Joel DyckReal Broker SK Ltd.
Saskatoon · From the topic map

Should I use an escalation clause to win a Saskatoon bidding war?

An escalation clause, which automatically raises your offer by a set amount above any competing offer up to a cap, is legal in Saskatchewan and can work, but it reveals your ceiling to the seller in a way a straightforward strong offer does not.

In a market the Saskatchewan REALTORS Association reports at 1.63 months of supply, multiple-offer situations happen often enough that the tactic comes up regularly, but a seller's agent presenting offers can see exactly where your cap sits once the clause triggers, which weakens your negotiating position on anything beyond price.

A cleaner alternative is a strong initial offer with realistic, clearly dated conditions and a personal letter or gesture that shows you are a serious, prepared buyer, which often competes just as well without disclosing your absolute limit.

If you do use an escalation clause, cap it at a number you would genuinely pay outright, since a seller can structure a counter-offer that pushes you right to that ceiling.

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