January 20th, 2022 3:53 PM by Holly Ecimovic
Here are some tips on making your offer stand out if you're looking to buy a home right now.
Experts with Consumer Reports say you should consider searching listings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They say it's because deals for homes are often made over the weekend, with listings updated to "pending" or "in contract" at the start of the week.
Some real estate agents say that buyers who wait until midweek to search might be spared the disappointment of possibly falling in love with homes that have already come and gone, and it could make it easier to identify properties with owners who might be a little more willing to negotiate.
Another suggestion from experts at Consumer Reports is to add value when you can. For example, one expert suggested that a buyer could offer to let the sellers stay in the home for a set period of time after closing. According to a recent report, many people did this during the pandemic, with success.
Some buyers also had success by agreeing to let the sellers keep a portion of the money in escrow, if the transaction were to follow through. One real estate agent said that's how he could compete with all-cash deals, for instance.
Click here to read more from Consumer Reports.