Methodology

How we estimate offer price

We start from what comparable properties actually closed at, adjust for documented condition, then account for time on market and seller position. That produces a recommended range, capped by the highest price at which the deal still works for you. List price is treated as an input, not a starting point.

What this is

What it is
The documented method behind the offer strategy in a Property Intelligence brief.
Who it is for
Buyers deciding what to offer on a specific property.
The problem it solves
Most offers are a percentage off list price. List price is the seller's opinion, and anchoring to it hands the negotiation away before it begins.

What the method requires

  • Comparable closings

    Recent nearby sales of similar properties, adjusted for size and condition.

  • Condition findings

    Inspection reports, disclosures and documented observations, priced as deductions.

  • Market position

    Days on market, price history, and competing inventory.

  • Your ceiling

    The highest price at which the purchase still meets your objective — affordability, cash flow or margin.

The method, step by step

  1. 01

    Anchor to closings

    Establish supported value from adjusted comparable sales.

  2. 02

    Deduct for condition

    Price documented defects and deferred maintenance as explicit deductions.

  3. 03

    Read the market position

    Days on market and price reductions inform how much room exists.

  4. 04

    Cap at your ceiling

    Never recommend above the price at which your own objective fails.

  5. 05

    Name the terms

    Identify what is worth trading before price — timeline, contingencies, repairs, credits.

What we will not do

  • We do not recommend an offer above the price at which the deal stops working for you.
  • We do not treat list price as the anchor.
  • When comparable evidence is weak, we widen the range and state why rather than implying precision.

Questions about this method

How much should I offer on a house?

Start from what comparable properties closed at, adjust down for documented condition issues, factor in days on market, and never exceed the highest price at which the purchase still meets your objective.

Do you recommend offering below asking?

Only where the evidence supports it. The recommendation follows comparable closings and condition, which sometimes lands above list and sometimes well below.

What to read next

Home Purchase CalculatorCalculatorMortgage Payment CalculatorCalculatorHow much should I offer on a house?GuideShould I buy this property?GuideHow we estimate after-repair valueMethodologyHow confidence is calculatedMethodology

See this method applied to one address

Property Intelligence™ runs this method against verified records, the documents you upload and professional review — then states a recommendation, its confidence, and exactly what is still missing.

Build Property Intelligence™How it works

Where this method is applied locally