How to Make the Best Offer
Our guidance to help you prepare your strongest offer
When submitting an offer for a property, it’s important to understand that the strength of your offer isn’t just about the price - it’s a combination of price, terms, and conditions. A strong offer balances these factors to meet both your needs and the vendor’s expectations.
Making Your Best Offer
A strong offer is about more than just price. It is a combination of value, terms, and clarity, and what feels like the right balance will differ for every buyer and every property.
Our role is to act for the vendor and achieve the best possible outcome for them. At the same time, we believe buyers are best served when they understand how offers are assessed and what factors may influence a vendor’s decision.
Understanding the Price Range
You may notice that properties are advertised with a price range, for example $990,000 to $1,050,000. This range provides a guide to the vendor’s expectations, but it does not mean the vendor will automatically accept an offer at the lower end.
Generally:
The upper end of the range reflects the vendor’s ideal outcome.
The lower end represents a starting point, where offers are considered in the context of their terms, conditions, and overall market interest.
A vendor may consider a lower offer if the property has been on the market for some time, or if the offer includes particularly strong terms, such as a flexible settlement, fewer conditions, or a higher deposit.
Some buyers question why a range is advertised if the vendor may not accept the lowest figure. The reason is that:
A price range attracts a wider pool of buyers, helping to generate competition and gauge market response.
Vendors are open to considering offers across the range, depending on how compelling the overall offer is.
In a competitive market, vendors are more likely to hold firm toward the higher end of the range. In a slower market, or where terms provide greater certainty, offers toward the lower end may be more favourably received.
Conditions
Conditions exist to protect you, and they should always reflect what you are genuinely comfortable with.
Common conditions include finance approval, building and pest inspections, and legal review. We would never pressure a buyer to remove conditions unless they are completely certain and understand the risks involved.
What can make a difference is how conditions are structured and communicated, for example clear timeframes or evidence that steps are already underway, such as finance pre approval or inspections being organised.
Our role is to help you understand how your conditions may be perceived by the vendor, and how they can be presented clearly and realistically, while staying within your personal level of risk tolerance.
Transparency
The more transparent you are with us about your situation, the better we can assist.
When we understand your finance position, timing, and level of flexibility, we are better placed to help you shape an offer that you are comfortable making, while giving it the strongest possible chance of success.
Transparency allows us to communicate your offer accurately and confidently to the vendor.
A Balanced Approach
There is no single formula for a successful offer. The strongest offers are those that are well considered, clearly presented, and aligned with both the buyer’s comfort level and the vendor’s expectations.
If you are unsure, ask questions. We are here to help you understand the process and make informed decisions at every step.
Where to start
A good starting point is to complete our Offer Form by clicking the button below. It will take you through the process asking for the information we need to complete a Contract of Sale should your offer be successful. At this stage, the offer is not binding, but gives us an idea of where you sit in the landscape.
Feel free to call on 0428 744 498 if you have any questions or need further clarification.
Trusted Conveyancers and Legal Representatives
We encourage all buyers to seek independent legal advice before making an offer or signing a contract.
Early advice from a solicitor or conveyancer can help you understand the contract, clarify any conditions you may wish to include, and proceed with confidence.
For your convenience, below is a list of conveyancers and legal representatives we regularly work with and trust. You are under no obligation to engage any of the firms listed and are welcome to use a legal advisor of your own choosing.
Eastern Conveyancing
Suite 2, 3 Station Street, Mount Evelyn
03 9736 2029
office@easternconveyancing.com.au
www.easternconveyancing.com.au
Flie Legal
37 Mount Morton Road, Belgrave South VIC 3160
03 9873 4555
admin@flielegal.com.au
www.flie.com.au
Falcone & Adams Lawyers
P.O. Box 214, Emerald VIC 3782
03 5968 3666
office@falconeadams.com.au
www.falconeadams.com.au
