Think the highest offer on a home always wins? Think again.

Here are four reasons why a seller may not choose the highest offer:

1. A buyer brings an all-cash offer: A buyer paying cash means there won’t be any financing pitfalls — and sellers LOVE avoiding pitfalls.

2. A buyer can close ASAP: If a seller is antsy to get moving, an offer from a buyer who can close quickly will zoom to the top of the stack.

3. A buyer shares their story. Sometimes buyers want sellers to know exactly why their house is “the one.” And sometimes, that’s all it takes for a seller to agree — especially if a seller has lived in the home for decades and their move is a sentimental one.

4. A buyer doesn’t have a contingency. A common contingency is that a buyer must sell his or her home before buying. Sellers love when an offer is free and clear of cumbersome contingencies totally out of their control.

It’s true — you want to go in with a strong offer price-wise, but that’s not the only thing sellers are looking for. Sellers want an offer that’s competitive AND clean — the closer you can get to all of these, the better!