Is your agent using an escalation clause when submitting your offer? IF YOU'RE NOT MAKE SURE YOU DO! When a listing comes on the market usually it has a deadline for offers which means the seller will review all highest and best offers by a due date. FIRST don't wait until the due date. submit your offer immediately.....many times if the offer is good enough to the seller they will go into contract immediately ... and you don't want to be left out right? SECOND make sure to attach an escalation clause What's an escalation clause? simply a way to say to the seller if you have another offer similar to mine, I'm willing to go up...let's say $500 over the highest offer up to a max of $400K for example You set your limit.