Which offer meets the seller’s limits?
Compare net proceeds and proposed completion dates before recommending an offer.
The question
Northbank Advisory’s fictional Canadian seller wants at least C$780,000 after the supplied selling charges and completion within 45 days. The agreed case-only charges are 2% of sale price plus C$4,000 marketing. These are invented terms, not standard Canadian fees. Other taxes, legal costs and financing costs are outside the packet.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| Offer price (C$) | 800000 | 810000 |
| Proposed completion (days) | 40 | 75 |
These dates are proposed, not guaranteed. Verify the offer conditions before committing the client.
“Which offer meets the seller’s limits?”
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A strong answer, step by step
Open each step in turn. This is one strong answer, not the only one.
Step 1: What are the two client limits?
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
The highest headline price, regardless of timing.
Tempting, but it misses something. The client gave an explicit completion limit.
Net cash and completion timing together.
The strong move. Both limits belong in the recommendation.
Only the first offer received.
Tempting, but it misses something. The brief gives no priority to arrival order.
See how a strong candidate says it
“At least C$780,000 after the supplied charges, with completion within 45 days.”
Why it works: A higher headline offer can still miss the client’s time requirement.
Step 2: What are the net proceeds?
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
A C$784,000; B C$793,800.
Tempting, but it misses something. These figures deduct the percentage charge but omit marketing.
A C$780,000; B C$789,800.
The strong move. Both calculations include the stated percentage and fixed charge.
Both C$780,000.
Tempting, but it misses something. The different offer prices still produce different net proceeds.
See how a strong candidate says it
“A: C$800,000 × 98% − C$4,000 = C$780,000. B: C$810,000 × 98% − C$4,000 = C$789,800.”
Why it works: Apply both supplied selling charges to each offer, without inventing other costs.
Step 3: Which offer currently fits?
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
B automatically, because it pays more.
Tempting, but it misses something. That would change the client’s deadline without agreement.
A, subject to checking its conditions and timing.
The strong move. It is the only current offer that fits both stated limits.
A with a guaranteed completion date.
Tempting, but it misses something. The case has not verified an unconditional completion commitment.
See how a strong candidate says it
“A meets both stated limits on paper. Verify its conditions and proposed date before recommending commitment.”
Why it works: B has higher net proceeds but its 75-day proposal misses the 45-day limit.
Step 4: Can you still recommend A as compliant?
A’s lender now says the earliest completion it can support is 55 days. B remains at 75 days. Prices, charges and the seller’s 45-day limit are unchanged.
What would you do here? Open the move you’d make.
Describe A as within the deadline because its first proposal said 40 days.
Tempting, but it misses something. Its lender’s later timing evidence contradicts that claim.
Promise a bridge loan to protect the date.
Tempting, but it misses something. No bridge finance is agreed or evidenced in the case.
Explain the gap and seek revised terms or client instruction.
The strong move. This preserves the client’s authority over a changed trade-off.
See how a strong candidate says it
“No. Neither current offer meets both limits. Seek revised terms or an explicit client decision about the timing constraint.”
Why it works: Do not quietly move a client’s deadline to preserve the preferred recommendation.
The answer, in short
- Decision
- Explain that neither current offer meets both limits.
- Because
- A still meets the net-cash threshold, but the new timing evidence misses the client’s deadline.
- What would change it
- A verified earlier completion commitment or the seller’s informed change to the deadline could alter the decision.
Common traps
- Ranking headline price instead of net cash.
- Treating a proposed date as a guarantee.
Check your answer
- Did I apply every supplied charge?
- Which offer meets the stated deadline?
- What conditions remain unverified?
- Did the new fact change the advice?
Last reviewed Nov 10, 2026