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Writing a letter to a home seller: Considerations and tips
In a tight market where you are competing with several buyers over the same home, it can be difficult to make your offer stand out. Even though you may believe you are the best candidate to purchase a particular property and the most passionate about winning the bid, the seller may end up choosing a rival offer.
So how can you get a leg up on the competition and impress the seller? Including a letter to the seller of home with your offer can help establish an emotional connection and explain why you're the right buyer.
But it’s important to know how to structure it, as writing letters to home sellers requires careful consideration and wording.
What is a letter to a seller?
A letter to a seller is a personal note from a buyer that is intended to connect emotionally with the home's seller. It is typically included with a separate formal offer letter to purchase the home.
This optional letter to the seller can help the seller better relate to the buyer on a more personal level, which could give that buyer an advantage over other purchaser candidates.
“This letter is meant to show that you are more than just a number on a contract. Beyond outlining your interests in the home, it can forge an emotional connection,” notes Dennis Shirshikov, a professor of economics and finance at City University of New York/Queens College. “Perhaps you both grew up in a similar neighborhood, or you admire the garden the seller has lovingly tended. These thoughts can be expressed in a well-articulated letter.”
Jake Kennedy, a Realtor with Compass, says a letter of this nature can be particularly powerful when the home has been owned within one family for a long time.
“It can be helpful for the seller to know that their baby is going to someone who plans to care for the property like they have,” says Kennedy, who often sees buyer letters in situations where a home has multiple offers.
Mark Sanchez, senior real estate manager at Gator Rated, can also vouch for the value of buyer letters.
“It allows the buyer to step out from behind the offer and show who they really are. It might be a story about how they grew up in a similar house, or how they can picture their kids running through the backyard,” he says. “It brings a human layer to a buying process that is usually all numbers and paperwork.”
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What should you consider before writing letters to home sellers?
Be forewarned, however, that writing a personal letter to the seller could backfire.
“If you include protected class information, like religion, race, family status, or disability, the seller could be accused of violating the Fair Housing Act if they based their selling decision on that information,” cautions Sanchez. “Also, sharing too much personal information like job location, kids’ names, or your social media handles can raise safety flags, too.”
Indeed, the more you disclose about yourself, “the greater the likelihood the seller could find something not to like,” warns Martin Orefice, CEO of Rent To Own Labs.
Also, including personal information could make you vulnerable to fraud or identity theft if your letter falls into the wrong hands.
To prevent a letter from adversely affecting your negotiations, work closely with your real estate agent or attorney on drafting and reviewing the offer letter before sending it.
How to write offer letters to sellers
There are several steps involved with writing an effective letter to a seller, per the experts. Here’s a rundown of what’s recommended, in order:
Introduce yourself
Begin with a greeting that feels natural. Address the party by name, such as “Dear (x)” at the top, and then follow the keep-it-simple rule.
“I recommend buyers introduce themselves simply with a ‘Hi, my name is (x),’” advises Sanchez.
Next, focus on your family and interests, possibly mentioning your profession, background, and any ties to the home or area.
Show your interest in the home
“From here, transition into talking about what you like about the house by putting it in the context of how it will be a good fit for you and your family,” Orefice suggests.
That means explaining what drew you to this property in particular, not something vague like the location being ideal for your child’s education.
“Express appreciation for the home’s design, character, upkeep, or backstory, too,” says Kennedy.
Beef up your bona fides
Explain that you are a serious buyer who is well-qualified and preapproved for a mortgage loan, which can be proven via an attached lender preapproval letter. Assure the seller that you enjoy good job security and have a reputable track record of previously owning or renting.
“A sentence like ‘My financing is in place and my agent is ready to move quickly’ shows that you are not a time-waster,” adds Sanchez.
Stick the landing
Finish the letter by acknowledging the seller’s hard work in keeping the home attractive and your respect for their efforts. Thank them for considering your offer, and extend best wishes in their transition to their next home. Close with a hand signature, if possible, unless the letter will be delivered electronically.
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Things to avoid in a letter to a seller
Give equal thought to what’s best left on the cutting room floor. The pros recommend leaving out certain details and requests from your letter, such as:
Sensitive personal information
Never include personal details like your address, birth date, and Social Security number. Those could expose the seller to violations of fair housing laws. If you are represented by a real estate agent or attorney, refrain from including your personal phone number and/or email address, too. Share the agent or attorney's contact information instead.
“It’s also best to skip details like how many kids you have, your religious background, or marital status. Sellers are not supposed to use that information to decide, but mentioning it opens legal risk,” says Sanchez. “Keep your tone warm without going into private territory.”
Bid/offer specifics
This letter is not the right forum for mentioning the home’s price or your offer details, rationale behind your offer, or contingencies you want. Leave that to your real estate agent. Agents know how to include these details in formal real estate offer letters (which are separate from buyer letters to sellers).
