I think my friend is making a mistake...thoughts?

One of my good friends has just started the buying process and has been asking me all sorts of questions. Yesterday she tells me that she and her husband put a bid in on a townhouse in Farmingdale. I was so happy for them!

Then she tells me that the seller already has a first accepted offer. They haven't even accepted her offer as a second (though they probably will I'm sure, since she offered more than the first accepted offer.) Regardless, she's bringing in an engineer today to show the buyer that she's serious. I think she's wasting her money, doing this too early. The fact that she made an offer shows that she's serious, I think.

Maybe I've gone about this all wrong myself and I realize there's really not anything I can do but still. What do you guys think? Has anyone sent an engineer to a house even though you weren't the first accepted offer? I'm curious.

And how does first/second accepted offer work? I thought the second accepted offer wins only if the first one falls through. Am I mistaken? Does it work another way?

Re: I think my friend is making a mistake...thoughts?

Well, sort of but not really if that makes any sense. The only reason I think she may be making a mistake is because they havent accepted her offer yet. I do think its smart to get the inspection done right away and it lets the owner know she's serious. Since she is getting the inspection done asap and if it goes well, the buyer will probably go with them instead of the other people.

Re: I think my friend is making a mistake...thoughts?

If the seller has accepted an offer and signed a contract, she is out of luck unless the contract falls through. If the seller has not signed a contract, she has a chance. Bringing an engineer at this point may be fruitless and she risks losing the money she will spend. The seller knows she is serious because of her offer; she doesn't need an engineer's report to make them understand that.

Re: I think my friend is making a mistake...thoughts?

The only thing she has to lose is the cost of the inspection. A lot of first accepted offers fall through. She is jumping the gun I guess but if she can afford to do it then, so be it.