Multiple Offers in Winnipeg: How Buyers Can Strengthen Their Offer
While not every home receives multiple offers, competitive situations still occur regularly in Winnipeg. Particularly, for well-priced homes in desirable neighbourhoods.
Maybe you have been searching for a house in Winnipeg, or other cities in the past few months and have come across the dreaded BIDDING WAR! I know, I know if you are a buyer, or a buyer’s agent then you know the heartbreak that can come with losing the home of your dreams to a closed offer bidding war. I spend a lot of my time working as a Buyer’s agent, and I am not a fan of the offer date or bidding war system. But hey, that’s the market we are currently in so instead of getting frustrated and hating on the system let me offer you another option that you may think is silly. THE PERSONAL LETTER!!
Yes I really do mean a personal letter. And when I say personal I don’t mean something addressed to “the owner of blah blah blah” I mean a personal letter. “Dear Kim and Dave, (fake names BTW) thank you for considering our offer to purchase your home at 123 Fake street”. Keep in mind this is just an intro but doesn’t that sound nice? Wouldn’t you have liked to read something along those lines instead of just the offer to purchase form filled out by some random person? I kid you not a personal letter is a very powerful tool when purchasing a home. Now I will say that this is a very specific case when the personal letter is useful. If you are trying to get the best deal on a home and are offering below list price, then this is not the situation for you. If you are in a competing offer situation and it is the home you love, the one you can’t live without, then this could seriously help your potential purchase of your dream home.
Let me tell you a story about a couple I recently helped purchase their first home. We saw a house that was in their ideal location, in their budget and was truly the perfect home for them to grow and start their life together as homeowners in. We did a pre-inspection knowing that there was an offer date and we did all the research to understand where it may sell for and if they could fit it into their budget. We knew that it would be a bidding war, the traffic through was crazy and the house was great. We spoke about writing a personal letter to the vendor and my clients went for it and knocked it out of the park. They purchases special paper that had a gold filigree and flower pattern and hand wrote it as careful as they could. They wrote the offer and included their letter. The letter was amazing, honestly I knew how much they loved the house and how perfect it was for them but their letter said it in a way that I couldn’t even convey to the listing agent or owner. It was truly moving, because everything they wrote was true and heartfelt.
On offer date we knew it would still be tough because we were maxing out their budget and it still may sell for over that price, and unfortunately it did. I still had to make the heart-wrenching call that they did not get the house, they were taking an offer for a higher dollar value. We were all crushed. Honestly, I felt in my bones that their offer would be accepted everything just felt right. A few days later I received a call from the listing agent and when I answered the agent told me that the other offer, while being higher, was taking too long to get financing in place and it looked like they would need extra time. The agent then told me that the vendor wasn’t happy with that outcome and had really been touched by my clients offer. The vendor wanted to let the first offer lapse as they had their chance to close and didn’t, and come back to my clients because the letter they wrote had literally touched her heart. In the end they did come back to us and we closed our offer in a couple of days. My clients are now in that house, making it their home and loving every minute of it.
The moral here is not that writing a personal letter will get you the house of your dreams, but if you actually put your heart into a personal letter when competing with other offers you will stand out! A vendor is much more likely to want to sell their home to someone who has a personal connection with their home. A personal letter can tell the vendor how much the home means to you, your family and how much you will appreciate and love it in the years to come.
Other Ways Buyers Can Stand Out in Multiple Offer Situations
When most buyers think about competing in a bidding war, they immediately focus on one thing: Price.
And while price certainly matters, it isn't always the deciding factor. As REALTORS®, we've seen sellers choose offers that weren't the highest simply because they provided greater certainty, flexibility, or convenience. If you're preparing to compete in Winnipeg's competitive market, here are several ways you may be able to strengthen your offer.
Strong Financing
One of the best ways to stand out is to demonstrate that your financing is solid. This starts with obtaining a mortgage pre-approval before you begin shopping, but it doesn't end there. A strong buyer is typically one who:
Has already spoken with a lender or mortgage broker
Has verified income and employment
Has their down payment readily available
Understands their budget before writing an offer
From a seller's perspective, strong financing means less risk that the transaction will fall apart. And certainty has value.
