OK! You've found a house in a neighborhood that's in your price range and the showing that your Chicago Home Estates Real Estate Agent held for you was perfect. Now you have to make an offer. Sometimes the house you're interested in is priced just right and offering a bid that is equal to the listed price is a no-brainer. Most times, it's not that easy. During a showing you'll find minor damage, or you'll have a concern about the age of the kitchen appliances; and in new construction, a cabinet door may not be perfectly level or perhaps you'd prefer to install the home theatre yourself. How do these concerns affect your bid, if at all? A top-notch Real Estate Agent can advise you on what effect each of your concerns may have on your bottom-line offer. Regularly, a seller that is presented with concerns, such as the ones mentioned, is already willing to negotiate, but without a solid representative, any negotiating may very well be one sided.

Other fairly common occurrences when you decide to bid for a home are counter-offers, upgrade costs, seller concessions, and buyer credits.

Points to consider when making your offer:

Exclusions and Inclusions:

• Be aware that items inside the house may not be included in your offer. Fixtures, appliances, sometimes even furniture are all negotiable. Don't assume that these things will be included. The best thing to do is to put everything in writing.

Closing Date or Posession Date:

• Most real estate transactions average anywhere between 30 and 90 days for the legal transfer of property title and collection and disbursement of any funds to be resolved. Ensure that you can meet any deadlines you may be responsible for in a timely manner.

Contingencies:

• Contingencies can be of great use, both by sellers and buyers. A contingency allows you to legally declare your intentions, but also allows for the contract to be deemed void if another party of the contract has not followed through on a particular item.

It's good to have a bit of knowledge about real estate law before making your offer, though your agent is there to help you with these issues.