Leave a Message

Thank you for your message. We will be in touch with you shortly.

What to Do When Selling Your Home Results in a Bidding War

Lake Tahoe

What to Do When Selling Your Home Results in a Bidding War

Real estate agents around the country have noticed an uptick in bidding wars recently, and this situation is only becoming more and more common. It’s true that the current state of the real estate market is the main determiner of whether your home will close with a sale price that’s acceptable to you. However, there are a few key strategies that all savvy sellers should keep in mind whenever they encounter a hotly contested bidding environment. Read on to learn all the ins and outs of managing a bidding war for your home.

Learn more about the prospective buyers


As a home seller, managing a bidding war on your newly listed property can be stressful – and sometimes downright overwhelming – especially if you and your real estate agent weren’t properly expecting one. Nevertheless, the first step to navigating this market opportunity is to learn as much as possible about your prospective purchasers. To start, you’ll want to collect some thorough research on their financial background.

Request information about their lender and the terms of their mortgages, and inquire about any pre-approval letters they might have submitted in advance. Read up on their debt-to-income ratios. Ask them about their aspirations for the property and whether they’re willing to be flexible with the closing date or any of the terms of the sale. It’s always worthwhile to ask these questions well in advance in order to weed out the serious buyers from those who have just expressed a passing interest.

Compare the terms of each offer carefully


Negotiating the terms of a high-demand bidding war often involves dealing with less absolute situations than full cash deals and perfectly qualified purchasers, so you’ll want to spend time early on to compare each bidder’s offer on its own terms. An experienced real estate agent can be an invaluable member of your team in these cases. The best offer may not be the highest, and cash offers often come with their own series of contingencies that can quickly have you putting them at the bottom of the list.

Check your bidders’ credit history and inquire about their past investments to ensure that they’re qualified and in a stable financial environment. Next, make sure you know about the details of the sale. If you’re a member of a condominium board, a co-op, or a homeowners association, don’t forget to factor those additional fees into the overall value of each bid.

Stay in touch with backup bidders


Bidding wars can sometimes turn into long, drawn-out processes that commonly see high bidders walk away, low bidders reassessing their interest, and anything in between. That’s why it’s key to remain patient for the long haul and not to burn any bridges with potential buyers who may not appear as qualified today as they would tomorrow. Be sure to leave the door open for sizable swings in the housing market that may invite new buyers to the table.

High-dollar bidders may step away from negotiations for unforeseen reasons, including sudden changes in their financial health, readjusted property valuations, and many others. Sellers’ markets, in which demand exceeds the supply of available homes on the market, do indeed increase the chances of a bidding war. Still, it’s smart to play the long game whenever the number of bids starts to pile up.

Be a smart negotiator



Generally speaking, there are four actions that can take place when a seller encounters a bidding war on their home. One can:

  • Accept an offer 
  • Negotiate with several buyers
  • Reject an offer
  • Return to each bidder for their “best and final” offer
This last scenario is perhaps the most important to understand before going into a negotiation with several competent and qualified purchasers. A “best and final offer” provides you, the seller, with a clear statement of what each prospective buyer is willing to pay or put down as a payment on your home.

Another thing you can do – and which is becoming more and more common every year – is to ask bidders to include an escalation clause in their offer. This means that any given buyer will promise to increase their offer up to a given cap price in case another competing bid falls above their own. As always, the best plan of action is to remain neutral throughout the bidding war and to allow purchasers to feel out the competition and weigh their options before returning with a new bid.

Put a high value on cash offers


There’s a certain truth to the fact that significant cash offers provide the seller with a lot of distinct advantages over dealing with bidders who have contingencies attached. A cash offer is preferable for many reasons, and it’s worthwhile to take them seriously if the purchaser has good financial health. Some of the most common benefits include:

  • Avoiding lengthy loan and mortgage arrangements
  • Shortening time on market 
  • Raising the stakes for fellow bidders
  • Closing the sale faster by not worrying about home appraisals
Despite the obvious upsides to dealing with cash-only bidders, it’s important not to get tunnel vision with an attractive but below-listing price cash offer. Over the course of an average bidding war (which lasts approximately one and a half to two months), there are many moving pieces that can change the quality of a bid overnight. Treat all bids as equally suitable at first, then get more critical once the purchasers decide to get serious with their offers later on.

Consider non-contingent offers


In addition to cash offers, you’re liable to encounter a host of different contingencies tied to many of your other bids. Plenty of prospective buyers and sellers will only sign real estate contracts if a home inspection, home sale contingency, or certain financing contingencies are agreed to. Buyers can make their offers more attractive by waiving some of these, so don’t forget to let them know if you’re willing to entertain these kinds of negotiations.

Generally, the fewer contingencies you can agree to, the better. You’re still likely going to need to complete a home appraisal to meet certain buyers’ demands, and it’s also possible that a buyer is selling a home of their own while bidding on yours. In the last case, we suggest avoiding such buyers because they can lead to an extended time on the market as you await their own home sale.

