Putt Off All Offers Until a Certain Date
List the home on the market keep it available to be shown. Schedule an open house for a few days later. Do not entertain any offers until after the open house. Potential buyers will expect to be in competition and may place higher offers as a result. Even if you get only one offer, the buyer won’t know that. On the other hand, if you get multiple offers, you can go back to the top bidders and ask for their highest and best offers.
Slap an Expiration Date and Time on Your Counter Offer
When a buyer submits an offer that you don't want to accept, you counter their offer. You're then involved in a legally binding negotiation with them so you can't accept a better offer if it comes along.
Consider putting a short term deadline on your counter offer. This will drive the buyer to make a decision,so you can either get your home under contract or move on. Don’t make the deadline so short that the buyers flee, but make it shorter then the time frame in your state’s standard real estate contract.
Pay the Buyer's Closing Costs, but increase the Purchase Price
When a buyer submits an offer and asks you to pay their closing costs, counter with your willingness to pay but at an increased purchase price. Buyers often don't understand that when they ask the seller to pay their closing costs, they're effectively lowering the home's sale price. You can up your asking price enough to still get as high as your list price after paying the buyer's closing costs. Keep in mind that the price plus closing costs must be supported when the home is appraise.The only hook is that the price plus closing costs must be supported when the home is appraised.
