How to Negotiate a Contingent Sale
Most homeowners need the equity from their current house to finance their next home. This means their purchase is contingent on the sale of their current home. Navagating a contingent sale requires advanced planning, a proven strategy, and skilled transaction management.
We’re contingent sale specialists.
We work one-on-one with you to build a custom Sell-Buy plan tailored to meet your timelines and goals.
We get your home sold for top dollar at the right price and terms.
We find your perfect next home.
Our proven Sell-Buy Strategy ensures a stree-free transaction.
Things to Consider When Making a Contingent Offer
A few years ago it was virtually impossible to find a seller who would accept a contingent offer. Thankfully, the market has shifted and today most sellers will accept a well structured contingent offer. The keys to getting your contingent offer accepted and closed are: thorough advance planning, implementation and execution of a proven Sell-Buy strategy, strategic pricing, first-class marketing, and proactive transaction management. Following are some of the topics we’ll discuss during a pre-listing consultation.
Equity Assessment
During our pre-listing consultation we’ll determine the value range of your house, in the current market, and calculate the estimated net proceeds from the sale. This tells you how much equity you’ll have to apply to your next home. This combined with your loan pre-approval tells us the budget range for your next home. It’s smart to be conservative when calculating this estimate.
Pricing Strategies
Accurately pricing your home is essential to get your contingent offer accepted and to get your current property sold within the contingency deadline. This doesn’t mean giving the home away … it means that you have to have realistic expectations about what your home will sell for in the current market and will that price generate the cash you need to purchase your next home.
Home Inspection
Getting a pre-listing home inspection is always a good idea, but when making a contingent offer, it’s an absolute must. You need to know, before going on market, if there are major issues with your home that will need to be repaired before closing. This enables us to price your home correctly and prevents a sale fail due to unexpected repair issues that cause a buyer to get cold feet and terminate the contract.
Repairs
The pre-listing inspection identifies potential deal-breaking issues. Some repairs need to be addressed before going on market, while others can be factored into the price. Five issues that scare buyers are: water in the crawl space, mold due to water intrusion, foundation problems, roof issues, and sewer lines. If the pre-listing inspection identifies any of these issues, they may need to a resolved before listing or accounted for in the pricing.
Digital Marketing
The final step to closing a contingent purchase is getting your home sold at the right price within the contingency period. The first sale of every home is online. We go the extra mile to take professional photographs and videos to showcase your home at it’s best. Then we hire an industry leading marketing firm to market your home to potential buyers on Facebook and other social media channels. Our goal is to sell quickly for top dollar.
Your Next Home
To find the right home we work closely with you to identify the location, style, price range, and amenities of your next home. Based on your equity assessment and the pre-approval from your lender, we then identify all the homes for sale that match your parameters. Then we schedule appointments and view homes. During our first few showings we refine your wishlist and continue the search until we find your new home. Once under contract we handle all negotiations and paperwork.
Meet
James Bradley
A contingent purchase can be stressful. To reduce stress hire a broker who understands your concerns, goals, and timelines and works closely with you to create a customized Sell-Buy strategy that works for you. We work one-on-one with you and handle all the paperwork, negotiations, marketing, and manage the transactions from start to finish. This enables you to focus on packing and getting ready to move to your new home.
Watch the video to learn more.
Why People Work With Us
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Personalized Expertise
We specialize in helping homeowners transition to the next stage of homeownership. Whether you’re downsizing, relocating, or looking for a more accessible home, we offer personalized, one-on-one guidance throughout the entire process. Our journey begins by meeting to discuss your concerns, goals, and timelines.
Trusted Real Estate Advisor
Stress-Free Selling and Buying Process
How to Get Started
Schedule a Consultation
In this one-on-one session, we’ll review the listing and purchase processes. Topics include: laws of agency, broker compensation, purchase and sale agreements, seller disclosures, home inspections, repairs, homeowner associations (HOAs), closing costs, appraisals, the market, and more. After the legal stuff we move on to defining your “must-haves” for your next home and set up a custom home search.
