If you're bidding on a home, ask the seller to pay a portion -- or all -- of your closing costs.

All of the costs and fees associated with buying a home can add 3% to 6% to the price of a home.

There's a glut of properties on the market right now, so sellers are facing a lot of competition. They're often very motivated to negotiate.

Many sellers will suggest footing the bill for a specific cost, such as the appraisal or home inspection.

But you're better off asking the seller to pay a specific dollar amount that covers many of your costs. Your real estate agent can help you figure out how much you should ask the seller to pay.

You may not be able to get the seller to cover all of your closing costs. Depending on the type of loan you want and how much you're putting down, your mortgage provider may have a limit on how much the seller can give.

However, getting the seller to pay even some of the closing costs can help save you some serious money when you're buying a home.

Check out our other smart moves to save on closing costs.