Favorite bid/offer strategies? Methods?

Why would the broker not tell the seller of your bid???????In any event, put together an offer letter indicating your price, terms(all cash or financing contingency), some background on you and your financial strength.Then call the seller's broker letting them know that you have sent the offer letter and discuss with them. or call the broker first and feel them out about the situation, then followup by emailing the offer letter. Assuming you are prequalified, mention that to broker as they may want the letter with the offer if you are financing. But you should definately converse with the broker in addition to emailing the offer letter.Hard to really get a feel for someone and gauge their seriousness off of email alone.

I don't like the email approach. Contrary to the brokers opinion above I like the verbal offer. If there is another interested party the seller's broker can now produce this email document( although they shouldn't because all brokers are so ethical) and let the prospective buyer know looky here I have another truly interested buyer. This is most true when the seller first rejects the email offer and uses it to try to pump up the next prospective buyer. If you made a verbal then the have less ammunition to work with you if you get my drift. Once again most brokers and sellers are extremely ethical and would never ever think of doing such a dastardly thing like this.

OP: You might find that the seller's broker requests the offer in writing even after you submit it verbally. That is just the professional way to do it, and the norm. Most other bidders wil be submitting a written offer with terms, price and often some info.Brokers and sellers do not always decide on a deal merely based on price. Sometimes the professionalism with which the buyer makes his "first impression" factors heavily as it indicates a solid person less apt to "flake"

#3, original poster here... I don't think it's "unethical" to use one bid to get another so long as you tell the truth. I don't even think it's "dastardly." Just tell the truth. Lying is when it's unethical.

Follow up: Seller's broker made nice counter offer, we accepted, and we're on our way. All done via email.

I used the procedure described at urbandigs.com, by the way...made my initial offer quite a bit lower than asking. A poster said co-ops are selling for 12% below asking on average, we're paying 6% below asking price, but it was a market-reasonable asking price.

#6 Congrats on your purchase however give me a break about the just telling the truth part. Granted I agree that brokers should just tell the truth, but just ask a broker how many offers were made on an apt your interested in and what were the offers. Most brokers are going to say they are forbidden to give what the other offers were. Now what freaking law states that a broker can't give that information out. Once again just tell the truth, be open --I say give me a break.

You bought a coop well let's face it negotiating price is a bit easier since they are harder to sell than condo's. Seller has less flexibility particularly when you have an interested qualified buyer.