Price
The amount offered matters, but only after it is considered alongside the certainty, costs, timing, and obligations elsewhere in the agreement.
An offer has arrived
More than
a number.
An offer is a package of price, timing, conditions, risk, and certainty. We will slow down the details, compare what matters, and help you make a confident decision.
The decision is yours. Clear advice and careful execution are ours.
We begin withYour priorities
We comparePrice + terms
You decideYour best response
We manageEvery next step
The complete offer
Six parts we read together.
The strongest offer is not always the one with the largest number at the top. Our job is to make the trade-offs visible so you understand what you are accepting, what remains uncertain, and what fits your plans.
Deposit
The proposed deposit can signal commitment and forms part of the buyer’s obligations. There is no single required amount for every Ontario transaction.
Conditions
Financing, inspection, status-certificate review, sale-of-property, and other conditions can affect both certainty and timing. Every offer is different.
Closing date
The proposed completion date needs to work with your move, financing, next purchase, and any other commitments connected to the sale.
Inclusions & exclusions
Fixtures, appliances, rentals, chattels, and exclusions should match what you intend to leave, remove, or address before closing.
Irrevocable time
The offer states how long it remains open for acceptance. That window shapes how quickly questions, advice, and decisions need to happen.
A calm explanation, on demand
Watch before we review the details together.
This short guide will explain how an Ontario offer is structured, why price and certainty need to be considered together, and what choices a seller can make when an offer arrives.
For context—not a substitute for advice. Your representative will walk through the actual agreement with you, and a lawyer should answer legal questions.
From arrival to decision
A careful process, even when time is short.
Offer deadlines can create urgency. The structure below keeps the conversation focused without rushing past the terms that matter.
01
The offer arrives
We confirm it is complete and bring it to you
Your Vidal & Co. representative reviews the written offer, identifies the major terms and deadlines, and arranges a focused conversation so you can consider it promptly.
02
We compare the package
Price is placed beside certainty and fit
We look at the deposit, conditions, closing date, inclusions, requested changes, buyer circumstances where relevant, and the practical risks—not just the headline number.
03
You receive context
Advice is grounded in your priorities
We connect the offer to your goals, the listing response, current competition, recent market evidence, and any deadlines that affect the decision.
04
You decide
Accept, reject, counter, or seek clarity
The choice is always yours. We explain the available paths, prepare or communicate the instructions you authorize, and keep the process organized.
05
If an agreement is reached
The accepted offer becomes the roadmap
Copies are distributed, deadlines are tracked, and the transaction moves into condition management or the next appropriate stage toward closing.
Your possible responses
You remain in control.
Once you understand the offer and the market context, you choose the path. We explain the consequences, carry out your instructions, and document the response correctly.
Accept
Agree to the offer as written before its irrevocable time expires.
Reject
Decline the offer and make no agreement with that buyer.
Counter
Propose changes to price or terms. A counter-offer is a new offer and needs its own careful review.
Clarify
Ask questions or seek more information before deciding, provided the timing allows.
When written offers compete
Fair, confidential, and directed by you.
Under Ontario’s current rules, every person who made a competing written offer must be told how many competing offers exist. The content of those offers remains confidential unless the seller gives specific written direction to share all or selected content with every offeror. Identifying information cannot be shared.
Read RECO’s consumer guidanceDeposits
A sign of commitment, not a universal formula.
The proposed deposit is part of the offer and can provide the seller with practical security in the transaction. Its amount and timing should be reviewed in context; Ontario does not prescribe one standard deposit for every sale.
How deposits work in OntarioConditions
Certainty has value—but details matter.
Conditions may protect a buyer while creating uncertainty for a seller. We review what each condition says, how long it lasts, what notice is required, and what happens next. Unusual or legal language should be reviewed by a lawyer.
Next in the ecosystem: Conditions guideTrusted legal support
When the question is legal, the answer should come from a lawyer.
Your Vidal & Co. representative explains real estate strategy, the offer process, and the practical meaning of the deal. A real estate lawyer interprets legal rights, obligations, unusual clauses, title issues, and other matters requiring legal advice.
