For those who have purchased or sold a home recently in Southern California a home buyers letter to a seller is something that is not too well known. That’s because the real estate market in Southern California has for the most part remained straight forward, either you can afford the house, or you can’t. In some markets however the story is much different. Where it’s a sellers market sometimes money isn’t all it takes to get the house you want. This is where the home buyers letter to a seller comes in.
Home buyers trying to stand out from a crowd of offers in some of today’s competitive markets are often told to write a personal letter to accompany their offer. Buyers who are financing a home, or have a smaller down payment, often have trouble competing with all-cash buyers. Appealing to the seller as a person, as opposed to a contract, can sometimes give a buyer an emotional edge.
In some markets it goes even further than that. Buyers are aware of this technique and so there are often many letters along with buy offers for the seller to go through. In that case your letter has to stand out in the crowd. Some real estate agents have now begun offering classes on the “how to’s” of writing these letter to some of their clients.
Some of the things to consider are things such as flattering the seller tell the seller how great their taste in color is, how much you’d love to have their lifestyle, and what an amazing neon bottle cap exhibit they have over the fireplace. Pick two or three reasons why you will be the best buyer for this home, and make them distinctly recognizable. The more streamlined you make your message, the more memorable it will be.
There may be a time that you need to write such a letter. Whether you’re a buyer or a buyers agent, it may pay off to study up on this.