Who Delivers Your Offer to the Seller?
The delivery of an offer to the seller is an important step in the home buying process. When you are ready to make a purchase, you have to get your offer to the seller through a third party for acceptance or rejection. This third-party may be a real estate agent, a lawyer, a title company, or even a relative. Each of these potential delivery services offer unique features and benefits, so it’s important to understand the differences and select the option that works best for you.
When you submit an offer to a seller, it’s essential to make sure the offer reaches the seller in a timely manner. Typically, a real estate agent is the most commonly used delivery service for an offer. A real estate agent is a trained professional who is familiar with the home buying process and has access to tools such as MLS to provide invaluable insight and advice on making an offer. An experienced real estate agent can handle the entire process from start to finish, often working with the buyer to evaluate comparable home sales in the area to arrive at a fair price.
An attorney can also be used to deliver an offer. Attorneys have a more comprehensive knowledge of the legal aspects of a sale and are better equipped to protect your interests during the process. Attorneys can explain the contracts and legal terminology, advise you of your rights and obligations, and be available to answer any legal questions that may arise. They can also review the title to confirm that the title is valid and help negotiate any unique or complex issues.
More recently, title companies have been used to make offers. Title companies provide an array of services that may be beneficial for the buyer and seller depending on the circumstances of the sale. Their primary responsibility is to review the title to ensure that there are no unresolved claims or encumbrances against the property. Title companies also act as an ancillary service provider, performing duties such as ordering appraisals, setting up inspections, and verifying that the buyer and seller are qualified to purchase the property.
Finally, if the buyer and seller are related there is the option of a family member delivering the offer. This does not come without its own set of challenges. If a family member is not familiar with the home-buying process, it may be difficult for them to effectively expose all of the details to both parties. A family member's personal feelings may also come into play when making a purchase, and their advice might not always be in the best financial interest of the buyer and seller.
At the end of the day, choosing who to deliver an offer is a personal decision. Understand your needs and select the delivery service that best fits your situation. Whether you decide to use a real estate agent, an attorney, a title company, or even a family member, make sure that you are aware of the necessary steps so your purchase is successful.