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How to Set an Offer Price

How to Set an Offer Price

There is no single formula for determining the perfect offer price on a home. Every property, neighbourhood, and market cycle brings its own variables. The key is to make your decision based on facts, comparisons, and strategy, not impulse or emotion.

In 2025, Toronto and GTA buyers are navigating a more balanced market, where some segments are cooling while others remain competitive. Understanding how to evaluate the data behind a home’s value will help you write an offer that is both realistic and strong.

Here’s how to approach it.


1. Start with Comparable Sales

Comparable sales, or “comps,” are the foundation of your offer.
Look at recent sold homes that are as similar as possible in:

• Location and street type (quiet residential vs. busier arterial roads)
• Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
• Lot size and overall square footage
• Type of construction and age of the home
• Parking availability and garage size

The most accurate and up-to-date information comes from MLS®, which your REALTOR® can access. They will help you interpret sold prices, days on market, and trends that may not show up on public real estate websites.

Keep in mind that current listings and pending sales also give clues to buyer demand, but closed sales confirm what people are actually willing to pay.


2. Assess the Property’s Condition

Condition matters just as much as comparables. A well-maintained home with recent updates typically sells at the higher end of the range, while one needing repairs or modernization may justify a lower offer.

During your walkthrough, look at:
• Structural and cosmetic condition including walls, floors, windows, and doors
• Age and maintenance of the roof, furnace, and air conditioning
• Functionality of plumbing and electrical systems
• Bathrooms, kitchens, and flooring where repair costs add up fastest
• The exterior, including grading, eavestroughs, fencing, and landscaping

Ask yourself how the home compares to others you have seen. Is it average for the area, slightly dated, or a standout? Your REALTOR® can help you quantify those differences in dollars.


3. Factor in Renovations and Improvements

Not all upgrades add equal value. Cosmetic changes such as paint colours, décor, or light fixtures rarely affect price. Focus on structural or functional upgrades such as:

• Roof, windows, or insulation replacements
• Updated plumbing or electrical systems
• New bathrooms, kitchens, or finished basements
• Additions that increase usable living space

Pools, hot tubs, and landscaping can add enjoyment but do not always deliver full resale value. If you are buying in a neighbourhood where those features are common, they may help your offer stay competitive but should not justify overpaying.


4. Understand Current Market Conditions

Market balance determines how aggressively you should price your offer.

Seller’s Market
Demand exceeds supply. Homes sell quickly and often above asking. Offers without conditions or with flexible terms stand out. Buyers should focus on their top price limit and ensure financing is solid before writing.

Buyer’s Market
Supply exceeds demand. Homes stay on the market longer and negotiation is more common. You can start lower in your price range but stay within reason to avoid losing the seller’s interest.

Balanced Market
Supply and demand are roughly equal. Prices remain stable and negotiation depends more on seller motivation and timing. An offer near the midpoint of comparable sales is usually appropriate.

Your REALTOR® will help you read local patterns, since market conditions can shift block by block in the GTA.


5. Consider the Seller’s Situation

Sometimes seller motivation affects the room for negotiation.
• A seller who has already purchased another property may be more flexible on price or closing date.
• Estate sales or long-vacant listings may prioritize timing and simplicity over top dollar.
• Active listings that have been on the market for several weeks may have more negotiation room than brand-new ones.

Your REALTOR® can uncover background details and guide you on how to structure your offer accordingly.


6. Choose Your Offer Number

Before submitting, decide on two figures:
• Your ideal price, what you hope to pay
• Your maximum price, what you are comfortable paying if competition increases

Base both numbers on facts, not emotion. Align your offer with your pre-approval, deposit, and total budget, including closing costs. Most buyers begin slightly below their fair market range to allow room for negotiation, but avoid starting unrealistically low.


7. Keep Perspective

Winning the property is not the goal; buying wisely is.
A fair, well-supported offer reflects confidence and preparation. The right price should feel solid after the deal closes, not rushed or uncertain.


The Bottom Line

Setting an offer price is part research, part strategy, and part instinct.
Use comparable sales as your foundation, evaluate condition and upgrades carefully, and adapt your approach to current market conditions. With clear guidance and data-driven advice, you can make an offer that protects your investment and moves you closer to your next home with confidence.

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This website may only be used by consumers that have a bona fide interest in the purchase, sale, or lease of real estate of the type being offered via the website. The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of the PropTx MLS®. The data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed to be accurate.