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HomeIsWithU
Baby #2 on the way!
Member since 9/07 7816 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Letter to seller - anyone do this?
DH and I are putting an offer on a house today that we've walked through several times. The owner is always there when we walk through - she's a wonderful elderly lady and she prefers to meet her prespective buyers. She's lived in her home for over 25 years and raised her family there. We're thinking of including a letter along with our offer to give her an idea of who we are and make things a little more personal.
Has anyone ever done this ?? And if so, can you share your letter? I'm having a VERY hard time formulating it and deciding how to start it.
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Posted 4/17/15 1:21 PM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource | Long Island Weddings |
2boys1girl
and one more girl on the way!
Member since 5/10 2954 total posts
Name:
D
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Letter to seller - anyone do this?
I've never written a letter but in cases like these I always walked through the house with my little kids in tow.
For sellers that have wanted to sell to another family it has worked wonders both times I've bought, it even saved us from a bidding war with 2 guys because the women preferred knowing our family would be in it,
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| Posted 4/17/15 1:46 PM |
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LuckyStar
LIF Adult
Member since 7/14 7274 total posts
Name:
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Our real estate agent briefly mentioned this to us because of multiple offers on our house, but we never ended up doing it. I remember her telling us we should explain why we wanted the house, growing old there, that kind of stuff. Obviously, you need to play to the seller. I think writing about raising your family in the house, holidays, milestones, etc would be perfect.
DH had started on the letter, but I don't think it would help much because all he did was make me sound like I had an underprivileged childhood in scary Queens and would finally see grass for the first time.
FTR, I grew up in an upper middle class part of Queens. I almost killed him.
Good luck!
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| Posted 4/17/15 1:55 PM |
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Mrs&MrsK
i need sleep ;-)
Member since 2/14 2008 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Posted by LuckyStar
DH had started on the letter, but I don't think it would help much because all he did was make me sound like I had an underprivileged childhood in scary Queens and would finally see grass for the first time.
FTR, I grew up in an upper middle class part of Queens. I almost killed him.
Good luck!
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| Posted 4/17/15 2:19 PM |
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
I've had clients do this with success.
And as a matter of practice, I always write up a description of my buyers and why they like the home when I present any offer.
The goal is to humanize the buyer, so the seller sees you as more than a number. Obviously, this is a tactic most likely to be successful with a seller who has emotional attachment to the home. But I've seen other situations where it's come into play -- for example, my colleague from my office and I both had clients bid on a house that had been renovated by a builder who was flipping it. My buyers came in substantially above my colleague's buyers (like $20K more!) and the builder chose the other buyers who were dealing with a family tragedy involving the loss of a child. The builder said he wanted to do something good good for them. You just never know what will strike a chord with someone.
I think it couldn't hurt -- unless the letter is very insincere and unless it's a transparent ploy to get the seller to take an insultingly low offer. But if you are making a good, competitive offer and using the letter to enhance it, go for it!
It doesn't need to be long. I would just introduce yourself and dh...and kids, if you have any. Tell a littke about yourself, why you want to move to the area, why you love this particular home, and how you can envision enjoying it (bbqs in the yard, family movie night in front if the fireplaces etc). The more specific and descriptive you are, the better. Generic is bad - and may read as insincere. You want to be truthful and genuine.
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| Posted 4/17/15 2:23 PM |
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HomeIsWithU
Baby #2 on the way!
Member since 9/07 7816 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Posted by Century 21 Dallow - Christine Braun
I've had clients do this with success.
And as a matter of practice, I always write up a description of my buyers and why they like the home when I present any offer.
The goal is to humanize the buyer, so the seller sees you as more than a number. Obviously, this is a tactic most likely to be successful with a seller who has emotional attachment to the home. But I've seen other situations where it's come into play -- for example, my colleague from my office and I both had clients bid on a house that had been renovated by a builder who was flipping it. My buyers came in substantially above my colleague's buyers (like $20K more!) and the builder chose the other buyers who were dealing with a family tragedy involving the loss of a child. The builder said he wanted to do something good good for them. You just never know what will strike a chord with someone.
