Most new investors are in a rush to make an offer. They want to accelerate the process and get things started as quickly as possible. As great as taking action is you also need to know everything about the deal and property you are making an offer on. A lack of due diligence in just one of a few key areas can completely change the perception of the property. Prior to looking at any new property you should have a due diligence checklist firmly in place. This will help streamline the process and allow you to quickly react and avoid a major oversight. Here are five things you need to know and have in place before making an offer.
- Financing. The starting point for any purchase is financing. How you plan on financing the property impacts almost everything you do in the transaction. The terms and price on a property you are paying cash for is different than if one you would utilize lender financing. Either option you chose can work but you need to know which way you are going to go prior to making an offer. If you plan on paying cash you need to have your proof of funds letter updated with any amounts adjusted. If you are using lender financing your pre-qualification letter has to have the proposed purchase price in addition to as much specific information as possible. Your financing can, and probably will, change depending on the specific property. However you need to know which way you want to go prior to making an offer. The type of financing you choose will often influence the decision of the seller.
- Understand Local Market. Getting an alert about a new listing at a reduced price may seem like a steal but it can end up being fool’s gold. If the property is in a declining market getting it for virtually nothing can still end up doing more harm than good. Prior to making any offer you need to know everything about the market the property is located in. It can be argued that the market is more important than the actual property. You need to understand both the micro and macro view of the property. The micro view looks at properties and trends as close to the subject property as possible. The macro view looks at the town as a whole and the big picture view of the area. It is important that you understand as many trends as you can find and have an idea of what influences them. The local market of the property will often directly influence the property value as well as what your future options are. It is not enough to simply acquire the property and figure things out as you go.
- Know The Property. If you are going to make an offer on a property you had better know everything about it. Almost every seller will go to great lengths to make their property appear as appealing as possible. If the flaws are not obvious it can be difficult finding them. Prior to making any offer you need to go the extra mile to know exactly what you are buying. Track down the listing history and see if there was any work recently completed on the property. Walk the grounds with your contractor or an inspector to give you an additional perspective of the property condition. In your excitement to make an offer it is easy to gloss over some minor items that can actually have a significant impact. By having someone you trust provide an additional perspective on the property you reduce the risk of finding something unexpected after you take ownership. If you aren’t comfortable with your knowledge of the property you should consider passing until you are.
- Walkaway Price. There is a lot of work that goes into researching a property and making an offer. There are times when you will do hours of due diligence on a property and not be rewarded with a deal. As difficult as this is it is part of the business. What you can’t do is let one deal influence your actions on the next one. It is important that you have a walkaway number in your head prior to making any offer. Without this number it is easy getting caught up in a bidding war and letting your emotions take over. Sometimes some of the best deals you make are the ones you walk away from. Stand firm with your number and know where to draw the line and walk away.
- Research Exit Strategies. What do you plan on doing with the property if your offer is accepted? Do you have a backup plan or two in mind if things don’t go the way you anticipate? The longer you are in the real estate business the more you will accept that things won’t always go the way you plan. There will be plenty of times when you need to call an audible and change gears on the fly. If you are not ready to adjust you may find yourself in a situation with a property you desperately want to get out of. Prior to making an offer you need to have multiple exit strategies you can employ in a moment’s notice. The more options you have the more valuable the property is. Never put all your eggs in one basket and assume that everything will go the way you anticipate.
You always want to be confident you are making the right offer on the right property for you and your business. If this means taking a little more time on due diligence than that is what you need to do. Always know and understand these five areas before making an offer.
