In North Carolina, price is only one of several levers. Sellers often compare the full package.
The parts of an offer
- Purchase price, supported by recent comparable sales
- Due diligence fee, paid to the seller and generally non-refundable
- Earnest money deposit, held in escrow
- Length of the due diligence period
- Closing date and any request for the seller to stay after closing
- Financing type and the amount of your down payment
Balancing risk
A larger due diligence fee can make an offer more attractive, but you risk losing that money if you walk away. A shorter due diligence period is also attractive, but only if your inspector, lender and appraiser can realistically finish in time. Christopher prices these choices with you before you sign.
In multiple offers
Ask for a deadline and give your best terms once. Escalation clauses, appraisal gap commitments and pre-inspections each have trade-offs, and they are discussed in plain numbers before you decide.