32+ Best Responses to a Low Offer on Your House (100+ Examples)
Quick guide
A low offer on your house can sting. After weeks of cleaning, staging, and showings, a number far below your asking price feels personal. The right response to a low offer on your house, though, is not emotional, it is strategic. A calm, professional reply keeps the buyer talking and protects your price.
Below you will find 20 copy-ready responses to a low offer on your house, sorted by situation: countering professionally, rejecting firmly, buying time, handling insultingly low offers, responding in writing, and keeping the door open. If you are dealing with low numbers in another kind of deal, see our guide to responses to a quote request for business-side negotiation replies.
Why your response matters
A low offer is usually a starting point, not an insult. RE/MAX’s guide to handling lowball offers advises sellers to evaluate the whole offer, contingencies, closing timeline, and financing, rather than reacting to the price alone. Your reply sets the tone for everything that follows, so make it calm and clear.
- It keeps a buyer at the table. Most low offers are test balloons; a professional response turns them into real negotiations.
- It re-anchors the price. A firm counter backed by comparable sales moves the conversation back toward your number.
- It signals you are serious, not desperate. Cool confidence discourages bargain hunting and attracts stronger offers.
Best responses to a low offer on your house
Find your situation below, then copy the reply that fits.
1. Countering professionally
Countering beats rejecting in most cases. These work because they acknowledge the buyer’s interest, then re-anchor the price to your number with confidence.
#1 “Thank you for the offer. We appreciate the interest, but that price does not work for us. Our counter is at full asking price.”
#2 “We have reviewed the offer carefully. Based on recent comparable sales in our area, we are holding at our listed price for now.”
#3 “Thanks for submitting an offer. We can move a little, but not to that figure, here is our counter, and it is good for 48 hours.”
#4 “We understand everyone wants a good deal. The home is priced to the market, so our counter reflects that. Let us know what you think.”
2. Rejecting firmly but politely
Sometimes the gap is too wide to bridge. These work because they decline clearly without emotion, so the buyer takes you seriously.
#5 “Thank you for the offer, but we are going to pass. It is too far from our price to continue the conversation.”
#6 “We appreciate you writing this up, but we cannot consider this figure. We wish you luck finding the right home.”
#7 “After discussion with my agent, we have decided to decline the offer. The price is simply outside our range.”
3. Buying time
Never answer in the heat of the moment. These work because they pause the clock, giving you space to check comps and talk to your agent.
#8 “Thank you for the offer. We need a day to review it properly with our agent, we will have an answer for you tomorrow.”
#9 “We have received the offer and are considering it alongside other interest. Please give us 24 hours to respond.”
#10 “We do not rush big decisions. Our agent will come back to you with our response by end of day Thursday.”
4. Handling insultingly low offers
A true lowball is meant to provoke. These work because they stay ice-cold professional, which takes all the power out of the tactic.
#11 “Thank you for the offer. We do not feel this reflects the value of the home, so we will not be countering at this time.”
#12 “We appreciate the interest, but that figure is not something we can work with. If your position changes, feel free to submit again.”
#13 “We have priced the home based on professional valuation. At that number, we will have to decline, respectfully.”
5. Responding in writing to the buyer’s agent
Written replies become part of the record. These work because they are clear, professional, and keep every channel open for the next move.
#14 “Thanks for sending the offer over. My seller has asked me to counter at full list price, please find the signed counter attached.”
#15 “After reviewing with my seller, we are declining the offer as presented. We remain open to a revised offer closer to asking.”
#16 “My seller needs until tomorrow morning to respond properly. I will be in touch with their decision first thing.”
#17 “We have attached our counter, valid for 48 hours. The terms are firm, but we believe they are fair to both sides.”
6. Keeping the door open
Today’s low offer can become tomorrow’s sale. These work because they say no without burning the bridge, so the buyer can return with a better number.
#18 “We cannot accept this offer, but we genuinely hope you will take another look. Our door is open if your number moves.”
#19 “Not at this price, unfortunately. If you decide to come up, we would love to keep talking.”
#20 “Thank you for the offer, it is not enough to accept, but it tells us you are serious. We will stay in touch through our agents.”
What to avoid when responding
| Avoid this | Try this instead |
|---|---|
| Calling the buyer insulting or unserious | Thank them for the offer, then counter calmly |
| Responding the same hour out of anger | Take 24 hours and review the offer with your agent |
| Countering with an equally extreme number | Counter at or near list price with comps to back it |
| Going silent and letting the offer expire | Reply in writing, even a polite no keeps the door open |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you always counter a low offer on your house?
Countering is usually the strongest move, but not always. A counter keeps the buyer engaged and re-anchors the price near yours. Only skip the counter if the offer is truly unreasonable and you have other interest or a strong market position.
How do you reject a low offer without losing the buyer?
Decline politely and name the reason: the price, not the person. Thank them, say the figure does not work, and invite a revised offer. Buyers often return with a better number once they see you are serious and professional.
What if the buyer’s agent keeps pushing after your counter?
Hold your line and put a deadline on your counter. Restate your position once, attach an expiration date, and let the clock do the negotiating. If the buyer will not move, you can walk away cleanly, you have already shown good faith.
Final thoughts
A low offer is the start of a conversation, not the end of one. The sellers who do best stay calm, back their price with data, and always leave the door open. For more negotiation-ready replies, see our guides to responses to a price quote and responses to a salary negotiation, the same calm, confident tone wins in every deal.
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