3 common reasons sellers reject home offers

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Real Estate


Home offers are rejected for myriad reasons. Here are some of the most common ones, as explained by the experts.

1. Your offer was too low
The first and most obvious reason your home offer could have been rejected is if the dollar amount didn’t meet the seller’s expectations. This might mean your offer was insultingly low, or that it was just low compared with other offers.  When a seller is considering multiple offers, the low offer seems less serious and could indicate further negotiating headaches down the road.”

2. Your earnest money deposit was too 'cheap'
If there’s one part of the offer you shouldn’t cheap out on, it’s the earnest money deposit. This deposit (also called an EMD or “good faith” deposit) basically signifies how interested you are in the home and that you plan on moving forward with the deal, all the way to its closing.

Since many contracts stipulate that a seller can keep the earnest money deposit when a buyer walks at the last minute, you should feel certain about the house—and then convey this certainty by leaving a significant deposit.

3. You asked for too many contingencies
Sellers don’t just want the best price for their home; they also want the easiest deal—which means no complications.

 Make your deal an easier and more appealing one for sellers by sticking to the fewest number of contingencies possible, getting due diligence done quickly, or targeting homes that have been on the market for longer.

 

Information provided by Larissa Runkle | Realtor.com