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How to Make an Offer on a San Diego Home

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3 tips to help you make a great offer on a home so you can win the deal.

Making an offer on a home in San Diego could be like trying to attempting to speak Spanish decades after your last high school Spanish class. Some words are familiar… Fuego, Hola, Pantalones… but you’d be much better off finding a translator. The same goes for putting in an offer on your home. You need a San Diego real estate agent that can analyze the real estate market, know what you’re looking for in a home, and write a competitive offer that protects you. You don’t have to be left in the dark, though. In fact, you shouldn’t be! 

Below are the 3 tips to help you speak the language and seal the deal on your next home purchase.

1. Price Your Offer Right

Remember, the market, not you (or the seller), determines how much a property is worth, so don’t try to lowball the seller. You’ll only offend them. Instead, look at comparable homes that have sold recently in the area and come up with a fair and reasonable price. Also, consider what repairs or renovations may be needed and if there are multiple offers on the table. You’ll have a better chance of having a seller consider your offer and accept it when you factor in all of these components into your pricing analysis.

2. Consider Your Contingencies Carefully

Contingencies are what protect the buyer in the San Diego home-buying process. The contingencies you write into an offer are designed to safeguard you (and your earnest money), not the seller. Everything from securing a loan to selling your current house to the closing date you choose could negatively impact the seller. If your market is extremely competitive, you’ll want to consider your contingencies very carefully. Think of your financing, home inspection, title, and appraisal. Sometimes people take significant risks and remove almost all of their contingencies to make their offers more appealing to a seller. Overall, aim to balance protecting your interests while keeping your offer attractive. 

3. Create A Clean Contract

So many offers get declined by sellers simply because the real estate agent wrote a sloppy contract. Ultimately, the contract is the first impression you make. It’s a signal of how the rest of the transaction will go. No one wants to spend 30-45 days in escrow with a buyer who’s disorganized, dysfunctional, and in disarray. So make sure your real estate agent writes a clean contract that’s organized, simple, and complete. You’d be surprised by how many agents get this wrong.

And there you have it, how to make an offer on a San Diego home so you can win the deal.

If you’re thinking about making a move (or know someone who is), I can help! No pressure, no sales tactics, just helpful advice and the guidance you need!

Ashley Peterson, Realtor 
Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty
DRE: 01840629

For more San Diego real estate tips, Click here for more real estate tips to help you navigate the San Diego real estate market, making it easier to buy and sell property.

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About Ashley Peterson

Hey there! For those of you who do not know me, I’m Ashley Peterson.
I work with home sellers and buyers in San Diego who require assistance in reaching their real estate goals.
I’ve been a Realtor for over 10 years and have served tons of families to date.
The best praise I’ve ever received from a client was, “Ashley was a pleasure to work with! We had a tight time frame to sell our home while pursuing our new home which was already on the market. I'm sitting in my new living room right now while someone is happily living in my previous home..I still can't believe it! I Highly recommend this agent if you have an ambitious goal and want things done right.”
Helping people reach their goals like the time my friend found her forever home before considering a move, where I had to get an offer on her home and get her offer accepted, and guess what, I made it happen. It makes me so proud and drives everything I do!
If you’re looking for a Realtor who listens to your needs and develops a specific plan to curate the most exceptional experience, I’d love to work with you, too!
I’ve successfully located the perfect (off market) home for my clients after determining their needs and contacting property owners that fit the bill. When the market is tight, it’s important to adapt and think outside of the box in order to meet the needs of my clients; essentially, do what it takes. As a past third grade teacher and community college instructor, my philosophy focused on serving my diverse student body, and seamlessly transferred my passion to residential real estate. I truly “hear” what my clients have to say, develop a specific plan tailored to their individual needs and goals, and provide the duty and care to see the transaction through.
I have been applying this “one size does not fit all” approach to real estate for over 10 years, allowing me to acheive one of the most meaningful ways to gain clientelle, referral based and repeat business.
When I’m not helping people buyers get preapproved and assisting clients in pre-listing prep such as decluttering, staging, making minor upgrades, etc., as well as actively marketing properties and vetting my buyers to listing agents, I can be found jogging along Del Mar beach to Torrey Pines soaking up the sea air, or hanging on the beach while my kiddo and husband surf, or volunteering my time in to my community.

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