Should I waive contingencies to win a bidding war?

Waiving contingencies to win a bidding war removes protections meant to catch financing, appraisal, or inspection problems before you're locked into the purchase, so it should only happen with full awareness of what you're giving up rather than as a reflexive move to look more competitive. A stronger earnest money deposit or a flexible closing date can sometimes win a bid without waiving those protections. Brian Beatty can weigh which levers actually matter for a specific offer.