Mastering the Art of Negotiation: What First-Time Buyers Need to Know About Offers & Counteroffers

So, you’ve found the perfect home. You can already picture yourself hosting game nights in the living room, sipping coffee on the front porch, and maybe even adopting a dog to complete the dream. 🏡☕🐶

But before you start measuring for furniture, there’s one big hurdle to cross—negotiation.

The offer and counteroffer process is where things get real, and as a first-time buyer, it can feel a bit like a high-stakes game of poker—except instead of chips, you’re dealing with thousands of dollars and your future home.

But don’t worry—I’m here to break it all down so you can negotiate with confidence and get the best deal possible!

                                             Illustration: Francesco Ciccolella

Step 1: Making Your Initial Offer 💰

Once you’ve found the one, your agent (hi, that’s me! 👋) will help you submit an official offer to the seller. This is more than just saying, “I’ll take it!”—it’s a written contract that includes:

✅ Your offered price (this is the big one!)
✅ Earnest money deposit (a good faith payment that shows you’re serious)
✅ Contingencies (protections for you—more on these later!)
✅ Closing timeline (when you plan to officially buy the home)
✅ Any additional requests (like asking for repairs or seller-paid closing costs)

📌 Pro Tip: Your offer isn’t just about the price. In a competitive market, terms like a quick closing date or waiving minor repairs can make your offer more attractive—sometimes even more than a higher bid!

Step 2: The Seller’s Response (a.k.a. Counteroffers & The Waiting Game) ⏳

Once the seller receives your offer, they have three choices:

✔ Accept it as-is (Hooray! 🎉 This happens when your offer is strong & meets their needs.)
❌ Reject it completely (Rare, unless your offer is way off from their expectations.)
🔄 Counteroffer (The most common scenario!)

A counteroffer is when the seller comes back with new terms. They might:

• Ask for a higher price
• Keep the price but remove certain contingencies
• Adjust closing dates to fit their timeline
• Decline requests for repairs or offer a credit instead

📌 Pro Tip: Counteroffers aren’t personal—it’s just business! Sellers want to feel like they’re getting the best deal, just like you do.

Step 3: Negotiating Like a Pro 🤝

Now it’s your turn to respond! You can:

✔ Accept the counteroffer and move forward! 🏡✨
✔ Reject it and walk away (without penalty if your contingencies allow it).
✔ Counter back again and try to find a middle ground.

This back-and-forth can happen multiple times until both sides agree on terms—or one party walks away. But don’t stress! Your agent will guide you and strategize to get you the best possible deal.

📌 Pro Tip: The key to winning in negotiations? Flexibility. Sometimes meeting in the middle is better than losing out on a great home over a few thousand dollars or a minor repair.

Beyond Price: Other Things You Can Negotiate 💡

Most first-time buyers focus on the price, but there’s so much more you can negotiate! Here are some extra perks that can save you money:

🛠️ Repairs – If the home inspection finds issues, you can ask the seller to fix them before closing.
💰 Closing Costs – Sellers may agree to cover some (or all) of your closing costs—huge win for buyers!
📆 Closing Date – Need extra time before moving in? Or want to close fast? It’s negotiable!
📦 Appliances & Furniture – Love the stainless steel fridge? You can ask for it to be included!
🏡 Home Warranty – Some sellers will cover a one-year home warranty, protecting you from unexpected repairs.

📌 Pro Tip: Sellers are more likely to agree to non-price negotiations than to lower the price—especially if they have multiple offers.

Final Thoughts: Negotiating Doesn’t Have to Be Scary!

The offer and negotiation process can feel intense, but remember—you don’t have to go through it alone. With the right strategy and a knowledgeable agent on your side, you’ll navigate the back-and-forth with confidence and land the best possible deal.

💬 Still have questions about how the negotiation process works? Drop them in the comments or send me a message—I’m happy to help!

And if you found this helpful, stay tuned—because next week, we’re diving into what happens AFTER your offer is accepted! 😉