I think it couldn't hurt -- unless the letter is very insincere and unless it's a transparent ploy to get the seller to take an insultingly low offer. But if you are making a good, competitive offer and using the letter to enhance it, go for it!
It doesn't need to be long. I would just introduce yourself and dh...and kids, if you have any. Tell a littke about yourself, why you want to move to the area, why you love this particular home, and how you can envision enjoying it (bbqs in the yard, family movie night in front if the fireplaces etc). The more specific and descriptive you are, the better. Generic is bad - and may read as insincere. You want to be truthful and genuine.
Thank you Christine!
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| Posted 4/17/15 2:41 PM |
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SHOPAHOLIC
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 1712 total posts
Name:
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
I'm not much help, but wanted to say that one of my good friends did this... and the seller accepted her offer over a slightly higher offer with better terms.
Her husband was in the Marines and was getting a VA loan and originally their offer was rejected because of it. My friend wrote how her husband had served our country and given up many years of his life/ risked his life and this was on of the benefits, then said how she had just given birth to her second little girl and how they envisioned their daughters growing up in the home, etc.
Good luck!
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| Posted 4/17/15 5:16 PM |
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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
Name:
Mama mama mama....
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
I did! I included a little bit about my family, daughters' ages, our professions (we're teachers and threw in line about helping the neighborhood kids). I also included what I liked about the house and why.
It worked ;)
Message edited 4/17/2015 6:03:32 PM.
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| Posted 4/17/15 6:00 PM |
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jteach
2 and through
Member since 9/07 3939 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Yes, the house we put an offer on was on the market for 2 days and had like 5 offers. My dh was a mortgage broker and said a letter could help our chances. He wrote a great letter about wanting thus home to be the one we start our own family in blah blah blah. We got the house. I say it cant hurt so if you really want the house write a letter
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| Posted 4/17/15 7:01 PM |
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ChristinaM128
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 4043 total posts
Name:
Christina
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
We did not, but our realtors did (not sure if it was a letter or part of the standard paperwork, like a form)
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| Posted 4/18/15 8:51 PM |
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SPERM1NATED
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/14 638 total posts
Name:
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
We did and it worked! It came down to us and another couple but our letter made them want to sell to us. Similar situation- elderly man raised his family in the house, wife was in Nursing home. We just basically did a little research on the family and tried to let them know that their house would be in good hands and that we want to raise our family here.
Although I will say that the realtor didn't give our letter to the homeowner until someone with a higher offer had backed out so there's no guarantee they'll even receive it. Just food for thought....
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| Posted 4/20/15 10:56 AM |
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JackiePags
They're the love of my life
Member since 8/10 1299 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
We wrote a letter to the seller and told them that we would take care of the house and that we were an easy buyer for her. She was mentally not well and needed easy people to work with - the sellers sisters told us at the closing that the letter swayed her sister to pick us over the multiple offers on the house. Can't hurt. Good luck!
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| Posted 4/20/15 1:18 PM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Isn't this kind of offensive? Shouldn't buying a house be business transaction & not a popularity contest? OR an persuasive essay writing contest?
It's is very reassuring to know that some people may be given preference over us b/c they have children & we don't (and won't) 
And not just being selfish, someone who is not good at writing shouldn't be discriminated against either.
I thought that crap only happened with co-op boards.
Message edited 4/20/2015 2:42:13 PM.
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| Posted 4/20/15 2:38 PM |
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HomeIsWithU
Baby #2 on the way!
Member since 9/07 7816 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Posted by tourist
Isn't this kind of offensive? Shouldn't buying a house be business transaction & not a popularity contest? OR an persuasive essay writing contest?
It's is very reassuring to know that some people may be given preference over us b/c they have children & we don't (and won't)
And not just being selfish, someone who is not good at writing shouldn't be discriminated against either.
I thought that crap only happened with co-op boards.
