Special offer

Don't Wait For A Price Reduction, Submit The Offer To Induce A Price Reduction

By
Real Estate Agent with Platinum Real Estate Group

Recently, I was talking with a few of my buyers, and they all had the same idea. These buyers aren't necessarily hot, but are looking for that right home, with the right price. The idea was: I like this home and that home, but I want to wait an see if they have a price reduction, or they want to wait for the best value. 

Why You Shouldn't Wait For The Price Reduction

Logan Ut Homes

The real estate market today, well at least real estate in Logan, UT, has been picking up dramatically. I don't know if we are necessarily in the so called buyers market anymore.

What I mean is this: If a home is priced right, or is a great value, we are seeing multiple offer situations.

Buyers are in bidding wars to get those great homes. The homes that aren't getting the multiple offers are either over priced, or in poor condition. 

Why You don't Want To Be In A Bidding War

 

If you're a buyer in this market, a bidding war is not what you want to be in. It can turn that great value, into an emotional spending spree.

What I mean is this: You want this home, you fell in love with it, and now you have to compete with another buyer who has the same feeling. It may turn out, the home with the great value, just turned into the home that was overpriced. 

If you're a buyer in this market, and you're waiting for the great value, you're not alone. Chances are, let me take that back, almost always, there is at least one more buyer in the same shoes. So, what's happening is, the great homes are seeing bidding wars, which means the seller is in the drivers seat, and that great offer may not be so great anymore. 

Now, if you want to be all alone on your offer, and don't want to play that bidding war game. Maybe you should take a hard look at the homes that are, in your mind, over priced. If you think about it, you're not the only buyer that thinks the home is over priced. And if the home has been on the market for a fair amount of time, it just may be that great deal you have been looking for.

Let me explain:

 

Why Should I Look At Over Priced Homes?ABC

Home A = Overpriced, great condition.

Home B = Great Price, great condition.

Home A - Multiple showings, and has been on the market for 3 months. 

Home B - Multiple showings, and has been on the market for 1 week.

Home A - Does not have any offers, and are starting to feel down on their situation.

Home B - Has offers coming in, and a lot of activity, chances are, this home won't last.

Home A  is going to be more negotiable on an offer. You may have heard of the low ball offer,  these are the homes that are getting those low offers, and most of them are going to the closing table for well under listing price.

On the other hand, Home B can reject that low offer, and chances are if you are the one who made it, your out of the loop. 

Why An Overpriced Home Might Be The Best Value

 

  • The overpriced home in my example above just may very well be the best value.
  • Here's why: No bidding war, more negotiable, more willing to help with closing costs, and that price reduction may have been sitting in the back of the sellers mind, you just needed to induce that reduction with an offer. 

 

Don't wait for a price reduction, submit an offer, and negotiate the price reduction. Buying a home for a great value isn't about waiting, it's about negotiating the best price for the best value. Any experienced real estate agent knows this, but it's just as important for you to know as a potential home buyer. 

 

Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Lisa, very nicely put. I always encourage my buyers to make and offer to get the negotiations going and I encourage my sellers to treat every offer as an opportunity to achieve their goals.

May 21, 2009 05:30 AM
Robert Havana
Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB
Alberta Real Estate License Parking

Geez, I agree.  If the only thing wrong with a property is the price, make an offer!  That is one of the easiest things you can change and negotiate.  Far better than finding the wrong home at the right price.

May 21, 2009 05:34 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Lisa,  Excellent advice for leery buyers.  Get something going and make your own luck !   Well done !

May 21, 2009 05:36 AM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

Lisa,

I like the way you think.  You make an excellent point. 

Kathy

May 21, 2009 06:13 AM
Dan and Amy Schuman
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Solon, OH
Luxury Home Specialists

Lisa, I like the topic of this post and hope buyers take your advice. In our experience, buyers have gotten great deals doing exactly what you suggest. Most buyers though seem to be afraid to "low ball" or put in an offer on a home that is overpriced because they are afraid things won't work out and they will be let down. I think buyers need to at least "go for it" on a home they love and offer whatever they are comfortable with. If things don't work out, at least they tried.

May 21, 2009 06:26 AM
Liz Loadholt
Liz Loadholt- AgentOwned Realty- Covering SC - Mount Pleasant, SC
Realtor--Broker-in-charge - Trainer--Relocation Director Covering SC

Lisa --- I love your reasons to look at an overpriced house --I'm going to reblog this post in hopes that my agent-owners will see it.  Great post.

Mama Liz's Signature

May 21, 2009 07:14 AM
Christine McInerney
Great Life RE - Knoxville, TN
The McInerney Team, Knoxville TN Homes For Sale

Lisa, great post and it makes perfect sense, however, I have found that Buyers have a very difficult time grasping this concept, almost as much as a near full price offer for a home that has an amazing price to start with when we know there has been tons of activity on it.

The overall process should be about getting the house that is the best fit for you, not how cheap you can get it. 

May 21, 2009 02:02 PM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

I always encourage buyers to step up to the plate and make an offer for "the house" they love, even if it's overpriced and they'd be lowballing it.  FIgure out at what price it's worth it to you and make the offer to get the ball rolling.  If the seller is a serious one, he'll counter with something and you can always take the time to educate him to do the same on his next purchase and make up the difference there.

May 21, 2009 02:20 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Hi Lisa - Hey if you can get the great house at the right price why not!

May 22, 2009 02:48 AM