What is the first step when a buyer wants to make an offer on a property?

What is the first step when a buyer wants to make an offer on a property?

• A. Email the seller directly to check availability
• B. Text the listing agent to ask if the property is available and what terms are important to the seller
• C. Draft the offer without verifying disclosures
• D. Call the listing agent after midnight

Answer: (B)

When a buyer wants to make an offer, the first step is to check in with the listing agent to confirm the property is still available and to learn what terms are important to the seller. This ensures you’re not building an offer on a property that’s under contract or off the market, and it helps you tailor your offer to match the seller’s priorities—such as preferred closing date, acceptable financing, earnest money, or any concessions the seller wants. Establishing this communication sets a clear path for negotiations and keeps everything professional and trackable through the proper channel. Directly contacting the seller by email, text, or calling at an unreasonable hour bypasses the standard process and can lead to miscommunications or rule issues, while drafting an offer without first understanding disclosures and the seller’s terms risks presenting terms that don’t fit what the seller wants or what the property requires.

When a buyer wants to make an offer, the first step is to check in with the listing agent to confirm the property is still available and to learn what terms are important to the seller. This ensures you’re not building an offer on a property that’s under contract or off the market, and it helps you tailor your offer to match the seller’s priorities—such as preferred closing date, acceptable financing, earnest money, or any concessions the seller wants. Establishing this communication sets a clear path for negotiations and keeps everything professional and trackable through the proper channel.

Directly contacting the seller by email, text, or calling at an unreasonable hour bypasses the standard process and can lead to miscommunications or rule issues, while drafting an offer without first understanding disclosures and the seller’s terms risks presenting terms that don’t fit what the seller wants or what the property requires.