A strong property offer explains the price, how you will fund it and what needs to happen before you can complete. Sellers need to understand the whole proposal. For an ordinary private treaty purchase in England, the offer is not legally binding until contracts are exchanged.

Establish your maximum before negotiating

Decide what the home is worth to you after allowing for buying costs and work needed. Keep a distinction between your opening offer and the most you can comfortably afford.

Use comparable evidence carefully. A nearby asking price shows what another seller hopes to achieve. A completed sale is different evidence, although you still need to account for timing, condition and the features of each home.

If you are offering less because of repairs, explain which work you have identified. Avoid presenting a rough guess as a contractor's quotation. The next step may be a survey or specialist assessment rather than an immediate argument over an exact figure.

Put your buying position in writing

Send the offer to the agent and ask for it to be presented to the seller. Include the address and price, whether you need a mortgage, the source of your deposit, your chain position and your preferred timescale.

State relevant conditions clearly. These might include satisfactory survey findings, mortgage approval or agreement about particular items being included. Describe the offer as subject to contract where appropriate.

Supply evidence through an agreed secure route. Do not send sensitive financial documents to an unverified address. If a family gift forms part of the funding, explain that early so the relevant professionals can identify what evidence will be needed.

Make your timescale credible

A short proposed deadline only helps if the people and funding involved can support it. Check your mortgage position, the availability of your conveyancer and any sale you depend on before promising a rapid completion.

Ask about the seller's position too. Someone looking for an onward purchase may value flexibility, while another seller may prefer a clearly defined completion plan. Understanding the reason for moving can help identify terms both sides can work with.

Record the outcome of each discussion

After a counteroffer, confirm the revised price and any changed conditions. This reduces confusion about furniture, repairs and timing later. If your offer is accepted, ask what happens to marketing and what each party is expected to do next.

Proceed with the legal and property checks. Acceptance does not replace due diligence, and a request to remove a listing should not be treated as a legal guarantee that the purchase will complete.

Common questions

How much below asking price should I offer? There is no reliable universal percentage. Consider evidence for that property, competition and your budget.

Can I revise an offer after a survey? In a normal private treaty transaction before exchange, the price can be renegotiated. Explain material findings and provide evidence for the change you propose.

Ready to offer on a Nivas Estates property? Send us your proposed price, funding position and timescale so the seller can consider the full proposal.

Related reading

Sources

Information checked on 26 October 2026. General information for England; obtain advice for your circumstances.