If you are selling your home and are motivated to get the deal done quickly, you may be tempted to accept a low bid. Whether you need to sell because you are being relocated or need to downsize to save your financial investment, there are several things you should consider before accepting a bid that is below your asking price. Here are a few tips on making that decision a bit easier.

• How Motivated Are You?

The decision to accept a low bid should always be influenced by your actual financial position rather than simply wanting a quick sale. If you are in a situation in which you may lose your home due to foreclosure, accepting a low bid may be your only option. If, on the other hand, you are simply tempted to take a low bid because it is more than you originally paid for the home, you may want to reconsider. For most people, the motivation will lie somewhere in the middle, and balancing your motivation to sell and the potential financial loss of accepting a low bid should be carefully evaluated.

• Avoid Becoming A Motivated Seller

The best way to sidestep having to take a low bid is by avoiding the position of being a truly motivated seller in the first place. If you are having trouble paying your mortgage, be sure you have exhausted any refinancing options that may exist. Another common reason people feel obligated to accept a low bid is that they have already purchased a new home and do not want to be in the position of paying two mortgages at once. Before purchasing a new home, first sell your existing home.

Another way that many home-sellers become a motivated sell is that they overpriced the property in the first place and it sat on the market for an extended period. Don't over-price your home in the beginning.

No matter your reason for considering accepting a low bid for your home, be sure you get the advice of both your agent and a financial adviser to ensure you are making the right decision.

To avoid becoming a motivated seller, contact us as soon as you decide you may want to sell.