You’re in the middle of the home selling process, having accepted a buyer’s offer. But after your house is appraised, the reported value comes back lower than the agreed-upon price. What happens now? Does the deal fall through? In many cases, especially in a hot sellers’ market, this is a common occurrence. Bidding wars often inflate prices so quickly that appraisers don’t recognize homes as being worth the offering prices yet. The good news is that there are still several alternatives to letting the contract fall apart.

Remember that a home appraisal is a professional estimate of the value of your home, based on the condition of the house and nearby comparable properties. It is required by the buyer’s lender to protect themselves from loaning more money than the home is worth.