Build a Custom Strategy
Find Your New Home and Start Packing
After the paperwork is signed, our team will get to work preparing photos, videos, print materials, and social media campaigns to sell your home for the best possible price. Simultaneously, we’ll work with you to find your new home, negotiate the price, and manage the entire transaction process. We manage all the paperwork and negotiations, so you can focus on packing and preparing for your move.
What Our Customers Say
Hear from our satisfied customers who have experienced the quality of our service.
In my case, I was moving to the Portland area from Seattle. Jim was very knowledgeable about the various neighborhoods and savvy about what to look for with the various listings. In addition, given the market and my price point, this effort took a while. Jim was patient, encouraging, accommodating and steadfast. I couldn’t have done it without him. I recommend him wholeheartedly.
Brigitta Remole
Jim helped my husband and I purchase our new home and sell our old home, both in Vancouver. We appreciated Jim’s calm demeanor and pragmatic guidance throughout both transactions. He patiently answered our questions and kept us well informed at every stage. Jim exemplifies integrity and professionalism at its best. We will continue to highly recommend him.
Thanks, Jim!
Ellen Jones
Jim is the best broker I’ve met in my life. He is very knowledgeable in his craft and he cares to create relationships. Unlike most brokers, he doesn’t just try to get you to buy as fast as possible, he cares to find the best house you could have. He listened to the details that mattered to me (and boy was the list long), he nervously said let’s find you the perfect house, and he did! He grasped my style/taste right away, which I think is very important to keep efficient and not waste time in the search. He’s honest, friendly, funny, and a delight to work with. Couldn’t recommend him enough.
Naira Avy
FAQ
What’s My Home Worth?
When’s the Best Time to Sell?
If you’re considering selling your home, you might wonder, “When is the right time to sell?” Traditionally, February through July are ideal months due to heightened buyer activity. However, in today’s market, homes sell year-round. Ultimately, the best time to sell depends on your personal goals and timelines.
Should I Invest in Upgrading My House Prior to Selling?
Deciding which home improvements offer the best returns can be complex, as not all upgrades are equal. In the current market, we recommend avoiding major investments if you plan to sell your home within five years. Instead, focus on minor updates that can enhance your home’s appeal, helping it sell faster and at a better price.
To identify the most effective strategy for your needs, schedule a complimentary pre-listing walkthrough of your home. During this assessment, we’ll evaluate your home from a buyer’s perspective and suggest cost-effective repairs or upgrades, if necessary, to consider before listing.
Offers & Negotiation
Congratulations, someone wants to purchase your home! Or, if you’re fortunate, you might have multiple offers on the table. The offer stage is one of the most exhilarating parts of the sales process. Whether you receive the ideal offer right away, need to choose between several offers, or engage in extended negotiations with a difficult buyer, we are here to manage all negotiations on your behalf. Our expertise includes reviewing offers, vetting buyers and their agents, liaising with lenders, and skillfully negotiating. We present all offers to you and negotiate with the most suitable buyers to secure the best price and terms.
In every transaction, three crucial negotiation points arise. The first is the offer to purchase, which encompasses the purchase price, down payment, earnest money, closing date, inspections, and rent backs, among others. The second is the buyer’s repair negotiation, this is especially critical if you’re selling or buying an older home. The third involves potential negotiations following the appraisal.
With our years of experience, we are also Certified Negotiation Experts. This certification signifies that we possess the skills and real-world experience necessary to negotiate effectively on your behalf, ensuring you receive the best possible price and terms.
How do I Sell and Buy a Home at the Same Time?
To get started schedule a consultation. The is a no-pressure conversation where we answer your questions, view your home, explain the selling and buying process, and review the laws of agency, broker compensation, purchase and sale agreements, seller disclosures, home inspections, repairs, homeowner associations (HOAs), closing costs, appraisals, the market, and more.
