1. Check the MLS for the most recent status and to see if there are changes to the broker notes, like “looking at offers tonight.”

2. Contact the listing agent to see if they can tell me something the seller would like beyond the obvious. Some may have dates they would like or appraisal gaps. If they respond, I may learn that there are offers, how many, and how high they are. No one needs to write or read offers that won’t be competitive. Many agents cannot handle the call volume, so I may not get any help.

3. I’ll calculate a likely appraisal value so we can determine what the seller would want to cover the potential gap between our offer price and the appraisal price.

4. Decide on your offer price and ask the lender for an updated lender letter that matches your offer amount.

5. I’ll carefully construct a draft offer based on successful strategies from the past. This will be tailored to the specific property and your preferences, giving you the confidence that your offer is competitive and well-considered.

6. Review the draft offer. We can meet in person, on a zoom call, or a phone call to review the offer and make any adjustments.

7. When we are all on the same page, you can sign it, and I’ll send it with a lender letter.

8. Stay in touch with you and the listing agent until we are either under contract or understand why the seller chose a different offer.

9. If the seller signs our offer, CONGRATULATIONS!!. Ill guide you through the next steps.

10. If the seller did not chose our offer, we process the feedback and adjust what we do.

11. We may want to stay in contact with the listing agent as a back up offer.

12. Look at more homes and return to step 1.