The escalation or escalator clause is a clause in a real estate sale agreement that allows for an increase in the price offered under certain conditions. An escalation clause is a tool used by real estate agents to eliminate competing bids by automatically raising an offered price when a competing offer comes in before the agreed-upon end of the escalation period. The clause gets triggered only by the existence of another offer. It automatically increases the offer’s price without the seller having to make a counter-offer or the buyer having to make a new offer.
For example:
- A buyer wants to offer $379,000 for a listing, and their broker knows the seller is already considering other offers.
- The buyer agrees to allow their broker to include an escalation clause in their offer to automatically increase the offered price in $1,000 increments over any higher offer, up to a maximum price of $384,000.
- For the buyer, this means if the seller receives an offer for $380,000, the offer will automatically escalate to $381,000; if the seller receives an offer for $383,000, the offer automatically escalates to the maximum of $384,000
- However, suppose there is an offer for $385,000. In that case, the offer does not escalate, and the seller could accept the higher offer OR could issue a counter-offer back to the buyer to ask them to pay more than the maximum stated in her escalation clause.
In theory, this clause is straightforward for both the buyer and seller. The clause can be as simple as “Purchase price to be $1,000 more than any other offer submitted to Seller before December 12.” In practice, it takes some thought and attention to detail to write it correctly, avoid confusion, and make sure that an actual price is agreed to between the buyer and seller. Additionally, things can get messy with multiple offers with escalation clauses or a seller counter-offers with an escalation clause.
As a strategy, the escalation clause can work against either or both the buyer and seller. For the seller, the clause can prevent buyers from out-bidding each other, which may cause the seller to give up a higher price than could be achieved by negotiating multiple offers against each other. Also, when subsequent offerors are aware an offer with an escalation clause is already in front of the seller, they may refuse to offer, leaving the seller with just the one original offer.
Since the buyer has indicated the willingness to pay more than the initial offered price, if another offer does exist, then the seller can assume the buyer will pay more and will probably counter-offer at the fully escalated price. When no other offer does exist, the buyer has severely weakened their negotiation position by disclosing upfront to the seller just how much they are willing to pay.
When representing a buyer, consider including a provision in the clause that the seller has to provide you with proof of the existence of the offer that triggered the escalation clause and that the offer has to be from a bona fide buyer. Never take it on face value for your client that just because a seller’s broker says there is a higher offer that it does, in fact, exist. However, this verification of a subsequent buyer’s bone fides can prove problematic. For example, what should happen if the seller receives another and higher offer from a third buyer while verifying the offer’s legitimacy that triggered the first escalation, or if the buyer and seller disagree on the legitimacy of the triggering offer?
Tip: Do your research before writing an escalation clause! Take the time to investigate the listing to determine factors that will make it likely to have other offers. Also, ask the listing broker if there are other offers or if all offers will be held until a specified date for presentation to the seller.
When representing a seller, consider asking the buyer to waive the appraised valuation clause in the sale agreement and pay cash for the difference between the appraised value and purchase price when the purchase price exceeds appraised value – the “appraisal gap.” If a buyer is genuinely willing to pay more than the listed price, make sure they cannot back out because an appraisal came in at a lower value.
A good clause will also address whether any offer triggering the escalation clause is based on gross or net offering price. For example, an offer of $5,000 more and is paying $5,000 in buyer closing costs is the same net price for an offer of $5,000 less that is not paying any buyer costs. Before accepting an offer with an escalation clause, find out if the offering buyer is the best-qualified buyer for the property, ask how many other properties the buyer has offered on, and engage the agent to make sure you both understand the meaning and intent of the clause as it is written. Also, verify that the buyer is advised of its consequences and that they are qualified and prepared to buy the property at the fully escalated price.
Not every seller or seller’s broker will want to use this clause. For some, it will be best to keep things simple by using the standard offer and counter-offer negotiations to end up at a set price and feel more confident that the buyer won’t have remorse and walk away or try to renegotiate during their due diligence period because their offer ended up at the fully escalated price. To fix the price, it might be better for the seller to counter-offer the escalating offer at the onset with the fully escalated price so that everyone knows and agrees on the final price.
Sample Escalation Clause
Here’s a sample clause, not written by a lawyer, and certainly not suitable for every circumstance. The clause is included here only to give an idea of how many things should be considered and how a basic clause can be adapted or negotiated for a specific circumstance. Publication of this clause by OnlineEd does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement, and you are cautioned to check with legal counsel or your office manager before using this or any escalation clause.
“Purchase price to be $500 above any other bona fide offer, net of any Seller concessions, up to a maximum of $3,000 above. Buyer and Seller agree this is the binding purchase contract for the property and that the presence of this clause that may adjust the purchase price does not constitute an agreement to enter into another agreement at a final determined price at a later date, that this clause does not defeat the existence of a contract, and that the final price is to be determined according to the terms of this purchase contract.
In the event of any offer triggering this clause, the Seller will provide the Buyer with a copy of the entire triggering offer, which shall be subject to Buyer’s written approval thereof, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, within three business days from delivery. During this three-day approval process, Seller may accept subsequent offers, but it is agreed that any such subsequent offer will not trigger further price acceleration unless Buyer refuses to approve the original triggering offer.”
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