16 Jan
16Jan

The Counter Offer – Negotiation Strategies for Sellers


Getting an offer on your home is very exciting. Then you open the offer and 

realize it’s not what you were expecting and you are wondering what to do next.

Answering an offer which is not acceptable is a matter of strategy. Here are a few 

of the strategies used by successful listing agents to handle a low offer. 


Counter

The most common way to respond to a low offer is to send the buyers a counter 

offer. You can counter at the list price and terms or come down and offer 

something in between list price and t

he offer. 


Highest and Best

This strategy allows the buyer to revise their offer, should they choose. This is 

most often used in a multiple offer situation, but works just as well with a single 

buyer who needs to know their offer isn’t acceptable.  

Include


Terms in Negotiation

The price is not the only part of an offer which can be negotiated; the terms can 

also be changed. Sometimes a seller can get a higher price by offering longer 

escrow or adding furniture.  


Reject the Offer

There is no reason to respond to an offer which isn’t even close to acceptable. A 

seller can reject the offer completely. 


Offers are exciting; consider the options available for counter offers and ensure 

you negotiate a good deal for your home.  

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