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When you've found a special house you
want to call home, you'll probably feel excited and a bit nervous. Let
the sales professional
know you're ready to write an "offer to purchase" — a written document
that declares how much you are willing to pay for the home provided that
certain conditions are met. Because it's a legally binding contract that
you will sign and date, it may be a good idea to have a lawyer review
it, within the grace period noted in the contract.
This is the time when it is most
important for you to keep in mind that, unless you have specifically
retained the services of a buyer's agent,
the sales professional is working for the seller. As the legal agent of
the seller, he or she is obligated to help the seller get the best
price, and will report to the seller any confidence you share.
It's best to make your
offer without sharing with the agent your willingness to offer any
higher price if the seller does not accept your offer.
Your offer should have a time limit
for the seller to accept it, reject it, or make a counter-offer.
If a counter-offer is made, you will have some time to respond. Often,
several offers go back and forth until an offer is accepted, or one
party decides to end negotiations. | 
