If you haven’t already, you should get pre-approved for a mortgage. Pre-approval estimates how much money a lender is willing to loan you in order to buy a home. If you’re pre-approved when you make an offer, the seller may take your offer more seriously. Pre-approval gives the seller confidence that you’re a legitimate buyer and that you will be approved for a mortgage large enough to buy their house. The next step is to tell your realtor that you’d like to make an offer on a house. They will draft an offer letter with a price and proof of your pre-approval status. Your offer should include more than just your buying price. It’s also a good idea to include contingencies based on the pending results of the home inspection, appraisal, or other circumstances that might prevent you from going through with the sale. Home inspections or appraisals can also help you negotiate a lower sale price if the home needs repairs or the sale price is higher than the appraisal.