The seller may respond to the amount of money you are willing to pay for the house (your offer) in one of three ways: 1) by accepting it, 2) by rejecting it (in which case you must decide whether to make another offer), or 3) by making their own suggestion, known as a counteroffer. Always take your time in considering a counteroffer. In turn, you may respond to a counteroffer with yet another offer, for an amount somewhere between your original offer and the seller’s counteroffer.

Usually the real estate sales professional will present your offer to the seller and will relay the seller's answer back to you. Negotiating the final purchase price is typically done in a similar fashion. You may be required to put a larger deposit down (again, to be set aside in escrow) once the seller has signed your offer to buy. However, at this point it is not necessary to use the entire amount of your intended down payment as a deposit. Before you put any money down, talk with your housing counselor or your planning team to determine the amount to put down as a deposit.

In addition to the home inspection, you may need to consider accessibility. If you will need to make modifications to the house so that it is accessible, you will want to determine what is required, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. As we discussed in Chapter One, further information and publications on accessibility and design issues are available from the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University at 1-800-647-6777.

An architect or contractor who is otherwise qualified and comes highly recommended may have had little or no experience with accessibility design and renovation. It is helpful to locate a person who has expertise in this area, and who is willing to be flexible and creative when it comes to ensuring that your home is tailored to your specific needs. To find a qualified person, check with local human service agencies, independent living centers, and rehabilitation facilities to see if they have had a positive experience with someone in your area. Ask for recommendations from others who have made similar modifications to their homes.

It is customary to obtain written estimates from at least three contractors who are qualified to complete the specific work that is needed. These contractors may or may not also be qualified to handle accessibility features. Compare all of the estimates and the details of how and when the work will be completed to determine which contractor is offering the best price. Be sure that the estimates specify the length of time the estimate will remain valid. You will want to consider the expense of completing any needed renovations as you decide on the amount you will offer for the house.

Now is a good time to review your action plan. You will probably need to make revisions or develop an entirely new plan before proceeding. Be sure your plan includes the specific tasks that need to be accomplished, as well as a list of who is responsible for completing each one.

Re-examine your list of opportunities and obstacles and make the necessary revisions. Describe the strategies you and your team will use to overcome the obstacles. At this time, you and the group should think about whether there are others who should be invited to join your planning group or be asked to help in some other way.

Ö Become familiar with Chapter Three’s recommendations on finding the ideal house.

Ö Choose a real estate sales professional.

Ö Review your ideal home, neighborhood, and assistance.

Ö Locate a suitable house.

Ö Submit an offer.

Ö Include specific contingencies in the contract.

Ö Obtain a home inspection.

Ö Obtain estimates for repairs and renovations.

Ö Revise list of opportunities and obstacles.

Ö Develop a new action plan.

Ö Read Chapter Four.