An accepted offer in Ontario is a binding agreement of purchase and sale — so the moment one lands, slow down and read the whole thing, not just the number on the front page. Here is how to handle it.
Watch the irrevocable deadline first
Every offer has an irrevocable date and time — the deadline by which you must sign it back or it expires. It is often short (a few hours to a day). If you do nothing, the offer simply dies. Know that deadline before you do anything else, and don't let it pass by accident.
Read past the price
Two offers at the same price can be worlds apart. Check the closing date (does it fit your move?), the deposit (bigger usually means a more committed buyer), the conditions (financing, inspection, status certificate), the inclusions and exclusions (which appliances and fixtures stay), and any requests like an early walk-through. A clean, condition-free offer at a slightly lower price can be worth more than a high conditional one.
Your three responses
- Accept — sign it as-is and you have a firm (or conditional) deal.
- Counter (sign back) — change the terms you don't like and send it back. This legally ends the original offer and puts the ball in the buyer's court. See how to counter an offer.
- Reject or let it expire — do nothing, or decline. You keep no obligation.
Mind the conditions
Conditions protect the buyer and put your sale on pause until they clear. Financing and home-inspection conditions are the most common — read our guide to conditional offers so you know what "firms up" means and by when.
Get every change in writing
Nothing in an Ontario real estate deal is agreed until it is written and initialled. Verbal "yeses" don't count. If you want licensed help preparing counters, holding the deposit in trust and carrying the paperwork through to closing, that's exactly what Offer-to-Closing Support does — and it's included in the Ultimate package.
This is general information for Ontario sellers, not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult your real estate lawyer.
List on MLS® for a flat fee — keep your commission
Full MLS® & REALTOR.ca exposure through a licensed Ontario brokerage, without the 5% commission.