Seal the Deal: How to Make a Winning Offer on a House in Welland

Finding the perfect house for sale in Welland that matches almost everything on your wishlist is a true win. However, finding your dream home doesn’t mean you have crossed the finish line yet. You now need to make a strong offer on the house, and the seller must accept it for the property to be officially yours. Below is everything you need to know to put together a successful offer that helps you win the Welland house you love.

Key Things to Look At Before Making an Offer on a Welland House

1. Current Housing Market Conditions

The type of market you are in directly influences your negotiating power. In a buyer’s market, you can offer below the asking price and in a seller’s market, you need to come in strong with your offer, possibly even offering above asking. In a balanced market, it’s all about making a fair offer on the house in Welland.

How do you tell me what type of housing market you’re in, Welland?

One of the most reliable ways to gauge the housing market is by checking the absorption rate or sales-to-new-listings (SNLR) ratio. SNLR compares sold homes to new listings, helping you understand if it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), this is what the absorption ratio indicates about the market –

• If it is below 45%, it means houses for sale in Welland, Ontario, are sitting on the market longer – a buyer’s market.
• If the absorption rate is above 65%, homes in Welland are selling fast, and the market favours sellers.
• If the absorption rate falls between 45% and 65%, the Welland market is balanced.

To get the most accurate understanding of the housing market, you must track the absorption rate over several months. The real estate market shifts, and you don’t want to base your offer on consistent patterns, not just a temporary spike or dip.

Inside the Welland Housing Market Now

Source – Welland Real Estate Market Trends (The Canadian Home)

From the data above, we can clearly see that the Welland housing market has been on the buyer’s side for six straight months. So, if you are buying a house in this Welland housing market, you may be able to offer less than what the seller is asking.

2. What Similar Homes Are Selling For

Before deciding how much to offer, you must see what homes like the one you want to buy have sold for recently. These similar homes in the neighbourhood are called comps, and they help you figure out if the asking price of the subject home is reasonable or over the top.

Once you have a list of comparable homes and their final sales price, compare them to the asking price of the house you want to buy. Let’s say the house for sale in Welland you are looking at has an asking price of $600,000. However, most similar homes in the area sold recently between $550,000 and $580,000. That’s a clear sign that your dream home might be overpriced, and you might have room to offer lower.

3. How Long the Home Has Been on the Market

If a home has been on the market for a while (a stale listing), the seller might be more willing to negotiate on price just to get it sold. But how do you know if the house in Welland is turning stale?

You need to look at the average days on the market (DOM) in the Welland housing market. As of May 2025, the average DOM in the Welland real estate market is 50 days. So, if the house you are considering has been on the market for, say, 65 or 70 days, it is a stale listing, and you can offer less.

4. Seller’s Motivation to Sell

By knowing the seller’s motivation to sell, you can craft an offer that matches their situation. If the seller is highly motivated, they are more likely to accept a lower offer. Your real estate agent can often get this info by talking to the seller’s agent or reading between the lines of the listing.

When It’s Smart to Offer Less Than Asking and How to Do It Right

As discussed above, sellers are usually open to accepting a lower offer when the current circumstances are not in their favour. For instance, if it’s a buyer’s market and the house has been sitting on the market for a long time. They may also consider a lower offer if they are in a rush to move or if the home needs significant repairs.

How Low Can You Go Without Having Your Offer Ignored Completely?

A good rule of thumb is to never offer more than 20% below the asking price on the house in Welland. Anything less than that could come across as insulting to the seller or make them question your intentions, possibly leading them to ignore your offer entirely.

Here’s a quick guide to help you decide how low you can reasonably go, depending on the situation:

● 15% to 20% Below Asking Price

Go this low with your offer only when the home has been on the market 10 to 15 days longer than average or clearly needs significant repairs.

● 10% to 15% Below Asking Price

This range makes sense if the housing market is slow, if the home needs a few updates, and if similar homes sold below the asking price.

● Less Than 10% Below Asking Price

If the home is in good shape and priced accurately, but you still want some negotiating room, offering slightly below asking is a safe route.

When to Go Over Asking for a House in Welland and by How Much

In a hot market, the winning bid on a house usually comes from a buyer who is willing to pay a bit extra. So, if the property you are looking at feels like the one, and you are buying in a hot seller’s market, consider offering more to stand out from the crowd.

Now the big question is: how much more should you offer for the Welland house? Real estate experts typically recommend going 1% to 3% over the asking price in a hot market. This strategy gives your offer a competitive edge without stretching your budget too thin.

But here’s your word of caution – you should not go beyond that 1% to 3% range. Why? Because offering more than that on the Welland house comes with the risk of overpaying. If you stretch too far, you could end up buying a home that’s not actually worth what you paid for it.

There’s More to a Winning Offer Than Just the Price

Yes, price is important, but sellers also pay close attention to other key details that can either make or break your offer. Hence, alongside the price, carefully consider the deposit amount, any conditions you include, and your preferred closing date. A larger deposit can show commitment, while fewer conditions can make your offer more competitive. A closing date that matches the seller’s timeline can also tip the scales in your favour, even if your offer is lower than asking.

So, take a moment, weigh all the pieces, and craft an offer on the Welland house that truly stands out. Your offer must prove to the seller that you are committed and willing to make the deal work for both parties – that’s what a strong offer is!