Why I Love When Agents Upload Offer Instructions

Early on as an agent, a home I submitted an offer for had a document labeled "Offer Instructions" in the files. I thought this was brilliant. It made creating the offer easier for me as the Buyer's agent and created less back and forth. I immediately followed suit and created an Offer Instructions document to use with my listings. Below is a summary of the information listed in it.

 

Where to send the offer

I ask them to put "Offer for [property address] in the subject line and give them the email address they should use to submit the offer.

Listing agent and broker information

I list all the details required in the agent information section of the offer. The brokerage name, license number, address, and phone number; agent name, license number, email and phone number; and their licensed supervisor's name, license number, and phone number.

Contract details specific to myself or the property at hand

In my case, that information includes:

• The name, address, phone number, and specific title agent name of my preferred title company
• How much earnest money to list in the contract.
• What option to check in the property survey box.
• To include the signed Seller's Disclosure if one exists in the document section with the offer.
• To execute and include any addenda listed in the document section with the offer.
• The amount per day for the option fee, the maximum number of days for the option, and where to drop option checks.
  

I keep the instructions short and sweet, and it's a one-page document. It helps prevent a lot of searching for this information by the Buyer's agent and helps ensure I receive offers on my listings that are complete, and that go where I want them to go.

 

If you're not currently using an Offer Instructions document, I'd highly suggest you consider doing so.