How Do You Win a Bidding War While Selling Your Own Home at the Same Time?
Ross and Lenke were up against six other offers on a North Bend property they didn't want to lose. They won it — and turned around to sell their previous Seattle home for full asking price in under a week.
The Property
Buy-side: A 3-bedroom, 2-bath custom mountain home on 1.02 acres in North Bend, gated driveway, detached garage with bonus room, built 1991. Sell-side: A 3-bedroom, 2-bath Highland Park home in West Seattle, recently remodeled, built 1942.
The Buyers' Goal
Land a competitive North Bend property in a market moving fast enough that hesitation meant losing it — and do it without being the highest bidder.
The Challenge
Seven offers were on the table for the North Bend home, and Ross and Lenke weren't the highest one. Winning meant the offer had to work for the seller in ways price alone couldn't cover.
The Strategy
Every piece of the offer was structured around what the seller actually needed — not just the number. One example: making sure the lender was local, which removed a layer of uncertainty a seller weighing multiple offers doesn't want to carry.
Preparation
High-level communication with the listing agent throughout kept Ross and Lenke's offer several steps ahead rather than reactive.
Marketing
Once the North Bend purchase was underway, their previous Highland Park home went to market with a clear listing strategy behind it.
Pricing
Listed at $595,000. Offers were due within days of hitting the market.
Negotiation
Buy-side: The winning offer beat a higher bid — structure and reliability made the difference, not price. Sell-side: Multiple offers came in inside a week; the accepted offer matched list price exactly.
The Result
North Bend: $700,000 list, $805,000 sold — 115% of list, beating 6 other offers. Seattle: $595,000 list, $595,000 sold — 100% of list, full-price offer accepted within days.
What Made the Difference
Melissa's work wasn't just with Ross and Lenke — it was with the seller's agent on the North Bend side, understanding what would actually move that seller to pick their offer over a higher one. That's not something price alone can do.
Why Local Expertise Matters
Two different markets, two different sets of buyer expectations, both navigated inside the same month — without either transaction slowing the other down.
Client Testimonial
"Melissa is a fantastic agent for both buying and selling... This was completely due to Melissa's meticulous work both with us the buyers and her work with the seller's agent... We were able to receive multiple offers in less than a week. We accepted a full list price offer after 5 days." — Ross LaGrandeur
Frequently Asked Questions
-
A: Yes — it takes careful sequencing, but it's done regularly.
-
A: By structuring terms around what the seller actually needs — financing certainty, timeline, reliability — not price alone.