Should You Accept First Offer?
Many people who sell a house encounter the "first offer" dilemma. It can involve a trying decision. Sellers often turn it down, hoping for something better, only to find it turned out to be the best offer they received.
This is where the advice of a real estate agent can be particularly helpful. The agent can tell how realistic the offer is and whether the deposit that accompanies it represents good faith.
Since there is no way to know how many offers will be received or the order of value, the offer should be judged on the seller's and agent's knowledge of the house in question and the market. The depth of that knowledge will help protect the seller against the natural reluctance to accept the first offer and against regretting a decision that was not based on sound judgement. Remember, most good offers come early in the selling game. If it's a fair one, why pass it up?
