Writing a Personal Offer Letter to a Seller

In today’s competitive buyer’s market, standing out from the crowd in your offer letter may be the difference when it comes to buying the home of your dreams. While your real estate agent will help you write the best possible offer for the home you want, writing a personal letter to accompany that offer is an excellent idea. In your letter, you may appeal to the seller on a personal level and tell them a little about yourself. After all, selling a home is emotional, and appealing to a seller’s emotions may increase your chance of having your offer selected over another.

Here are some great tips for writing a personal letter to accompany your offer:

1. Speak from your heart about why you love the home– In your letter, highlight all the features of the home that you love. The seller likely has fond memories in the home, so connecting with them and acknowledging the hard work put into the home could give you a leg up.
2. Tell the seller a little about yourself– Sharing some things about your life may let them know that you are the right person for the home. If the neighborhood reminds you of where you grew up, or you think it will be a wonderful place to raise children, mention those things in your letter to create a personal connection with the seller.
3. Leave out anything about remodeling– Even if you are planning to remodel the home, leave details out of the offer letter. Remember, you could be changing things about the home that the seller loves.
4. Discuss affordability– It is always a great idea to have a pre-approval letter when making an offer on a home so that the seller knows you can afford it. Additionally, include a brief statement in your letter to remind the seller that you are financially capable of purchasing and maintaining the home, and that you are prepared to close in a reasonable timeframe.
5. Keep it short and sweet– Keep the emotion upbeat throughout your letter and be concise. The seller may have other offer letters to read and consider, so making your points short and easy to read will give you the best chance of having yours remembered.

Taking your time to write the letter correctly and including all the points you want to address can be a valuable component to purchasing your dream home. Always remember to spellcheck your letter and have a friend or spouse read it to make sure that spelling and grammar are correct.