Smart Way To Get Your Fox Cities, WI House Sold: Seller Concessions

There have been a lot of sales in the Fox Cities, WI areas over the past few years. But things are changing up a bit, because there are more homes for sale. That means the market is is starting to balance out...somewhat. Because of this, some home sellers have to be more flexible in order to get a deal done. One thing that might work? Offering up some seller concessions.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) says this:

“As home inventory begins to grow and buyers regain some advantage in the market, sellers may consider offering more in negotiations to make the deal more attractive and get to the closing table” (Block, 2025).

So What Does A Seller Concession Mean?

To get their house sold, a seller might offer to pay for concessions—i.e., some of your home buying expenses. And according to National Association of Realtors (NAR) data, almost one in four sellers (24%), made concessions in 2024. The following are some of the most often occurring forms of concessions:

• Covering Closing Costs: Closing costs are paid for in part or in full by the seller. These costs may include things like appraisal fees, title insurance, or loan fees.
• Price Adjustments: Instead of fixing up the house, the seller may lower the price to cover some of the repairs that the buyer will eventually do after closing. 
• Including a Home Warranty: A seller may include a home warranty, which gives the buyer peace of mind knowing that major problems will be taken care of at a deductible-type cost vs. a full repair or replacement cost within the first year.

Don't stress out. It doesn't mean you need to get more cash to make it happen. At closing, these costs are taken out of your profits. You don't have to bring more money to the table, and not all deals have to be about money either.

You could add some other things as well. For example, if the buyer has never lived in a house before and is moving from an apartment, they might ask if you can leave your lawn mower or snowblower behind. You could use something like that to help keep that buyer happy.

Concessions Can Help Sellers Sell

Making compromises can be a smart way for sellers to close a deal. Dennis Shirshikov, a professor of finance and economics at Queens College and the City University of New York, told The Mortgage Reports:

"Pricing homes realistically and being willing to offer concessions, such as covering a portion of closing costs or including upgrades, will be key to closing deals . . . in a less frenzied market” (Martin, 2025).

Let's say you accepted a buyer's offer, but after they inspected the house, they told you they wanted you to fix a few things before they gave you the keys.

You might not have to start over and look for a new buyer if you make a concession instead of the repairs. You could do the repairs to keep this deal together. However, if you really don't want to deal with contractors, you could lower your price by the amount it would cost to repair things. It could get tricky depending on what needs to be repaired, but there is enough information out there to view average prices.

You (or the buyer) also have the option of getting some estimates for any type of needed repairs, but you have to review your contract deadlines to make sure you have enough time to do so (or you may have to extend out your closing date). You could also offer to pay some of the buyer's closing costs as another option, with the understanding that they would use the money they saved for repairing the house themselves.

In any case, a concession might be a fantastic approach to find middle ground. Still, you want an agent on your side to assist in these negotiations.

A good real estate agent can assist you in determining when and how to make concessions so you avoid giving away too much and yet still guarantee the sale of your house. The key is to strike the proper balance.

In Conclusion

In some places, seller concessions are resurfacing as the market becomes more balanced. Having an agent guide you through the process ensures that the outcome aligns with your best interests. That is where I can be very useful.

What’s a concession you’d consider to move things along?

References

Block, E. (2025, January 21). How home sellers can use concessions to get to closing. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/sales-marketing/how-home-sellers-can-use-concessions-to-get-to-closing

Martin, E. J. (2025, January 24). Housing market predictions: Will home prices drop in 2025? Mortgage Rates, Mortgage News and Strategy : The Mortgage Reports. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://themortgagereports.com/116154/housing-market-predictions-2025