I don't see how it's offensive at all. You're making a blatant assumption that the seller is going to give preference to a buyer with children. The fact is, you don't know what the seller prefers. While buying and selling a home is a business transaction, it tends to be a very personal and emotional one for most people. As a seller, I would like to know who I'm selling my house to. And I have a right to decide whether or not I want to sell to them. We just went into contract on our townhome and we chose to sell to our buyers because we felt they would take good care of the house that we put a lot of sweat equity into. It wasn't ALL about the money/business part of the transaction.
Being a good or bad writer doesn't really matter. The seller isn't grading it, they're reading it. The point is, the letter gives the buyer a chance to let the seller know a little bit about who they are potentially selling their home to.
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| Posted 4/20/15 2:49 PM |
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JackiePags
They're the love of my life
Member since 8/10 1299 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Posted by tourist
Isn't this kind of offensive? Shouldn't buying a house be business transaction & not a popularity contest? OR an persuasive essay writing contest?
It's is very reassuring to know that some people may be given preference over us b/c they have children & we don't (and won't)
And not just being selfish, someone who is not good at writing shouldn't be discriminated against either.
I thought that crap only happened with co-op boards.
Not really sure what having (or not having) children has to do with writing a letter to the seller. Sure, selling a home is a business transaction but it is also an emotional situation for some, if not most.
Further, I am the type of person that if I want something I will do anything to get it and if writing a letter is it...
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| Posted 4/20/15 3:41 PM |
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
One of my most successful instances of clients writing a letter to the seller was when a young married couple -- childless -- did this. The women who was putting the offer in loved to cook and entertain, and the house had a great kitchen and a huge dining room, so that really resonated with the sellers, as the pay were big into hosting parties and had custom designed the home to accommodate that.
I also had a listing that recently sold - we had multiple offers (all couples without children), and the couple that won out had the highest offer, but the seller really connected with them based on the fact that they wrote a letter explaining that one of them had grown up in the same town and had family around the corner.
You never know what will strike a chord with the seller and make the buyer more likable to the seller (which, if nothing else, makes for a smooth deal). It's definitely not about writing skills - these letters are best when they are simple and straightforward, not full of flowery verbiage. Again, a buyer risks laying it on too thick and coming off as insincere. But most sellers are touched by the gesture, not scrutinizing the content.
A personal letter to the seller is just another aspect to the offer -- just like down payment, desired closing date, etc. a seller wants to feel comfortable, and sometimes a letter can strengthen an offer that may be less than ideal in other ways.
It's by no means necessary in every case - I've sold many homes (the majority) where no letter is written. But it can help and I don't see it as inappropriate. It is a business transaction, but people tend to do business with people they like and trust, right?
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| Posted 4/20/15 5:18 PM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
I only mention having/not having children b/c that's what most people above mentioned
Message edited 4/21/2015 12:02:06 PM.
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| Posted 4/20/15 6:03 PM |
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DiamondGirl
You are my I love you
Member since 7/09 18802 total posts
Name:
DiamondMama
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Letter to seller - anyone do this?
We did, our realtor urged us to do so as the house was getting tons of offers, it worked out for us .
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| Posted 4/20/15 7:00 PM |
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TheDivineMrsM
2 girls 4 me!
Member since 8/08 7878 total posts
Name:
Mama mama mama....
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Posted by HomeIsWithU
Posted by tourist
Isn't this kind of offensive? Shouldn't buying a house be business transaction & not a popularity contest? OR an persuasive essay writing contest?
It's is very reassuring to know that some people may be given preference over us b/c they have children & we don't (and won't)
And not just being selfish, someone who is not good at writing shouldn't be discriminated against either.
I thought that crap only happened with co-op boards.
I don't see how it's offensive at all. You're making a blatant assumption that the seller is going to give preference to a buyer with children. The fact is, you don't know what the seller prefers. While buying and selling a home is a business transaction, it tends to be a very personal and emotional one for most people. As a seller, I would like to know who I'm selling my house to. And I have a right to decide whether or not I want to sell to them. We just went into contract on our townhome and we chose to sell to our buyers because we felt they would take good care of the house that we put a lot of sweat equity into. It wasn't ALL about the money/business part of the transaction.
