Simple Steps to Making An Offer on A Home

Susan Kelly Updated on

To get the house of your dreams, you'll need to put in a competitive bid. Making an offer on a property is easier if you have the assistance of an experienced real estate agent, but you need also be aware of the steps involved.


If you're a first-time homebuyer, consider taking a homebuyer education course to help you get up to speed. Make an offer on a home with this information at your disposal.



Before Making A House Offer


Before making an offer on a property, you should have three things. Preapproval from at least one lender is the first step. Before shopping for a home, you should get pre-approved for a loan.


Preapproval is time-consuming, but the essential benefit is that it tells you how much house you can buy. A preapproval letter also reassures the seller that the sale will be complete and shows that you are a serious buyer. When the seller is under pressure to sell quickly, this might be very useful.


Make sure your offer is competitive by knowing your market. Comparable sales, other market data, or a comparative market study from your real estate agent can all be used in this process. Make an offer that's a little less than your preapproval amount so that you have the flexibility to work out a deal with the seller.



1. Obtain Preapproval for A Mortgage


To make an offer on a property, you must first be pre-approved for a loan. An anticipated purchase price and some basic income and credit details are required for preapproval. If everything checks out, you'll know your interest rate, closing costs, regular payment amount, and the maximum purchase price you're eligible for.


Your preapproval letter will also be sent to you. When submitting an offer on the house, don't forget to include your preapproval letter. This demonstrates that you can fulfill your end of the bargain to potential buyers.


Check to see whether you've been pre-approved rather than pre-qualified. Because pre-qualifications don't need a credit check, they're erroneous and untrustworthy. A preapproval letter is required for most sellers to accept an offer.


2. Have A Lawyer or Conveyancer Review The Deal


It is essential to have a conveyancer or solicitor available to go over contracts. If your preapproval has been granted, it's time to hunt for a legal professional who can swiftly and efficiently read over a document.


You may locate someone in your region with a fast online search. Finding a specialist who has dealt with comparable property purchases before can help you rapidly identify any issues.


In many cases, a law company will read a few contracts and only charge you when your offer is approved. Still, the sad reality is that many purchasers make unsuccessful offers before having a successful offer. You don't want to be charged every time you need a contract read as a potential buyer.


Before hiring a legal professional, it's essential to determine whether or not they will have time to study the contract thoroughly. You face the danger of mistakes being made or things lasting too long if they're overworked or understaffed. You should expect to have a contract reviewed within 24 hours on average.


3. Look into Nearby Houses


Check the sold part of our website at realestate.com.au/sold, where you can examine the trends in the specific region you're seeking to determine whether your offer is realistic. If you use the realestate.com.au app, you can stay on top of market trends and put all your property research in one place that's easy to access.


4. Attend The First Open House


According to Jellis Craig Doncaster director Andrew Keleher, it is a good idea to attend the first open house if you are considering placing an offer on a home. Vendors may be more amenable to an early offer if the open for inspection is sparsely attended, and the property is scheduled for auction.


During an open house, Keleher adds, "You can get a sense whether or not it's going to be a big campaign if there are a lot of purchasers asking for contracts and asking, 'Will you take offers before the auction?'"


You should always ask the realtor how many parties have been through and how much interest there has been if you can't make it to the initial open house. The best method to show the agent you're serious is to engage in meaningful conversation with them. This may have a surprising impact on the vendor.


5. Negotiate The Sale Price and Terms


After you've made an offer, the seller has the option to accept, reject, or counteroffer. Congratulations if the seller accepts your offer! Your search for a new home should begin as soon as the seller rejects your offer. Please take what you've learned from this experience and apply it to your future proposal.


ยท A Seller's Counteroffer


If the seller counteroffers, you have a few options to choose from. Either accept the offer in its current form or create a counteroffer of your own. If you opt to counteroffer, realize that it's not uncommon to go through multiple rounds of talks before settling on a deal that both sides are pleased with.


Always remember that you have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to haggling. Change your closing date or offer a lease-back so the seller may rent the house back from you while they look for a new property.