An offer submitted before the seller's scheduled offer review date, designed to pressure the seller into accepting early and bypassing the competition. These are typically strong offers -- high price, large deposit, few or no conditions -- meant to be too good to pass up. The seller is not obligated to review or accept a bully offer.
Why It Matters
Bully offers can help you avoid a bidding war entirely, but they require confidence and deep pockets. You're essentially betting that your strong offer now is better than what the market might produce on offer night. It's a bold move -- and it doesn't always work.
Real-World Example
A renovated semi in Bloor West Village is listed at $1,199,000 with offers scheduled for the following Thursday. On Saturday, your agent submits a bully offer: $1,320,000, firm, with a $60,000 deposit and a short irrevocable period of 4 hours. The listing agent presents the offer to the seller, who accepts before the scheduled offer date -- avoiding the uncertainty of a bidding war.
Ontario & GTA Context
Under RECO rules, the listing agent must present all offers to the seller, including bully offers received before the offer date. The seller can choose to review the bully offer or wait for the scheduled offer date. If the seller reviews the bully offer, they must notify all registered buyer agents that an offer is being reviewed, giving them the opportunity to submit early as well.
How It Works in Practice
Bully offers work best when the property has been on the market for a few days and interest is building. To succeed, your offer typically needs to be significantly above asking, firm (no conditions), and accompanied by a large deposit. Set a short irrevocable period to create urgency.
Common Questions
Can the seller refuse to look at a bully offer?▾
Do bully offers work in the GTA market?▾
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