How to Choose the Right Offer When Selling Your San Diego Home

The “For Sale” sign is barely in the ground before the offers start rolling in, exciting, right? But when you're staring at multiple bids, choosing the highest number isn't always the smartest move. In San Diego’s fast-paced market, choosing the right offer when selling means looking beyond price tags and digging into the details.

Getting multiple offers on your home is a great position to be in, but it can also come with a bit of decision-making stress. Do you go with the highest number? The fastest timeline? The cleanest terms?

In a competitive market like San Diego, sellers often find themselves fielding multiple offers within days or even hours of listing. But not all offers are created equal.

Choosing the right offer when selling means thinking strategically about your bottom line and your peace of mind.

Yes, price matters. But sometimes a slightly lower offer can end up being a better deal when all the other terms fall into place.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Is the offer over asking, but contingent on a long list of inspections and repairs?
• Is there an appraisal gap strategy if the offer is higher than market value?
• Are you comfortable with the buyer’s financing? Or are they stretching beyond what seems realistic?

In some cases, an all-cash offer that’s $10,000 under the top bid might actually get you to the finish line faster, and with less risk. That’s especially true in San Diego, where cash buyers (often investors or out-of-towners) are active in the market.

Contingencies are the “what ifs” built into an offer; things that must happen for the sale to go through. And they can have a huge impact on your timeline and stress levels.

Common contingencies include:

• Inspection contingency: Allows buyers to back out or request repairs after a home inspection.
• Appraisal contingency: Protects the buyer if the appraisal comes in low.
• Loan contingency: Gives the buyer a way out if their financing falls through.
• Sale of current home contingency: Buyer needs to sell their existing home first.

When choosing the right offer, pay close attention to these. A cleaner offer with fewer (or shorter) contingencies is often more solid, even if the price isn’t the highest.

The closing timeline matters more than many sellers expect. If you're hoping to move quickly or need extra time to coordinate your next purchase, the buyer’s flexibility can make or break a deal.

Questions to ask:

• Is the buyer offering a quick close?
• Do they have flexibility if you need a rent-back agreement?
• Are they aligned with your preferred move-out date?

Many buyers are willing to accommodate your timeline to make their offer more appealing. Don’t be afraid to use that as leverage if needed.

Even with pre-approval, not all buyers are equally prepared. An offer that looks strong can fall apart if financing hits a snag.

What to look for:

• Are they offering all cash or financing?
• If financed, are they pre-approved through a reputable lender?
• Have they included a strong earnest money deposit?

Buyers with solid financing, healthy down payments, and proof of funds will make your escrow process smoother and reduce the risk of last-minute surprises.

Motivated buyers are more likely to follow through and are more willing to make the process easier for you.

Look for signs like:

• A personal letter expressing why they love your home
• Willingness to waive certain contingencies
• Prompt and clear communication from their agent

If a buyer wants your home and isn’t just throwing offers around, that’s a good sign you’re working with someone committed to closing the deal.

Let’s say you’re selling your home in Mission Hills and you’ve received three offers. At first glance, the differences might seem small. But when you dig into the details, they tell three very different stories.

Buyer A is offering $1,200,000 with a conventional loan. It’s a full-price offer, which is great, but it comes with both inspection and appraisal contingencies. The closing timeline is 30 days, which is fairly standard, but those contingencies could lead to delays or renegotiations if anything pops up during the process.

Buyer B comes in slightly under at $1,190,000, but they’re offering all cash, with no contingencies at all, and a quick 15-day close. Even though it’s not the highest offer, it’s extremely clean and low-risk.

Buyer C tops the chart with an offer of $1,210,000 using an FHA loan, but their offer is wrapped in contingencies: loan, appraisal, and the sale of their current home. Plus, their proposed closing timeline exceeds 45 days, making it the longest and riskiest of the three, even with the highest dollar amount.

In this scenario, Buyer B’s offer might actually be the smartest choice. Why? Fewer moving parts, a faster close, and a higher chance of getting across the finish line without last-minute drama.

That’s exactly why choosing the right offer means looking beyond the numbers and weighing the full package.

At the end of the day, the “right” offer is the one that aligns with your goals, not just the one with the biggest number. In San Diego, choosing the right offer takes strategy, insight, and experience.

That’s where the team at The Comiskey Group comes in. They’ll help you break down every offer, identify red flags, and negotiate terms that work for you. Because getting top dollar is great, but getting a smooth, successful sale is even better.

When you're ready to sell, don’t just settle for the highest bid. Connect with The Comiskey Group for expert guidance. From listing strategy to final signatures, they’ll help you make decisions that lead to real results.