The Best Way to Respond to a Lowball Offer

By Jacqueline Smith

Jacqueline Smith is dedicated to serving the vibrant Vancouver/Portland real estate market. Since stepping into the industry in 2014, I hit the ground running selling 52 homes in my first year and now have my hand in selling over 1700 properties.

Have you ever received a lowball offer and wondered, are these people even serious? Maybe it was so low that you actually got a little offended. A lowball offer can definitely feel like a slap in the face, but before you react, it’s worth knowing that we’ve seen some lowball offers actually come together. The key is how you handle it.

Understand the other party’s position before you respond. Not every lowball offer is an insult. Sometimes the buyer is just trying to get a good deal. Sometimes they’re testing your flexibility to see how motivated you are. And sometimes they’re working with an agent who hasn’t fully helped them understand the market or the true value of your home. Knowing why they offered what they did gives you a solid starting point and helps you decide how to respond. That context changes everything about how you approach the conversation.

Stay calm and collected. This is the hardest part for a lot of sellers, but it’s also the most important. We don’t want to get emotional and blow up what could potentially come together as a great deal. Before doing anything rash, or deciding to just reject the offer or not respond at all, remember that this business is all about negotiations. A lowball offer isn’t the end of the conversation. It’s the starting point.

Counter with confidence. Once you’ve taken a breath and looked at the situation clearly, respond with something that is fair and reasonable. Your agent should help position the counter offer in a good light by explaining your position. We took the time to understand theirs, and now it’s our turn to explain yours. This is basic negotiation, and it’s all part of the process. You want to work with someone who is comfortable with negotiation and whose guidance you trust.

Know when to walk away, but always respond first. We always suggest to our clients that we respond to every offer with a counter, regardless of how ridiculous it might seem. You never know where a negotiation can go until you engage, and walking away without a response means you’ll never find out. That said, there are situations where an offer simply doesn’t make sense, and knowing when to walk away is just as important as knowing how to counter.

Make sure you save this one in case you ever find yourself staring at a lowball offer in the future. And always remember to interview agents and make sure you choose one who has experience and strong negotiating skills. That’s what’s going to make the biggest difference in your bottom line.

If you have any questions about this or anything related to real estate, reach out anytime at 360-800-1334 or email us at jacqueline@evergreenrealestatepartners.com. You can also visit our blog at blog.evergreenrealestatepartners.com. We’re always happy to help.