Q: Can you make 3 offers at the same time to the seller?

[Darius Pasilaban]

Q: Can you make 3 offers at the same time to the seller?

Scenario: I'm trying to purchase a property that's listed on MLS.

[Erik W.]

I do it all the time.  Did it this last week on two properties: a 10,000 sq foot commercial warehouse and a residential 4-plex.  Got the 4-plex under contract yesterday; got a verbal acceptance from the Seller of the warehouse, and hoping to ink it before the weekend is done.

The psychology behind the single offer is "take, leave, or counter."  I don't want leave, and I only sometimes want counter.  Ideally, I give them three choices, all of which make me happy, and they pick which one.

Example:

Offer 1 - All cash.  Lowest price, 5 days to close, "as is" no contingency.

Offer 2 - Seller finance 20%, money partners and I bring 80%.  Higher price than 1,but a standard 30 days to close.  Usually "as is" with no contingency unless one of the partners want to look over something specific.  Limited due diligence at most.

Offer 3 - 100% Seller finance.  Highest price.  Close it as fast as title work comes back.

I have never had someone refuse all 3 offers, so I accomplish my goal of avoiding a flat turn-down.  Then we enter negotiations, which is fine for me as I can always walk if they demand too much.  But I prefer to get to know them a bit while we negotiate so they know I am serious and they get "invested" in selling to me.