Sometimes, real estate isn’t about how much money you offer. It’s about how you offer it.
A while back, my past clients came to me with a very specific goal. They loved their home, but there was one problem, the vacant lot directly behind it. If someone built there, their privacy, views, and peace and quiet would be gone overnight. So they decided to make a move before anyone else could.
The lot was listed at $20,000, and right away we were told the words buyers hate most: multiple offers, highest and best due by end of day.
Instead of panicking or blindly throwing out a full-price offer, we talked strategy.
My clients were comfortable paying up to $20,000, but they didn’t want to overpay if they didn’t have to. That’s where a little contract creativity came in. We submitted an offer at $15,000 with an escalation addendum stating that if there was a higher competing offer, my clients would beat it by $1,000, up to a maximum purchase price of $20,000.
Clean, clear, and flexible.
A short time later, I got a call from the listing agent with what sounded like bad news. She told me our offer was the lowest one on the table. Most people would assume that’s the end of the story.
But here’s the twist.
Because of the escalation clause, once the competing offers were lined up, our contract automatically adjusted. The next highest offer came in at $19,000, which meant our offer escalated to $20,000, making us the highest offer overall.
Lowest on paper. Highest where it counted.
We secured the lot, went under contract, and closed the very next week. My clients locked in their backyard privacy, and no one will ever build behind them.
This is why real estate contracts matter. Price gets attention, but structure wins deals. A well written offer can protect your wallet while still putting you in the strongest possible position.
And yes, sometimes the lowest offer really does win.
