What to compare
- Price and any seller concessions or credits requested
- Financing type, down payment and pre-approval strength
- Earnest money amount
- Contingencies and their deadlines
- Appraisal gap coverage, if offered
- Closing date and any rent-back request
Look at your net, not just the price
Hypothetical example. Offer A is $410,000 but asks for $8,000 in closing cost help. Offer B is $405,000 with no credits. Before other costs, Offer A nets you about $402,000 and Offer B about $405,000. Ask your agent for a side-by-side net sheet.
Weigh how likely each offer is to close
An offer is only worth something if it closes. A buyer with a larger down payment, a pre-approval from a lender with a strong track record and few contingencies is often a safer bet. A home sale contingency or a long inspection period adds risk.
Ask your agent to call each buyer's lender. A quick conversation can confirm that the pre-approval is current, that the buyer's documents have been reviewed and that the lender sees no obvious hurdles. That small step can tell you a lot about which offer will hold up.
Asking for best and final
If offers are close, your agent can ask all buyers for their highest and best offers by a deadline. Keep the process fair and consistent so buyers trust it. Some will improve price, some will shorten contingencies and some will hold firm.
Backup offers
You can accept a backup offer that moves into first position if your main deal falls through. It can save you from relisting and starting over. Your agent can write the terms so the backup buyer knows where they stand.
Terms that matter to you
Think about what you need beyond money. A flexible closing date, a short rent-back so you can move once, or a buyer willing to take the home as-is may be worth more to you than a small bump in price.
Before offers arrive, decide with your agent what matters most to you. Having your priorities clear makes it easier to compare offers quickly and calmly when the deadline comes.
