The closing is the date when the title of the property is actually transferred from the seller to the buyer. This date can be a valuable tool in negotiating to buy a house. With your original low offer, you will be asked to name a closing date. If it works for you, name one that is not likely to be to the sellers' liking. If they need a quick closing, set your offer date for three or four months in the future. If they want a distant closing, ask for one in four to six weeks. Then, as you make responses to their counteroffers, you can increase the bid by very little cash but sweeten the deal by moving the proposed closing date into line with the sellers' needs. It is almost always worth money.

If the closing date is very important to you, work toward your ideal date in your negotiations, but be prepared to offer more money to get the date you want.