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The Smart Seller's Guide

Before You Accept an Offer, Calculate This

By Svetlana StolyarovaJune 28, 20266 min read
Before you accept an offer, calculate this — comparing offers by estimated net proceeds using the Seller’s Net Sheet

The highest offer isn't always the one that leaves you with the most money.

Congratulations!

Your home is on the market, and the offers have started coming in.

Like most sellers, your eyes probably go straight to the purchase price.

$425,000.

$420,000.

$418,000.

It seems obvious which one is best.

But is it?

Not necessarily.

Professional real estate agents don't compare offers by price alone.

They compare net proceeds—the amount the seller will actually receive after all negotiated expenses have been paid.

Sometimes the highest-priced offer leaves the seller with less money than a lower-priced offer.

Price Is Only the Starting Point

Every offer contains much more than a purchase price.

It may also include:

Buyer broker compensation

Seller concessions

Closing cost credits

Repair requests

Home warranty requests

Inspection-related credits

Possession after closing

Financing contingencies

Appraisal contingencies

Closing date

Each of these items can affect your bottom line.

That's why experienced sellers evaluate the entire offer—not just the first page.

A Simple Example

Offer A

Purchase Price: $425,000

Buyer requests:

3% buyer broker compensation

$10,000 toward closing costs

Several repairs after inspection

Offer B

Purchase Price: $420,000

Buyer requests:

No closing cost assistance

No repair credits

Cash purchase

Closing in two weeks

At first glance, Offer A appears better.

After calculating the seller's actual net proceeds, Offer B may leave the seller with more money—and a much smoother transaction.

The only way to know is to calculate.

The Number That Really Matters

The most important number isn't the purchase price.

It isn't the commission.

It isn't even the closing costs.

The most important number is:

How much money will you actually receive at closing?

That number should guide your decision.

Compare Offers Like a Professional

At Local-n-Global Realty, we prepare a Seller's Net Estimate whenever our clients receive an offer.

Instead of guessing, our clients can compare offers side by side and immediately see which one produces the strongest financial outcome.

Because good negotiations aren't about getting the highest number.

They're about achieving the best result.

Try Our Free Calculators

To help sellers make informed decisions, we've created several free calculators on the Resources page of our website.

They can help you estimate:

Seller's Net Proceeds

Mortgage Payments

Rent VS. Buy

Whether you're buying, selling, or investing, these tools can help you make better financial decisions before you sign.

👉 Visit our Resources page and explore the calculators available to you.

The Local-n-Global Perspective

Every offer tells a story.

The purchase price is only the headline.

The numbers hidden throughout the contract determine how that story ends.

That's why we encourage every seller to compare offers based on net proceeds, not simply on price.

The best offer isn't always the one with the biggest number at the top.

It's the one that leaves the biggest number at the bottom.

Next in Our Series

Cash Offer or Mortgage? Which One Is Really Better?

Many sellers automatically choose the cash offer.

But is that always the smartest decision?

In our next article, we'll compare cash and financed offers and explain what every seller should consider before making a decision.

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