Congratulations! You've found the perfect home. But, this can be the most stressful part of your buying experience. An offer is more than a legal document. It’s an emotional event. For some, this is a stressful experience. After all, you and the seller may not be able to come to an agreement and you won't get your dream home. There are eight basic elements to an offer and there are various offer strategies that you may want to use during your negotiations. When you've found your home, you will make a formal, written offer to purchase. This is a legally binding contract outlining what you will give (a combination of price and terms) in exchange for the home. We will use a pre-printed form covering all of the legalities and will modify it to cover what you want to offer. Remember, everything is negotiable. You should ask for what you want, but keep in mind what you're willing to give up. Everything will be put in writing. Of course, the more contingencies in your offer, the less attractive it will be to the seller. In a buyers' market, that's OK. The seller may counter your contingency with an escape clause. For example, the vendor may wish to continue showing the house and if they receive another offer, you'll have the option of backing out or removing your contingency.