Getting an offer is an exciting moment! It means someone loves your home enough to invest in it with the hope of making it theirs. Both you and your buyer have goals to consider. Arriving at an agreed-upon sale price is the main objective, but there are many topics and tactics involved in contract negotiation. Here are a few:
Closing date. Closing (also referred to as completion or settlement) is the final step in executing your home sale. The closing date is usually several weeks after the offer is formally accepted. On the closing date, the ownership of the property is transferred to the buyer. Is your closing date a vital part of your moving plan? You’ll want to negotiate timing in your favor.
Occupancy. Do you or your buyer have any occupancy considerations? For example, will you need to stay longer after your closing date? In that case, you may need to arrange a lease-back or other special circumstance.
Contingencies. When a property is marked as contingent, it means that the buyer has made an offer and the seller has accepted that offer, but the deal is conditional upon one or more things happening, and the closing won't take place until those things happen. For example, they may not want to fully commit to buying your house until their own is under contract.
Cash sale. You may want to make special considerations for cash buyers.
What You Can Expect from an Agent
Here’s where intense training and a team with decades of experience make the most critical difference. A professional with expert sales skills, with team members at the ready, can help negotiate the best terms for you—and think of things you may not have even considered—to be included in your legal contract. Here are more ways an agent can help:
Price negotiating expertise
An agent can use all their knowledge, sales experience, brokerage resources and professional clout to push, on your behalf, for your top possible sale price.
Customized contracts
Each deal is a little different, with different buyer terms and requests. Your agent can create a contract designed around each specific situation.
Team support
In the event that the negotiating process becomes a challenge, Sibcy Cline agents have an entire team to help problem solve and get the deal done.
Multiple offers
Are you getting multiple offers at once? Your agent knows how to evaluate them together—and ultimately help you select the right buyer.
Stress management
This can be an emotional process. Your agent can bring an objective perspective and the reassurance you need to keep calm, focused and confident.
What does a licensed agent bring to the table?
The short answer is: extensive experience in our market. The long answer can be found in this guide. By understanding the ins and outs, you can feel even more confident in how to choose a real estate agent who's right for you. Search our agent directory or contact a Sibcy Cline office near you to connect with agents in your market.
