This is the question that keeps buyers up at night. Offer too little and the vendor rejects it. Offer too much and you have overpaid. Get it right and you buy with confidence.

Here is how to work out what to offer — and when to get professional help doing it.

Step 1 — Understand What the Property Is Actually Worth

Your offer should be based on recent comparable sales — not the asking price, not the agent’s price guide, not Realestate.com.au’s automated estimate.

Comparable sales means:

• Properties that actually sold (not listed, not passed in)
• Within 1-2km of the subject property
• Similar size, land, age, and condition
• Sold within the last 60-90 days

Pull these from recent results on Domain or REA, or ask your conveyancer or property advisor for a comparative market analysis.

Step 2 — Understand the Agent’s Price Guide

In Victoria, agents must give a price range estimate. However, properties commonly sell 5-15% above the quoted range in competitive markets. Treat the agent’s price guide as a starting reference — not a ceiling.

Step 3 — Assess the Competition

How many other buyers are interested? Has the property had multiple inspections? Are there other offers on the table? Competition drives price. A Collings Property Advisor can help you understand the competitive situation for any specific property before you make an offer.

Step 4 — Decide Your Walk-Away Price

Before you enter any negotiation, decide the maximum price you will pay. Stick to it. Emotional decisions at auction or in negotiation are how buyers overpay by $50,000-$150,000.

Step 5 — Construct Your Offer

Your offer is not just a number — it includes:

• Price
• Deposit amount and timing
• Settlement period (vendor preference matters)
• Conditions — building and pest inspection, finance approval
• Inclusions and exclusions

A well-structured offer can win over a slightly higher offer from a less-prepared buyer.

When to Get Professional Help Making an Offer

If any of the following are true, getting independent advice before making an offer is worth it:

• The property is worth more than $800,000
• You are not confident in your comparable sales analysis
• You have already tried to buy and missed out multiple times
• It is an off-market property with no public price guide
• You are buying interstate or in a suburb you do not know well

A Collings Property Advisor provides a full comparable sales analysis, market value assessment, and negotiation strategy for $4,500 + GST — and negotiates with the agent on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I offer below asking price?

Only if comparable sales support a lower price. Low-ball offers based on nothing more than hope will damage your credibility with the agent and make subsequent negotiations harder. Base your offer on data.

Can I negotiate after a building inspection?

Yes. If a building inspection reveals material defects, you can renegotiate the price or request repairs before settlement. This is one of the most common and effective post-offer negotiation strategies. A Collings Property Advisor can help you use inspection findings to negotiate effectively.

How do I make an offer on an off-market property?

Off-market offers are direct negotiations with the agent or vendor. Without public comparable sales data, you need independent analysis to know what to offer. A Collings advisor provides exactly this.

Get Independent Help Making Your Offer — $4,500 + GST Fixed Fee

A Collings Property Advisor will tell you what the property is worth, what to offer, and negotiate with the agent on your behalf.

Book a Property Advisory Consultation