A line by line breakdown of expected repairs and other expenses, including a line that shows your expected profit.With such an offer, I would candidly tell the seller  or listing agent what my minimum requirements are for getting into a deal, so that the other side doesn't feel entitled to just counteroffer away all the profit.Has anyone tried this transparent approach to negotiation?

Counter offer at 3x the purchase price.

@Alan Diamond The agent must present your offer, counter offer, or any other offer to his client.

Even as the winning bidder, there may be a counter offer from the lender if their arguments justify it, though that doesn't happen much, but is a potential.If you are watching a certain property and it doesn't get auctioned off, contact the listing agent or the lender and make an offer then.

Mediate Counteroffers or Amendments 61.

I said 21, the agent counter offered at 25 and never shifted since.

Not even a counter offer.

We use highest and best counter-offers to put everyone on FORMAL notice that their are multiple offers.  

The Seller and I have made 3 rounds of counter offers.  

I offered on dozens of HomePath properties - generally they will send 3 counteroffers if they don't outright reject a lowball offer.