Leave a Message

Thank you for your message. We will be in touch with you shortly.

Bidding Wars Revisited

Hans & Steve Wydler

Bidding Wars Revisited

Twenty-one years ago, Steve and I wrote our first Washington Post article titled “Bigger Bids Aren’t Always Better Bids.” The core message was simple. Winning a bidding war is about more than price.

That remains true today. Price matters, but it is rarely the only deciding factor. Terms, certainty of closing, financing strength, contingencies, timing, and presentation all influence the outcome. When we reread the article recently, we realized we left out one critical piece. Reputation and relationships.

In competitive situations, listing agents have real influence. They guide sellers toward the offer they believe will close smoothly, with buyers who are reasonable and represented by professionals they trust. The best outcomes happen when both sides feel respected and treated fairly. Reputation is built over time. You cannot be difficult most of the time and suddenly turn on the charm when it counts.

 

Recent Blog Posts

Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.

Bidding Wars Revisited

Twenty-one years ago, Steve and I wrote our first Washington Post article titled “Bigger Bids Aren’t Always Better Bids.”

The “Silver Tsunami” Is Already Hitting Shore

Much has been written about the coming “Silver Tsunami” — the unprecedented wave of wealth transferring from Baby Boomers to younger generations. But from where we sit… Read more

Busting 15 Real Estate Myths

As we look forward to this new year and enter a new housing market era, Steve and Hans have tackled 15 of the most common real-estate myths they see in the market.

Thinking About Selling or Buying in 2026? 

Compass Corporate has released their 2026 Market Outlook, and a handful of insights stood out as especially telling. Here is what caught our attention. 

How to Play Your Cards Right

Valuing and negotiating a home can feel a lot like blackjack. You need skill, instinct, and some luck—and the stakes are real.

The 100: Big Ideas, Bigger Connections

We attended The 100 in Franklin, TN—an exclusive network of Compass’s top 100 agents nationwide—where we connected with peers and leadership representing over $30B in … Read more

Going Analog on Purpose

October Market Update and the Year of the Crazy Ivan

You Had Me At "DMV"

After a summer of sweating through showings and pretending humidity is a glow, we’re savoring the cooler mornings, the first hints of gold in the trees, backpacks reap… Read more

An Onion Ring in Your Fries… and a Surprise Summer Market

It’s early August, but we think the market may be showing signs of … April vibes!

Work With Us

Wydler Brothers have been selling residential real estate for over 20 years in the DC metro area. Along the way, they’ve achieved numerous awards and recognitions, including being recognized as “The Most Innovative Real Estate Agent in America” (Inman, 2014), written several articles for The Washington Post, authored a book, “Inside the Sell”, co-founded a real estate tech company which sold to Move, Inc. in 2013, and built Wydler Brothers into a highly respected boutique brokerage with 70 agents and employees which they sold to Compass in 2019. Currently, Wydler Brothers is among the top 3 teams in the DMV and was the #1 Compass Team in 2022.

Follow Us on Instagram