Wahoo!  An exciting new listing just hit the market.  You are excited to go see it and will definitely consider making an offer.  You know it will likely be a popular listing, with the potential for multiple offers, but you have already been pre-approved for your mortgage, you are going to see the house on the first day it is on the market, and you will likely make an offer on the second day that it is on the market.

That should be enough, right?

Well, maybe.

Sometimes, an offer shows up that is strong enough to cause a seller to adjust how they were otherwise planning to receive and consider offers.

If an offer comes in on the fictional house above on the afternoon of the first day that it is on the market... that is above asking price, cash, without an inspection, with a closing to take place in 20 days, with the seller able to rent back for free for up to three months...

1.  Who could blame the seller for going ahead and accepting this very (very!) strong offer.

2.  Who could blame buyers if they are disappointed when they find out on the second morning that the house is on the market that they are too late to submit an offer.

So...

1.  Buyers - Be willing to make a strong offer, quickly, if you want to try to get the seller to respond before considering other offers.

2.  Also, Buyers - Know that an early offer from a motivated buyer might very quickly eliminate your opportunity to compete to buy a house that you really like - so, make an offer just as quickly as you are ready to do so.