The Seller Says Your Offer Is Too Low. Now What?
Oct 28, 2026
By Anthony Price
You make an offer. The seller says, “That’s way too low.”
Your next move does not have to be a higher number. First, find out why the offer missed the mark.
The seller may be comparing your offer with a fixed-up house down the street. They may need a certain amount to move. Or your estimate may be wrong. Those are different problems. Treat them that way.
Ask what they are comparing it with
Ask how they reached their price. Then listen before defending yours.
A recent sale, an online estimate and the amount someone owes on a mortgage are not the same thing. Each gives you something different to discuss.
If they mention a nearby sale, look at it. Was that house updated? Was it larger? Did it have a garage or an extra bathroom? You may find a real reason to change your estimate. You may also find that the two houses are not close matches.
Keep the conversation about the property. Telling the seller they are “unrealistic” rarely helps you learn anything.
Check your own numbers before defending them
Make sure you can explain the main parts of your offer:
- What you think the house could sell for after the planned work.
- What repairs you included.
- Which facts you checked and which are still estimates.
- What other costs and room the deal needs.
If you have not done that work, go back to it. Our guide to calculating a wholesale offer walks through a simple example.
Do not use a long list of possible problems to scare the seller into a lower price. Stick to the work you have a reason to expect.
Find out whether price is the only issue
Sometimes “too low” is really “this does not solve my problem.”
Ask what the seller needs from the sale. They may need more time to move, a different closing date or a clearer explanation of who pays which costs.
Only discuss terms you can actually offer. Extra time or a different closing plan can affect your costs and risk, too. A lower price is not automatically a fair trade for any change in terms.
Work through the gap—not just the next number
Here is a made-up example. You offer $130,000. The seller wants $165,000 because a nearby home sold for $240,000.
You check that sale. It had a new kitchen, updated bathrooms and a new roof. The seller’s house still needs that work.
Now you can talk about the difference. Show the sale you reviewed and the repairs in your estimate. Ask whether there are updates you missed. Do not treat your repair estimate as a fact if you have not checked it.
If a roof turns out to be newer than you thought, update the numbers. If nothing has changed, raising your offer just to keep talking may turn a workable deal into a bad one.
Give a clear answer when you reach your limit
You can respect the seller’s price without agreeing to it.
If your numbers do not support their price, explain that you cannot make it work at that amount. Leave room for them to choose another option.
If you agree to talk again later, choose a time and a useful reason. For example, you might reconnect after they send repair records or after you review a sale they mentioned. Do not create a fake deadline to force an answer.
A simple way to explain your number
Here is a simple example. Use it only when the number is supported and you can carry out the terms:
“Based on the repairs and recent sales we reviewed, my offer is [amount]. That is the price I can make work. Would you like to go over the closing steps?”
Say it calmly, then give the seller time to answer. Do not add a higher number just to fill the silence.
A quick check before your next call
Before you call back, write down three things:
- What caused the price gap.
- What new information you checked.
- What you can offer now—and where you need to stop.
That is more useful than memorizing a clever comeback.
A resource for seller conversations
Acquisitions Scripts includes seller intake, offer, objection and follow-up guidance in PDF and editable Word. Use it as a reference while you build your own conversation around the real facts.
Common question
Should I raise my offer right away?
Not just because the seller asked. Check whether you missed something or whether a change in terms makes the deal work. If the facts have not changed, know why you are changing the price.