Changes you want to make to the house
“While you might be excited to, for example, replace their kitchen cabinets, this could be insulting to the seller. For example, maybe their father carefully made or installed those cabinets. You don’t want them to purposely skip over your offer because they are offended by your over-sharing,” Kennedy suggests.
Avoid being emphatic, as well. Writing the words, “We can’t wait to tear down that bathroom wall” sounds like you don’t care about the seller or how they feel about their home.
Financial details
Bypass any talk about dollars and specific amounts, including your income, savings, investments, retirement funds, or the numerical value of your combined assets.
Too much emotion
Less is often more when it comes to making personal connections. Letters to sellers shouldn't read like love letters. Going overboard with emotional appeals may make sellers feel like they're being manipulated or being asked to care too much about a stranger's problems.
Here's another way to think about it: Write more about the house than about yourself.
Letter to a house seller example
Here’s an example of a simple but effective offer letter that Kennedy recently received on behalf of one of his clients:
Dear [Seller(s)],
We recently toured your home and haven't been able to stop thinking about it. The arched doorways, original hardwoods, and detailed millwork speak to the care and history within your walls. Homes like this don't come along often, and we truly felt a connection.
We would be honored to carry its legacy forward. Please know we are serious buyers and are ready to move quickly. More than anything, we would love the chance to be part of your home's story.
Sincerely,
[Your Name(s)]
Here’s another letter example to model from:
Dear [Seller(s)],
My wife Elena and I walk by your house every Sunday afternoon, and we've been admiring the stained-glass window above your front door for two years. Elena, a graphic designer, loved it because of how well it was made. And my familyis full of builders, so I really appreciate the skill you put into your brickwork and wood art.
Maple Bank has already approved us, and we’re eager to purchase. We would be honored to continue your tradition of taking care of this home, and we can't wait to use it as the setting for our next story.
With love,
[Your Name(s)]
Tips to make your letter stand out
In a bidding war, a seller may be looking at dozens of offers, including some cash offers. You may improve your chances of impressing the seller if your letter follows these best practices:
Keep it relatively brief
The experts agree that a buyer letter shouldn’t drag on too long. Keep it short, sincere, and specific.
“The seller doesn’t want to read a novel. Anything more than a page is probably excessive,” advises Orefice.
Ideally, keep it between 150 and 400 words, breaking it up over two to four paragraphs.
Appeal to their emotions
Aim to make an emotional connection with engaging language that focuses on key details of the home, such as, “I love your built-in window seat. I did all of my reading on my grandmother’s window seat when I was a child.”
Try to mention something specific that only a person who toured the house would know, which demonstrates that you actually paid attention during your tour and aren’t just bidding blindly. And, of course, explain why this home would be a great fit for you and your family.
Make it look clean and attractive
Avoid handwriting your letter. Instead, compose it with a computer, be sure it is formatted appropriately (for instance, with proper hard returns on paragraphs and indented paragraphs) using one consistent font and font size, and avoid script fonts.
“Sellers will read this quickly. So make it easy on their eyes,” Sanchez recommends.
It’s probably best to have your agent send a digital copy with your offer packet to keep things uniform. But hand-signing a hardcopy of your letter (try to print on thick, textured cardstock to give a paper letter a more polished, upscale look) is a classy touch, if it can be delivered by hand from your agent.
Buyer letter to seller FAQs
How long should a letter to a seller be?
Many experts recommend keeping your letter between 150 and 400 words spread over two to four paragraphs or so across a single page.
Should an offer letter be written by hand?
It is not necessary to handwrite a letter to a seller. Handwritten personal letters to home sellers can seem more heartfelt and genuine. But they can also be smudged, time-consuming to complete, and difficult to read, and most of these lettersare sent digitally from the buyer’s agent to the seller’s agent.
Is a letter to a seller legally the same as a contract?
No. A letter to a seller is not a legally binding document nor part of the contract to purchase a home. It does not affect the purchase agreement or terms, and it does not override loan requirements, interest rates, or contingencies. It’s simply a means to get the seller to pay more attention to your offer than merely your bid.
Is it legal to write a letter to the seller?
Yes, it is legal to write a letter to the seller of a home, but it's important to keep anti-discrimination laws in mind as you write the letter. If you share demographic information such as national origin and the homeowner chooses your offer, the homeowner could be accused of violating the Fair Housing Act. Sellers who are sensitive to fair housing laws may not accept an offer because of a letter that includes too many personal details.
Should I write a letter before or after making an offer?
The personal letter should be included with the offer letter submitted by your Realtor. Your Realtor should also read the letter before it's delivered to the seller. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) offers guidelines about letters for real estate agents to follow.
A preapproval sweetens the deal for sellers, too
Letters that make personal connections about the house can attract the seller's attention and make a difference, especially during a bidding war on the home.
Knowing a potential buyer can successfully close a real estate transaction without wasting the seller's time sweetens the offer, too.
So, before making an offer, bet preapproved by a mortgage lender like Better. You'll know how much you can offer and you can apply and see results within three minutes.
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