Get an earnest money deposit


It’s essential to understand exactly how much earnest money (usually somewhere between one to five percent of the list price) a prospective buyer is willing to put down on your home. What’s more, you should discuss this figure as early as possible. An earnest money deposit not only helps you gauge each bidder’s seriousness in the bidding war but also gives you invaluable leverage in case the buyer violates a contract term.

A slightly lower bid with a high earnest money deposit is usually preferable over a slightly higher offer without a strong deposit. As always, consult a local real estate agent for advice on balancing the pros and cons of these often touchy situations.

Always request a pre-approval letter



After you’ve narrowed down the field of qualified bidders in your bidding war to those who express a serious investment in the property and sound financial backing, you should always reach out for a pre-approval letter from their lender of choice. Make sure that you read over the terms of their mortgage lender’s document.

Some banks send sellers “pre-qualification” letters in lieu of the agreement that the buyer has been approved for a loan. These forms don’t usually indicate that a buyer is 100% eligible for a loan. A letter of pre-approval is the gold standard for sellers to ensure that a buyer has good credit, a stable income, and lasting employment, and it’s advisable to reject most bidders that fail to supply one.

Find an agreed-upon closing date


Throughout the course of an extended bidding war, one of the most essential facets of the sale is the closing date. That’s why targeting a date that works for you and your agent’s schedule is vital. Each agent will have their own preferences, and areas as diverse as Burnt Cedar Beach, Tahoe City, and Incline Village houses for sale each have their own optimal closing dates depending on the season, demand, property, and other factors.

Let your realtor know in advance how long you’re willing to keep the house on the market. If you’re expecting a bidding war, it can be beneficial to draw out this period in order to attract more cross-client negotiations. At the end of the day, it’s still up to the seller to determine the terms of the deal, and it’s important to remember that you’re ultimately the one who calls the shots.

Contact a real estate agent with any questions


Are you planning on selling your home in Truckee, Zephyr Cove, Incline Village, and the surrounding area? If you have any additional questions about bidding wars or other topics, get in touch with a Mizak real estate agent today!



Recent Blog Posts

Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.

Lakefront homes in Incline Village with mountain views, representing the local real estate market

Lake Tahoe

What’s Really Going On With the Incline Village Real Estate Market in 2025?

June 10, 2025

Top Incline Village Realtor Cole Mizak Breaks Down Q2 Market Activity, Inventory Shifts, and Buyer Demand

Lake Tahoe

Tee Off in Style: Why Championship Golf Course in Incline Village Elevates Lake Tahoe Living

June 4, 2025

Explore one of Lake Tahoe’s top golf destinations—and what it means for nearby home values and quality of life

Panoramic view of Lake Tahoe lakefront condos with mountain backdrop, representing Lake Tahoe homes for sale

Lake Tahoe

Lakefront Condo Market Heats Up: What Buyers Need to Know About Lake Tahoe Homes for Sale

May 28, 2025

Insights from Cole Mizak, a Top Lake Tahoe Realtor with Compass

Modern Lake Tahoe home with scenic lake and mountain views, perfect for new homebuyers

Lake Tahoe

What Type of Mortgage is Right for Your Lake Tahoe Real Estate Purchase?

May 24, 2025

Insights from Cole Mizak, Lake Tahoe Realtor with Compass

Lake Tahoe

Top 2025 Design Trends in Lake Tahoe New Construction & Remodels

May 23, 2025

What’s Hot in Mountain Home Design, According to a Leading Lake Tahoe Realtor

Lakeside outdoor dining setup with umbrella tables in Incline Village, Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe

Eat Outdoors Like a Local: Top Dining Spots in Incline Village

May 22, 2025

Dine Outdoors Like a Local: Best Patio and Mountain View Restaurants in Incline Village

Incline Village residents enjoying summertime amenities like private beaches and golf under the sun

Lake Tahoe

Summer in Incline Village: Top Amenities That Add Value to Your Home

May 20, 2025

Why Incline Village Homes for Sale Are Hotter Than Ever in the Summer

Lakefront restaurants in Tahoe City, CA with mountain views – recommended by Tahoe City realtor Cole Mizak

Lake Tahoe

Best Restaurants in Tahoe City, CA – A Local Realtor’s Guide

May 17, 2025

Where to Eat in Tahoe City: Local Favorites from Top Realtor Cole Mizak

Lake Tahoe

Why Living in Truckee, CA Is the Best Move You'll Ever Make

May 14, 2025

A Top Truckee Real Estate Agent Shares Why This Mountain Town is More Than Just a Destination

Work With Cole

Cole’s mission is to elevate the real estate experience for his clients. He is a long-time Lake Tahoe local and luxury home expert who has developed innovative strategies to provide his clients with an unmatched, bespoke level of service, attention, and support.