Sending a counterproposal (CP41)

A counterproposal (CP41) responds to a contract that's already out with different terms — a different price, closing date, or any other negotiated point. This article covers how to start and submit one in Done-Deal.

When you can counter

A counter can only be created once the parent contract has been sent — you can't counter a draft that hasn't gone out yet. Look for the Propose counter link in the contract's toolbar; it only appears once the contract is in sent, signed, or executed status.

Clicking it creates a new CP41 draft linked to that parent contract.

On desktop

Desktop opens the counter directly in the full on-screen editor — the same one described in Filling out a contract — pre-loaded with the CP41 form. Edit any field the same way you would on an original contract, and the same autosave and blue-ink rules apply.

When you're ready, click Send for signature in the header. If anything required is still missing, Done-Deal shows you exactly what's needed before it will send.

On mobile

On a phone-sized screen, Done-Deal uses a guided three-step wizard instead of the full form, since the complete CP41 grid is hard to use on a small screen:

1. Review — confirm the parent contract's current terms before you propose changes.
2. Propose your changes — edit the fields most commonly negotiated in a counter: purchase price, earnest money, closing date, possession date and time, inclusions, exclusions, and additional provisions or contingencies. A live "What's changing" panel shows every edit as you make it. Anything less common can be added under Other terms by field key.
3. Confirm — review the full list of changes one more time, then submit.

Note: The mobile wizard only exposes the most commonly negotiated fields directly. For anything else, switch to a desktop browser to edit the full form.

What gets submitted

Done-Deal only submits the fields you actually changed — not the entire contract again. Everything you don't touch carries over unchanged from the parent. This keeps the counter focused on what's actually being negotiated and keeps the audit trail clean.

Submitting creates a new CP41 draft contract. It doesn't go out automatically — you still review it in the editor and click Send for signature when you're ready.

FAQ

Can I counter a counter?

Yes. Once your CP41 has been sent, the same Propose counter link becomes available on it, letting either side counter again.

Where do I see what changed in a counterproposal?

Every counter appears as a "Counter-Proposed" event in contract history, with the specific field-by-field changes available to expand.

What if the parent contract hasn't been sent yet?

You can't create a counterproposal until the parent contract is sent. Send or finish the original contract first.