Getting proof of counter offers?

[James Wierzba]

Hi,

What are the general guidelines about competing offers in real estate?

Let's say I'm a buyer, trying to purchase a property. I make an offer based on the minimum I think I can get it for. Then, someone else makes a higher offer, and the seller notifies my agent of that. So, I make a slightly higher offer. And so on ....

What if the seller was lying about the counter offers? What laws / regulations are there to protect me from this? Would I have to write this in as a contingency in my offer? (i.e. a contingency that he proves he got the other offers)? Can I even do this?