When selling your home, most people focus on the number – what price the buyer is offering. But here’s the thing: a strong offer isn’t always just about money.

There are several other terms that can make an offer more attractive, protect your interests, or help the deal come together smoothly. Knowing what you can negotiate and how each piece affects your bottom line gives you more control and confidence during the offer process.

Here are the main areas sellers can negotiate besides price:

1. Deposit Amount and Timing

A higher deposit shows that the buyer is serious and financially stable. It gives you more security if something falls through. You can also negotiate when the deposit is due, typically within 24 hours of acceptance, but sometimes even upon offer submission for added peace of mind.

2. Closing Date

Flexibility on timing can make a huge difference. Maybe you need a quick close because you’ve already bought another home or maybe you want extra time before moving. You can negotiate a date that fits your schedule, or even a rent-back agreement if you’d like to stay in the home a little longer after closing.

3. Conditions

Conditions protect buyers, but they also affect your certainty as a seller. Common ones include financing, home inspection, and the sale of the buyer’s current home. Shorter timelines for conditions can strengthen an offer, while too many conditions or long conditional periods can weaken it. For example, a sale of property condition might last a month or more, leaving your home tied up in uncertainty. In a slower market, there’s also the risk that the buyer’s home won’t sell at all, which means the deal could fall through entirely.

If you’re comparing offers, it’s not just what conditions are included that matters, it’s also how long they last and how likely they are to be fulfilled.

4. Inclusions and Exclusions

Appliances, light fixtures, window coverings, even patio furniture – all of these can be negotiated. If there’s something you want to keep (like a special chandelier), make sure it’s listed as an exclusion in your Agreement of Purchase and Sale. On the flip side, offering to leave desirable items behind can make your home more appealing to buyers such as a pool table or hot tub!

5. Repair Requests or Credits

After the inspection, a buyer might ask for small repairs or a credit toward certain items. You have options: agree, compromise, or decline. Sometimes offering a small credit instead of doing the work yourself keeps the process smoother and faster.

6. Personal Property and Staging Items

Believe it or not, buyers sometimes fall in love with your furniture, artwork, or decor. If there’s something they want to include in the purchase, it can become part of the negotiation. Just make sure it’s clearly outlined in writing.

7. The Conditional Period Process

Even after an offer is accepted, there’s still room for negotiation. If the buyer’s inspection reveals minor issues, you might adjust the price, agree to small repairs, or stand firm. The key is understanding that negotiations don’t always end with the offer – they can continue right up to closing.

The Bottom Line

Selling your home isn’t just about getting the highest number – it’s about finding the right balance between price, timing, and terms that make sense for you. A skilled Realtor will help you evaluate every piece of the offer, not just the headline figure, to ensure you’re protected and positioned for a smooth closing.

If you’re preparing to sell, our team can walk you through what terms are negotiable and how to leverage each one to get the best overall deal.