The offer comparison worksheet: compare offers like a pro.

The highest price is not always the best offer. This worksheet lines up to four offers side by side — price, deposit, contingencies, financing, timeline — so you compare them on the factors that actually predict a closed deal, not just the biggest number.

Deal-killers to read first: Financing and inspection contingencies
Deposit = commitment: Bigger earnest money, more serious buyer
Non-negotiable step: Your attorney reviews every contract
This series: Worksheet 3 of 4 for FSBO sellers

Updated October 2026 · Queens, NY

The table: up to four offers, side by side

Fill one column per offer as they come in. Score each row honestly — the pattern that emerges is usually clearer than any single number. Your entries save in this browser.

Worksheet A — Offer comparison table

Side by side, on the factors that predict a closed deal.

Factor	Offer A	Offer B	Offer C
Offer price
Earnest-money deposit ($)
Deposit as % of price
Down payment %
Financing (cash / conventional / FHA / VA)
Mortgage contingency?
Inspection contingency?
Appraisal contingency?
Home-sale contingency?
Proposed closing date
Pre-approval letter attached?
Proof of funds (cash offers)?
Your notes

What matters beyond the price

The deposit is the buyer’s skin in the game. A 10% earnest-money deposit on a $650,000 offer says more about commitment than a $5,000 deposit on a $670,000 offer — and in New York the deposit is typically held in escrow by an attorney or title company, never handed directly to you.

Contingencies are exit doors. Each one — financing, inspection, appraisal, sale of the buyer’s current home — is a reason the deal can die that has nothing to do with you. An offer with fewer contingencies is worth real money compared to a higher offer full of them. Read every contingency line before you look at the price.

Financing type shapes appraisal risk. Cash has no appraisal. Conventional appraisals protect the lender. FHA and VA appraisals stick to the property and can complicate things for months. A financed offer above appraised value only works if the buyer covers the gap in cash — get that commitment in writing, not as a verbal promise.

How to read a pre-approval letter

A pre-approval letter is only as strong as the work behind it. Run every letter through these checks before you rank the offer — a weak letter turns a strong price into a weak offer.

Worksheet B — Pre-approval verification

The approved amount covers the full offer price — not just “up to” some lower number. The letter is dated within the last 60–90 days. I read the conditions: “subject to verification of…” is normal; a page of conditions is a weak letter. It is a pre-approval, not a pre-qualification — the lender checked documents, not just asked questions. I called the loan officer to confirm the letter is real and current. For cash offers: I saw proof of funds (a bank statement), not just a claim.

Counter, accept, or walk away

Rank your offers with the table, then decide: accept the strongest, counter the close second, or hold for your sealed-offer deadline if one is set. One round of counters is usually enough — endless back-and-forth kills momentum and trains buyers to wait you out.

Whatever you decide, get it in writing and have your attorney review the contract of sale before you sign anything. If you are running a sealed-offer deadline on this board, the deadline is the process — do not freelance side deals outside it. Buyers trusted the process; breaking it costs you credibility with every bidder.

Worksheet C — My decision

Write it down before you call anyone.

My ranking (strongest to weakest) and one-line reason eachMy move: accept / counter / hold for deadlineAttorney review scheduled

Fair-housing reminder

Choose on the numbers, never on the people. Federal and New York fair-housing laws prohibit basing your decision on a buyer’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or other protected characteristics. Compare offers on price, financing, contingencies, and timing only — and keep your written notes to those factors too.

When in doubt about a question a buyer asks or something you are considering, ask your attorney before you act. The board terms carry the same requirement.

Questions, answered.

Can I ask buyers for their “highest and best”?

Yes — it’s common and legal. Set a clear deadline, tell every buyer the rules are the same for all, and put the process in writing. On this board, the sealed-offer deadline does exactly this.

What if two offers are basically identical?

Look at the tiebreakers: bigger deposit, fewer contingencies, faster or more certain closing, stronger pre-approval. If still tied, the buyer’s flexibility on your timeline (rent-back, closing date) can decide it.

Should I take a lower cash offer over a higher financed one?

Sometimes. Cash removes appraisal and financing risk entirely, which is worth a real discount — especially if the financed offer is aggressive on price with a thin down payment. Run both through the table and price the risk honestly.

Do I need an attorney if I accept an offer myself?

Yes. In New York, the contract of sale is an attorney-driven document, and you should never sign one your own attorney hasn’t reviewed. The board is an advertising venue, not your lawyer — budget $1,500 to $2,500.

General information only

General information only — not legal, financial, or appraisal advice. These worksheets organize your own research; they are not a substitute for professional advice. New York real estate contracts, disclosures, taxes, and fair-housing rules depend on your situation: have a licensed New York real estate attorney review your contract and disclosures before you sign anything, consult a licensed appraiser for valuation questions, and talk to a tax professional about tax consequences.

Sources

NAR 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers — offer and contingency data
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — fair housing guidance (general)
NY Real Property Law — contract of sale practice (general reference)

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