Should You Write the Seller a Personal Letter?

With the real estate market experiencing limited inventory, which is in many parts of the country right now, you may find yourself in a bidding war. You have to act quickly if you want to have any hope of scoring the home of your dreams. One way to make your offer more attractive is to pay more for a home, but that’s not always an option.

There are other ways to make yourself stand out, one of which is writing a personal letter to the seller. This has become increasingly popular around the country. Sellers often have a personal connection to their home, and getting a heartfelt letter explaining why their home would mean so much to you can make all the difference in them accepting your offer.

Don’t Use a Template

The most important thing you can do if you’re going to write a seller a letter is speak from your heart. If you’re fake or you use a template, you found online, this is probably going to backfire. Sellers are smart, discerning people and they’re going to realize something’s up if you’re trying to flatter or compliment them too much. Your Realtor should be able to help you craft your letter.

Try to Find a Connection

If at all possible, try to identify and highlight a connection you have with the seller. For example, maybe you have a shared hobby, or your families are similar as far as how many kids you have. You want to build some sort of personal bond if you can but don’t push it if it’s not there.

There Are Times When a Letter’s Not Worth It

If the person selling a home is an investor or builder, you can probably skip the letter altogether. They want to make a profit, and they don’t have an emotional attachment to the property. You’re going to have to offer them more money or a fast closing to grab their attention.

Appreciate Their Work and Improvements

If you notice the sellers have done work in their home, like remodeling their kitchen, feel free to mention that. People put a lot of time, money, and work into their homes, and it feels good to know that other people notice that. Even if you have some ideas in mind, don’t mention your own plans to remodel. It’s better for a seller to envision that you’ll enjoy the spaces as they did.

Don’t Be Desperate

If you come across as too needy or desperate, that’s not going to appeal to a seller. People like to feel positive emotions rather than negative ones. You don’t want to make a seller feel uncomfortable. You want to make them feel happy about passing their home on to people who will enjoy it the way they did.

Finally, keep it short and to the point. You want to convey why the house is meaningful to you and how you’ll use it, but you don’t have to go on page after page to make an effect. Sum up all your key points in your final paragraph for a takeaway.

Our team has used the "love letter" to assist our clients with standing out from the pack. It is true that who you work with matters and we strive to stay educated and ahead of the curve to get our clients' goals achieved. Reach out to find out how we can help you at 540-491-4222.