By The Friend Team — Have a Friend on Your Side

Buying a home in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region can feel overwhelming — especially when desirable properties in towns like Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Victor, and Canandaigua are receiving multiple offers within hours. If you’ve been trying to compete and keep coming up short, you’re not alone. Low inventory, high buyer demand, and fast-paced decision-making have created one of the most competitive markets we’ve seen in years.

The good news? With the right strategy, clear expectations, and a local team who knows how to navigate these conditions, you can absolutely win your next offer.

Below are the four most effective strategies we use every week to help buyers succeed in Monroe and Ontario County.

1. Understand the Seller’s Ideal Terms (This Is Your Biggest Advantage)

Price matters — but it’s not the whole story.
In competitive situations, it’s often the terms that win.

A great buyer’s agent will call the listing agent directly to uncover exactly what the seller prefers. This often includes:

• Preferred closing date

• Whether they need a short-term rent-back

• Any specific items they want included/excluded

• Flexibility on possession

• Whether they value speed over price — or vice versa

When your offer matches the seller’s priorities, it instantly becomes more attractive — even if you're not the highest bidder.

This is where having a respected local agent truly matters.
Local agents who know the market (and know the other agents!) get better intel, which helps position your offer correctly the first time.

2. Choose a Local, Well-Respected Rochester-Area Lender

Your financing can make or break your offer.

In competitive markets like Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Victor, and Honeoye Falls, sellers and their agents look closely at:

• Who issued your pre-approval

• Whether the lender is local

• Whether the lender is known for closing on time

• Communication style and speed

• Strength of the underwriting process

A strong pre-approval from a trusted Rochester or Finger Lakes lender gives sellers far more confidence than a big-box online lender. Local lenders:

• Close faster

• Communicate directly with listing agents

• Are familiar with local appraisers

• Have a reputation to uphold

• Help clean offers stand out

If you want your offer taken seriously, start with a lender who is respected in our region.

3. Limit Unnecessary Contingencies (Clean Offers Win Offers)

Contingencies exist to protect buyers — and they’re important — but in a multiple-offer situation, unnecessary ones can weaken your position.

Common ways to keep your offer strong while still protecting yourself:

• Avoid adding extra contingencies beyond the essentials

• Use shorter timelines when possible

• Only ask for concessions when absolutely needed

• Be strategic with inspection terms (e.g., limited or informational inspections when appropriate)

Every added contingency gives the seller one more reason to choose someone else.

Our job is to help you balance:
✔ safety
✔ strategy
✔ and competitiveness

…so that your offer is strong and smart.

4. Know Your Numbers — And Your Limits Before You Write the Offer

Preparation is everything.

Before you fall in love with a home in Canandaigua, Brighton, Monroe County, Fairport, or Victor, you need to know:

• Your absolute max budget

• Your comfort zone

• Escalation strategies

• Closing cost expectations

• Competing-market patterns

• When to push — and when to walk away

A winning offer isn’t just one that gets accepted.
A winning offer is one that fits your financial goals and supports your long-term stability.

We always help our buyers understand market conditions, analyze property value, and make decisions based on facts — not pressure.

Ready to Win in Rochester’s Market?

Whether you're buying in Rochester, Pittsford, Victor, Fairport, Penfield, Webster, Canandaigua, Honeoye Falls, or anywhere in Monroe or Ontario County, you can be competitive.

With the right game plan and the right team behind you, your next offer can absolutely be the winning one.

Let’s Talk Strategy

If you're ready to buy a home — or you’ve been discouraged by multiple offer situations — we’d love to walk you through a personalized approach that fits your:

• Budget

• Timeline

• Location preferences

• Family needs

📞 Ready to Win in Rochester’s Market? We’re Here to Help.

Whether you're buying or selling in Rochester, Pittsford, Victor, Fairport, Brighton, Webster, or anywhere across Monroe and Ontario County, The Friend Team is here to guide you with clarity, confidence, and a proven strategy that gets results.

👉 Schedule a consultation:
https://www.friendonyourside.com/connect

📱 Call or text anytime: 585-622-7181
📧 Email: info@friendonyourside.com

When you’re ready for your next move, you deserve to have a friend on your side.