The levers you can pull
Offers compete on more than price. The common levers are:
- Price, anchored to a defensible estimate of value.
- Deposit size, which signals financial seriousness.
- The subject removal timeline, and which subjects you can reasonably shorten or drop.
- Flexibility on completion and possession dates.
Know what the premium is
Before the buyer decides how far to go, quantify it. If your estimate of value is $850,000 and the buyer is thinking of offering $880,000, they would be paying a known premium of about $30,000. Help them decide whether it is worth it for this particular home.
Escalation clauses
An escalation clause says the buyer will beat any bona fide competing offer by a set amount, up to a stated maximum. They are controversial, and some listing agents will not accept them because they are hard to administer and verify.
If you use one, the wording must be precise: what counts as a bona fide competing offer, how the price is calculated, and whether the buyer can see the offer that triggered it. Vague wording creates disputes.
When the offer loses
Debrief with your buyer. Would they have gone higher? Was there a non-price factor, such as dates or subjects, they could improve next time? Ask the listing agent for feedback where appropriate. Experienced agents will often describe the winning offer in broad terms, which helps the next attempt.
General information for BC real estate agents, published 2026-10-27. It is not legal or tax advice, and rules and forms change, so confirm details with your brokerage, the BC Financial Services Authority or a lawyer.