How to Handle Lowball Offers Like a Pro

J Franklin Lloyd
Jul 23
3 min read

Receiving a lowball offer on your home can be frustrating, but don’t let it discourage you! Some buyers test the waters with an extremely low offer just to see how you’ll respond.

Instead of getting emotional or rejecting it outright, use these strategic negotiation techniques to turn lowball offers into serious deals—without leaving money on the table.

1. Stay Calm & Professional 🧘‍♂️🏡

Your first reaction to a lowball offer sets the tone for negotiations. Many buyers expect a counteroffer, so don’t take it personally.

✅ Keep emotions out of it – This is a business transaction.✅ Thank the buyer for their interest – A polite response keeps negotiations open.✅ Don’t reject immediately – You might be able to bring them up to a reasonable price.

💡 Pro Tip: If you overreact or refuse to negotiate, you could lose a potentially good buyer.

2. Ask for the Buyer’s Reasoning 🔍💬

Before countering, find out why they made such a low offer.

✅ Are they just testing you? Some buyers automatically start low to see how much flexibility you have.✅ Do they think the home needs major repairs? If so, they may have misunderstood the home’s condition.✅ Is their financing limited? They may not have enough funds for a higher offer.

💡 Pro Tip: Ask, “Can you help me understand how you arrived at this price?” This can reveal whether they’re serious or just fishing for a deal.

3. Counteroffer with Supporting Data 📊💰

A strong counteroffer with market data can educate the buyer and show them why your home is worth more.

✅ Provide comps (recent sales data) to justify your price.✅ Highlight key home features that add value (renovations, location, upgrades).✅ Offer small incentives instead of a price drop (e.g., covering some closing costs).

💡 Pro Tip: Never counter at full asking price. Instead, lower your price slightly to keep negotiations going.

4. Create a Sense of Competition ⏳🔥

Buyers don’t like losing out to other buyers—use that to your advantage.

✅ Let them know there’s strong interest (if true).✅ Mention other showings or offers in progress.✅ Set a deadline for negotiations to create urgency.

💡 Pro Tip: Say something like, “We’ve had multiple inquiries, so we want to work with serious buyers. Are you able to come up to a more competitive price?”

5. Offer to Negotiate on Other Terms 🤝📜

If the buyer won’t budge much on price, see if they’re willing to compromise on other factors.

✅ Shorter closing timeline? Works well if you need to sell quickly.✅ Fewer contingencies? Ask them to waive unnecessary conditions.✅ Higher earnest money deposit? Shows they’re serious.

💡 Pro Tip: Sometimes non-price factors can make an offer more attractive without costing you money.

6. Know When to Walk Away 🚪❌

Not every buyer is worth negotiating with. If they refuse to come close to fair market value, it’s okay to move on.

✅ Stick to your bottom line – Don’t accept an offer you’ll regret later.✅ Call their bluff – If they’re serious, they may return with a better offer.✅ Keep your options open – Other buyers may be more willing to meet your price.

💡 Pro Tip: If you reject the offer, do so politely and professionally—they might return with a higher bid later.

Final Thoughts: Turn Lowball Offers into Winning Deals!

A lowball offer isn’t the end of the deal—it’s an opportunity to negotiate like a pro and get the best price for your home.

✅ Key Takeaways:

✔ Stay calm and professional – Don’t let emotions take over.✔ Ask the buyer why they made the offer – Learn their motivation.✔ Counter with data & a fair price – Show them why your home is worth more.✔ Use competition & urgency – Create the fear of missing out.✔ Negotiate other terms if price is firm – Look for win-win solutions.✔ Know when to walk away – Some buyers simply won’t meet your price.