Five Questions to Ask Before Offer Night

When a listing holds offers to a set date, you are bidding against an unknown number of buyers with unknown conditions. Five questions narrow that down before you write a number.

How many showings has the home had? Are there registered offers already, and how many? Is the seller open to conditions on financing or inspection? What is the seller's preferred closing date? And has the home been listed before, at what price?

A listing agent will answer most of these honestly if asked directly. The answers tell you whether to offer at all, and if so, whether to compete on price, on terms, or on both.