Flexible Possession Dates
Many buyers focus entirely on the home itself and forget to consider the seller's needs. Sometimes the most attractive offer isn't the highest one, it's the one that makes the seller's move easier. For example, sellers may need:
Additional time to find their next home
A quick possession date due to relocation
Extra flexibility around moving arrangements
Being willing to accommodate a seller's preferred possession date can occasionally make your offer stand out from the competition.
A Larger Deposit
A larger deposit can help demonstrate that you are serious about the purchase. While the deposit ultimately forms part of your down payment, it also provides reassurance to the seller that you are financially committed to the transaction. A strong deposit may signal:
Financial stability
Buyer confidence
Serious intent
While it won't always be the deciding factor, it can help strengthen your overall offer package.
Fewer Conditions (Where Appropriate)
Conditions exist to protect buyers and should never be removed lightly. However, in highly competitive markets, offers with fewer conditions are often viewed more favourably by sellers. Common conditions include:
Financing approval
Home inspection
Sale of the buyer's existing property
Review of condominium documents
In some situations, buyers may be able to reduce the number of conditions because they have already completed certain due diligence beforehand.
The key phrase here is: where appropriate. Every situation is different, and buyers should fully understand the risks before considering a less conditional offer.
Pre-Inspections
One strategy that has become increasingly common in competitive Winnipeg markets is the pre-inspection. Instead of making an offer conditional upon a home inspection, buyers arrange for an inspection before writing the offer. This can provide several advantages:
Greater understanding of the property
Fewer surprises later
The ability to write a cleaner offer
From the seller's perspective, an offer without a home inspection condition often creates greater certainty. Of course, pre-inspections involve additional time and expense upfront, and they may not be appropriate for every property or every buyer. However, in highly competitive situations, they can be an effective way to strengthen an offer while still conducting due diligence.
Remember: Sellers Don't Always Choose the Highest Price
This is one of the biggest misconceptions buyers have. While price is important, sellers often consider the entire package, including:
Financing strength
Possession date
Deposit amount
Conditions
Overall certainty of closing
A well-structured offer that meets the seller's needs can sometimes outperform a higher-priced offer that comes with more risk or complexity. And sometimes, writing that personal letter adds to the confidence the Sellers have that you will close on their home and treat it with the same love and care that they have.
Key Takeaways
Multiple-offer situations are common in competitive markets.
Strong offers involve more than just price.
Personal connection can sometimes influence a seller's decision.
Financing strength and clean conditions remain extremely important.
Every seller values different aspects of an offer.
Buyers should focus on presenting their strongest overall package.
Frequently Asked Questions About Multiple Offers in Winnipeg
Do personal letters help buyers win houses?
Sometimes. While price and terms remain extremely important, some sellers appreciate understanding who may be purchasing their home. However, not all brokerages or sellers choose to review personal letters.
Does the highest offer always win?
No. Sellers may also consider financing strength, conditions, possession dates, flexibility, and overall certainty of the transaction.
Should I remove conditions to make my offer stronger?
Not necessarily. Conditions exist to protect buyers. Every situation is unique, and buyers should discuss risks carefully with their REALTOR®.
What is the best way to compete in a bidding war?
Preparation is key. Strong financing, a clear understanding of value, flexibility, and realistic expectations often create the strongest offers.
Can a seller choose any offer they want?
Yes. Sellers are not obligated to accept the highest-priced offer and can choose the offer they feel best meets their needs.
It's worth noting that personal letters are not used in every transaction, and some REALTORS®, brokerages, and sellers prefer not to review them. Always discuss the approach with your REALTOR® first.
Best of luck out there!
Your Friend in Real Estate,
Logan Queen
Tel: (204) 226-1261
Email: Logan@QueenTeam.ca
About the Author: Logan Queen is a REALTOR® with The Queen Team who specializes in helping buyers navigate competitive markets with confidence. Through education, preparation, and thoughtful strategy, he helps buyers understand their options and put their strongest foot forward when the right home comes along.
