A valid real estate contract must be in writing and be freely offered by the
buyer and accepted by the seller. All parties to the contract must be legally
competent to do business. Money or other valuable consideration needs to be
exchanged for title to the property.
Keep in mind that if things go wrong, the buyer could require you to sell
your home to him/her or pay damages. Be familiar with the terms of any contract
you give to a would-be purchaser.
Consider the contract as a whole. Is it slanted in favor of the buyer? If so,
consult an attorney about making changes. Analyze the document as a series of
paragraphs or clauses, each written to benefit one party or the other.
Key Elements of the Contract
Price and terms
If a low offer comes your way, remain cool until you've examined the terms.
Nothing evokes a more emotional response than a low bid. Be realistic and
objective because many properties don't bring full price. Don't use price alone
as a reason not to counter or negotiate. A first offer may reveal what's most
important - price or terms - to this particular buyer, giving you the key to
begin bargaining.
Condition of home and inspection
The purchaser should have your home inspected for soundness of construction and
state of repair. Include all mandatory and voluntary disclosure statements
concerning the property's condition, such as known defects in the contract.
Be careful what you guarantee. You cannot be sure the roof won't leak, the
heating system won't go out or any other number of such assurances. Once the
property is sold, you are no longer responsible for it.
Response deadline
You'll be asked to respond to an offer within a specified timeframe. Try to get
as long a response time as possible. Other offers may come up and you'll want to
buy time to review them and perhaps use one offer to increase another.
Settlement date and occupancy
If you have another home under contract, seek a settlement date that will enable
you to take your sales profits to the next closing. Be realistic; the buyer of
your home will probably need at least 30 to 50 days to arrange financing and
close.
Finalizing
Everything in the offering contract is negotiable. When everyone has agreed to
the terms, initialed the changes and signed the contracts, you've got an
agreement binding on all parties. All that remains is removing contingency
clauses, arranging financing and clearing title.