How to put an offer on a house, step by step

Making your first offer feels like a big moment, and it is easy to rush it over the phone because the agent says there is other interest. A good offer is not just a number. It is a short, confident case that makes it easy for the seller to say yes, or at least to take you seriously. Here is how to put one together.

1. Get your position ready first

Before you offer, have a mortgage in principle (or proof of funds if you are buying in cash), know where your deposit is coming from, and be clear on your chain: first-time buyer, nothing to sell, or a sale already agreed. Agents rank offers on certainty as much as on price, so a slightly lower offer from a buyer who is ready to go can beat a higher one from a buyer who is not.

2. Work out the number from evidence

Look at what similar homes nearby have actually sold for in the last year or two, not what they were listed at. Adjust for size, condition and anything the home needs. Then set two figures: the offer you will open with, and the most you are prepared to pay. Write the second one down and do not share it.

3. Make the offer in writing

You can call the agent, but always follow up by email so there is a clear record. Keep it short and specific:

An example

"Dear [agent], following my viewing of [address], I would like to offer £[amount]. I have a mortgage in principle with [lender], my deposit is in place and I am a first-time buyer with no chain. My offer reflects recent sales of similar homes on nearby streets at £[range] and the replacement boiler the property will need soon. The offer is subject to survey and mortgage. I would be grateful for the seller's response by [day]. Kind regards, [name]"

4. What happens next

The agent has to pass your offer to the seller. Expect a yes, a no, or a counter-offer. If it is a counter, you do not have to jump straight to your maximum: move in smaller steps and keep pointing back to your evidence. Once an offer is accepted in England and Wales, ask for the home to be taken off the market, and remember nothing is legally binding until contracts are exchanged. Scotland works differently, with offers usually made through a solicitor.

A Proptel report gives you the evidence for steps 2 and 3 in about 30 seconds: a suggested offer range with the working shown, the costs to factor in, and a letter for the agent that you can edit and send.