Essentials of a Valid Offer

A contract is initiated by an offer or proposal. For this purpose, when a contract is formed between two or more parties, the person making the offer is known as the promisor and the person accepting the same is known as an acceptor. An offer so tabled for the acceptance of the recipient must be valid. In this article, we look at the elements of a valid offer in detail.

Express or Implied

An offer can be tabled through words or conduct. An offer made through words (which could be written or spoken), is known as an express contract, whereas the ones addressed through the conduct and actions of the offeror is known as an implied contract.

Legal Relations

An offer is made for the execution of a contract between two or more parties. In this respect, it prompts for the creation of legal relations and legal consequences (in case of non-performance). It is pertinent to note that a social contract without the establishment of legal relations will not constitute a valid offer.

Clarity Matters

An offer must be definite and clear, without which a binding contract isn’t created. A contract of such kind is considered to be void. To state as provided in the respective legal provision, “Agreements, the meaning of which is not certain or capable of being certain are void.”

It is Not an Invitation to Offer

An invitation to offer merely invites the other party for an offer but doesn’t make it. To reiterate, the sender of the invitation intimates the receiver that he/she/it intends to deal with anybody who is willing to negotiate, after duly considering the information furnished in the invite. Communications falling under this category doesn’t constitute an offer.

Specific or General

Offers may be specific or general, and both of these are construed as valid. It may be noted though that if an offer is made to a specific person or for that matter a group of persons, it is termed as specific and can only be accepted by the person to whom it is made. On the other hand, an offer made to the public is termed as general, and such an offer can be accepted by any person who fulfils the specified conditions.

Communication of Offer

An offer stated by the offeror must be clear in its communication so as to facilitate acceptance. Lack of clarity will result in the voidance of the offer made.

Conditional Offer

An offer has scope to be conditional, though an acceptance hasn’t. The person making the offer may include any compliance requirements if deemed necessary. However, an offer shouldn’t have a condition which demands the recipient to accept a one-sided offer. For instance, an offeror cannot state in an offer that a proposal is deemed to be accepted if no response is filed within a given timeline.

No Scope for Cross Offers

Cross-offers take place when two parties make similar offers to each other by ignoring the offer from the other end. The acceptance of cross offers doesn’t make for a complete agreement. This is precisely because if the parties furnish an offer as acceptance of the other, it will potentially lead to issues in the performance of the contract.