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When a buyer is interested in your home, their agent submits an offer — typically as a written purchase contract. Knowing what to expect, what to look for, and how to respond puts you in control from the very first bid.

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How offers are delivered

Buyer agents typically send offers via email to the contact information on your MLS listing. Fortify’s seller portal also receives offer notifications so everything stays in one place. If you’re on the Pro or Elite plan, your priority support line can flag incoming offers and help you stay on top of activity as it happens.

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What to look for in an offer

Every purchase contract is different, but these are the key terms to evaluate before you respond:
  • Offer price vs. your asking price — Is the buyer coming in at, above, or below your list price?
  • Financing type and pre-approval letter — Cash offers close faster and carry less risk; conventional, FHA, and VA loans each have different requirements and timelines. Ask for a current pre-approval letter.
  • Earnest money deposit amount — A larger deposit signals a more committed buyer and gives you recourse if they back out without cause.
  • Requested closing date and timeline — Does the proposed closing date work for your move-out plans?
  • Contingencies — Inspection, appraisal, financing, and sale-of-buyer’s-home contingencies each give the buyer an exit ramp. Understand what conditions allow them to walk away.
  • Inclusions and exclusions — Clarify which appliances, fixtures, or personal property are included in the sale.
  • Seller concessions requested — Buyers sometimes ask you to cover a portion of their closing costs or prepay fees. Factor these into the true net you’d receive.

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Your response options

Once you’ve reviewed the offer, you have three choices:
  • Accept as-is — Sign the contract and move into the closing process.
  • Counter-offer — Propose different terms (price, timeline, contingencies, concessions) and send it back to the buyer for their response.
  • Reject — Decline the offer outright with no obligation to explain why.
Most offers include a response deadline — typically 24 to 72 hours. You are not required to respond before that deadline expires, but letting it lapse without a counter is generally treated as a rejection.
On Essentials and Pro plans, you review and respond to offers independently. If you’d like broker guidance on offer terms, upgrade to Elite — even after an offer arrives.
Never feel pressured to respond immediately. Take time to review all terms carefully. If you have questions, upgrading to Elite gives you direct access to a licensed broker.

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Multiple offers

If more than one buyer submits an offer, you’re in a strong negotiating position. A common approach is to set a highest and best deadline — a specific date and time by which all interested buyers must submit their strongest offer. This creates a level playing field and prevents extended back-and-forth with multiple parties at once. When evaluating competing offers, look beyond price alone. A slightly lower all-cash offer with no contingencies may net you more certainty than a higher financed offer with an appraisal gap risk. Elite sellers receive direct broker guidance on how to structure and evaluate multiple-offer situations, including how to communicate the deadline to all buyer agents. Ready to accept an offer and move forward? Learn what happens next in Broker Negotiation & Offer Guidance.