getty Images



Money is important


Of course, a higher offering is usually the start affair that buyers consider. And Jon Tetrault, a squad manager at The Nick Slocum Team at Slocum Realty inward Rhode Island, offers some advice on how to create a compelling offer.


“Make certain you lot run the numbers to move certain that the neighborhood supports the cost you’re offering, exactly the higher the offer, the improve your chances,” Tetrault says. “I ever propose buyers become slightly higher upwards an fifty-fifty number.” So, if the habitation is listed at $300,000 in addition to his buyers desire to offering $302,000, Tetrault suggests offering $302,250. “That volition plow over them a leg upwards inward the lawsuit that somebody else offers $302,000,” Tetrault says.


Another tip is to brand the offering equally construct clean equally possible, Hampson says. “Don’t enquire for whatsoever coin towards closing costs, etc.”


 When several buyers desire to compete for the same belongings How to Increase Your Chances of Winning a Bidding War


Be charming. Image: MirageC/Getty Images



Attach a brusque note


Lappin also recommends including a brusque banknote on what you lot beloved most the habitation — similar the architectural details — in addition to why you lot desire to become far your own. “I did this on 1 habitation that had vii offers in addition to the seller was adamant the ‘nice lady’ was going to larn her home,” Lappin says.


However, Vivian Cobb of Colorado Springs, CO-based Cobb Real Estate is against including notes in addition to letters. “Remember, this is a concern bargain in addition to it’s most what makes feel for the seller,” she says. “Keeping emotions out of it is goodness advice.”