06/11/2026
🏡 One of my favorite conversations to have with first-time homebuyers🤍
Buying a home can be overwhelming, and it's easy to walk through a property and immediately start adding up everything you'd want to change.
New floors. Fresh paint. Updated countertops. A different bathroom. A new fence.
Then enters....the urge to submit a low ball offer.
But here's something I often ask my buyers:
Do you want to make an offer on this property, or do you want to actually OWN this property?
There's a big difference.
When we're negotiating, we have to focus on the home's actual market value and condition; not necessarily what it's gonna cost to bring the house back to a pristine brand new condition, or the way you would like to see it in your head.
Sellers cannot and will not be expected to pay for that.
🔨 Major issues like a failing roof, foundation concerns, or significant mechanical problems can absolutely affect negotiations.
🎨 Cosmetic updates like flooring, paint colors, light fixtures, and countertops are often part of the fun of homeownership. They give you the chance to build equity and truly make a house your own. These are items you cannot start reducing the price for.
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that a seller should discount their home for every update a buyer would like to make. In reality, we're buying USED homes, and many of those personal touches are simply part of the journey.
Now, is a home sometimes overpriced? Absolutely. Is a lower offer sometimes the right strategy? Sure!
But here's something I talk about with my buyers all the time. In Great Falls, many homes are actually priced very appropriately for today's market.
I know that's not always easy to hear. Home values have changed dramatically over the years, and for many people, today's prices are still a tough pill to swallow because they remember what homes used to cost.
The reality is, though, that we have to buy and sell in the market we're in; not the market we wish we had.
The good news is that an experienced Realtor can help you determine whether a home is fairly priced or whether there's room for negotiation.
Here in the Great Falls market, the question isn't, "How low can we go?"
The BEST question is:
"Do you think this home is priced appropriately?"
Ask your agent. We'll give you our honest opinion. If a home is overpriced, we'll tell you. If we think there's room to negotiate, we'll tell you that, too. Our job isn't to encourage you to overpay, it's to help you make a smart offer that gives you the best chance of becoming a homeowner.
The goal isn't to find a perfect house. The goal is to find the right house at a fair price and position yourself to actually get to the closing table.
Because at the end of the day, I'd rather help my clients become homeowners than professional offer writers. ❤️🏡
Lean on your agent for this kind of advice. We are here to help! That's what I'm here for. You don't have to know everything about buying a home, you just need someone in your corner to help you separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves and guide you every step of the way.
Monica Gordon, REALTOR®
406.836.0718
[email protected]
Keller Williams Northern Montana Realty
