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Counter Offer Letter Template for Florida Home Sellers

Receiving a low offer is frustrating but common. Your counter offer response is one of the most financially important things you'll do during your home sale. This guide explains what to include in a Florida counter offer and provides a template you can adapt.

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What to Include in a Counter Offer

A Florida counter offer should address: (1) Counter offer price — your revised asking price. (2) Any changes to contingency periods (inspection period length, financing period length). (3) Changes to closing date — negotiate a date that works for both parties. (4) Seller concessions — accept, reject, or modify any requested closing cost credits. (5) Repair response — if buyer requested repairs, specify which you'll complete, which you're declining, or offer a repair credit instead. (6) Response deadline — give the buyer 24–48 hours to accept or counter back. In Florida, counter offers modify specific terms of the original offer; terms not addressed in the counter remain as originally proposed.

Counter Offer Template

COUNTER OFFER TO PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT Date: [Date] Property: [Property Address] Original Offer Date: [Date of Buyer's Offer] Seller accepts the terms of the original offer dated above with the following modifications: 1. PURCHASE PRICE: The purchase price is amended to $[Your Counter Price]. 2. CLOSING DATE: Closing shall occur on or before [Your Preferred Date]. 3. INSPECTION PERIOD: The inspection period shall be [X] days from contract execution. 4. SELLER CONCESSIONS: Seller agrees to / does not agree to contribute $[Amount] toward buyer's closing costs. 5. REPAIRS: Seller agrees to the following repairs: [List or "None"]. All other repair requests are declined. This counter offer expires at [Time] on [Date]. Acceptance requires buyer's signature by this deadline. ___________________________ ___________ Seller Signature Date

Counter Offer Negotiation Strategy

Counter offer strategy tips: (1) Never counter below your walk-away number — know it before you start. (2) Counter closer to your list price than to the buyer's offer to anchor high. (3) If the buyer's price is acceptable but terms aren't, adjust the terms rather than the price. (4) Short response deadlines (24–48 hours) create urgency and prevent buyers from shopping other homes while you wait. (5) Be willing to give on things that don't cost you money: closing date flexibility, minor repair items, leaving appliances. (6) If a buyer comes in at a ridiculously low price, a polite counter near list price is better than no response — it keeps them engaged.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common Questions

How many times can you counter offer in Florida?

There is no legal limit to counter offer rounds in Florida. Practically, deals typically resolve within 2–3 rounds of negotiation. If after 3 rounds you haven't reached agreement, either the buyer's expectations and yours are too far apart, or one party needs to make a bigger move to close the gap.

Do I need a real estate attorney to write a counter offer in Florida?

No — Florida's standard FAR/BAR contract forms include counter offer addendums that you fill out. As a flat fee MLS seller, you can use the Florida Realtors Counter-Offer form or simply respond in writing with your specific counter terms. Your flat fee broker can advise on proper form usage.

What if the buyer refuses to negotiate after my counter offer?

Buyers sometimes walk away after a counter, which is their right. In a seller's market, this is usually fine — more buyers will come. In a slower market, consider whether your counter was too aggressive and whether the original offer, despite being lower than ideal, was still reasonable. A bird in hand vs. continued days on market is a real calculation.

Can I counter an offer and still accept another offer?

In Florida, once you counter an offer, you're technically in negotiation with that buyer. You can present a backup offer notification to a second buyer, but you generally should not accept a second offer while a counter is pending with the first buyer. Your flat fee broker can guide you on proper procedure for multiple-offer situations.

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