When making an offer on a property, it is important to decide ahead of time how much you are willing to pay at what terms for the house. You already know what the fair market value is, now you have to decide:

· what price will you offer

· how much earnest money deposit you will offer

· what personal property you wish to have conveyed (everything is negotiable)

· how much you are asking the seller to pay towards your closing costs

· when you plan to settle, and

· what inspections you plan to have done

When negotiating with the seller, remember not to take anything personally. Try to put yourself in the seller's shoes and be somewhat reasonable. Figure out what's not negotiable and be willing to give a little on the things that aren't. Your Realtor should be able to provide you with ample advice as to how to structure your offer. Once your offer has been presented, the seller will either accept your offer outright, reject your offer outright, or counter your offer. The counter process can go back and forth many times. It's important for all parties to keep their cool and focus on the goal.