If you do not already have a lawyer, we can introduce you to a trusted Ottawa-area real estate legal team. You always remain free to choose the lawyer you retain.
Request an introductionAfter acceptance
The agreement becomes our roadmap.
The excitement of an accepted offer is followed by detail-oriented work. The exact sequence depends on the agreement, but you will always know what is due, who is handling it, and what is coming next.
Documents circulate
The completed agreement is delivered to the appropriate parties and retained with the transaction records.
Deadlines are tracked
Deposit, conditions, notices, amendments, and other contractual dates are monitored according to the agreement.
Your lawyer receives the file
The legal team begins its work and coordinates the steps required for completion.
We guide the handoff
Vidal & Co. keeps you informed as the sale moves through conditions and toward closing.
Quick answers
Questions sellers ask when an offer arrives.
For advice about your actual offer, contact your Vidal & Co. representative. The written agreement always controls.
01Do we have to accept the highest price?+
No. The seller decides whether to accept an offer and may consider the entire package, including conditions, deposit, closing date, inclusions, certainty, and how well the terms fit their plans. Your Vidal & Co. representative will help you compare those trade-offs.
02What happens if only one offer is received?+
A single offer can still be negotiated. We review its strengths, gaps, timing, and market context with you before you decide whether to accept it, reject it, counter it, or seek clarification.
03What is a competing-offer situation in Ontario?+
When more than one written offer exists at the same time, the seller’s brokerage must disclose the number of competing offers to each person who made one. Offer content is confidential unless the seller gives specific written direction to share all or selected content, and identifying information cannot be shared.
04Can we tell buyers the price or terms of another offer?+
Not automatically. Under Ontario’s current rules, offer content is not shared without the seller’s written direction. If a seller directs content to be shared, it must be shared with every person making a competing offer and cannot include information that would identify the person making the offer.
05What is a pre-emptive or ‘bully’ offer?+
It is an offer submitted before an announced offer-presentation time. How it is handled depends on the seller’s written instructions and the strategy established for the listing. We review the choices and consequences with you if one arrives.
06Is there a standard deposit amount in Ontario?+
There is no single amount required for every transaction. The proposed deposit is one part of the offer and should be considered in context. If there is a legal question about the deposit, entitlement, or release, a real estate lawyer should advise you.
07Does a firm offer always mean the best offer?+
An offer without buyer conditions may provide more certainty, but it is not automatically the best fit. Price, deposit, closing, inclusions, requested terms, and your risk tolerance all need to be considered together.
08Can Vidal & Co. recommend a lawyer?+
Yes. If you would like an introduction, Vidal & Co. can connect you with a trusted Ottawa-area real estate legal team. You remain free to choose your own lawyer, and legal advice should come from the lawyer you retain.
09When should a lawyer review an offer?+
If an offer includes unfamiliar clauses, unusual obligations, title or estate issues, tenancy concerns, complex adjustments, or anything else requiring legal interpretation, obtain advice before signing or before the relevant deadline. We can help coordinate an introduction when time allows.
10What happens immediately after acceptance?+
The signed agreement is delivered to the appropriate parties, deposit and condition deadlines are tracked, and the brokerage and legal teams begin the next steps required by the agreement. Your written contract—not this guide—controls the transaction.
Current Ontario guidance
Built on official sources.
This educational guide was last reviewed July 16, 2026. Rules and practices can change. For the most current requirements, consult the regulator, Ontario law, and your chosen legal professional.
RECOCompeting offers bulletin ↗Ontario e-LawsO. Reg. 567/05 ↗Law Society of OntarioChoosing legal help ↗
Important: This page provides general educational information for Ontario home sellers. It is not legal, financial, tax, or mortgage advice and does not replace the terms of your signed agreement. Obtain advice from the appropriate qualified professional for your circumstances.
An offer deserves a conversation
We are ready when it arrives.
Contact your Vidal & Co. representative directly for advice about your property, your priorities, and the offer in front of you.