Being a good or bad writer doesn't really matter. The seller isn't grading it, they're reading it. The point is, the letter gives the buyer a chance to let the seller know a little bit about who they are potentially selling their home to.
This.
No one is being discriminated against. A letter isn't going to turn home buying into a popularity contest. Letters are about demonstrating understanding that a house is more than just a shelter.
Message edited 4/20/2015 8:14:43 PM.
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| Posted 4/20/15 8:11 PM |
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DiamondGirl
You are my I love you
Member since 7/09 18802 total posts
Name:
DiamondMama
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Posted by TheDivineMrsM
Posted by HomeIsWithU
Posted by tourist
Isn't this kind of offensive? Shouldn't buying a house be business transaction & not a popularity contest? OR an persuasive essay writing contest?
It's is very reassuring to know that some people may be given preference over us b/c they have children & we don't (and won't)
And not just being selfish, someone who is not good at writing shouldn't be discriminated against either.
I thought that crap only happened with co-op boards.
I don't see how it's offensive at all. You're making a blatant assumption that the seller is going to give preference to a buyer with children. The fact is, you don't know what the seller prefers. While buying and selling a home is a business transaction, it tends to be a very personal and emotional one for most people. As a seller, I would like to know who I'm selling my house to. And I have a right to decide whether or not I want to sell to them. We just went into contract on our townhome and we chose to sell to our buyers because we felt they would take good care of the house that we put a lot of sweat equity into. It wasn't ALL about the money/business part of the transaction.
Being a good or bad writer doesn't really matter. The seller isn't grading it, they're reading it. The point is, the letter gives the buyer a chance to let the seller know a little bit about who they are potentially selling their home to.
This.
No one is being discriminated against. A letter isn't going to turn home buying into a popularity contest. Letters are about demonstrating understanding that a house is more than just a shelter.
exactly, as a matter of fact the woman we bought from had no children but she was a lifelong resident of the neighborhood as I am and THAT is what I wanted to point out in our letter, that I grew up around the block and that my parents and brother all lived here.
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| Posted 4/21/15 8:23 AM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Posted by Century 21 Dallow - Christine Braun
One of my most successful instances of clients writing a letter to the seller was when a young married couple -- childless -- did this. The women who was putting the offer in loved to cook and entertain, and the house had a great kitchen and a huge dining room, so that really resonated with the sellers, as the pay were big into hosting parties and had custom designed the home to accommodate that.
I also had a listing that recently sold - we had multiple offers (all couples without children), and the couple that won out had the highest offer, but the seller really connected with them based on the fact that they wrote a letter explaining that one of them had grown up in the same town and had family around the corner.
You never know what will strike a chord with the seller and make the buyer more likable to the seller (which, if nothing else, makes for a smooth deal). It's definitely not about writing skills - these letters are best when they are simple and straightforward, not full of flowery verbiage. Again, a buyer risks laying it on too thick and coming off as insincere. But most sellers are touched by the gesture, not scrutinizing the content.
A personal letter to the seller is just another aspect to the offer -- just like down payment, desired closing date, etc. a seller wants to feel comfortable, and sometimes a letter can strengthen an offer that may be less than ideal in other ways.
It's by no means necessary in every case - I've sold many homes (the majority) where no letter is written. But it can help and I don't see it as inappropriate. It is a business transaction, but people tend to do business with people they like and trust, right?
Thanks for your thoughtful (as usual) response , Christine.
The way I see it, when you sell a house it is no longer yours. Unless your mom lives next or it is a historic property your all you should care about is if the buyer is serious & the money will come through. I feel it is none of the seller's business whether or not the buyer has family around the corner or is new to the country or is going to raise a family in it, host parties, flip it, demolish it or live the lonely life of a recluse in it.
Several people said I was assuming that sellers prefer people with children, but I was jut referring to those posters who stated that they play up the fact that they have children & want to raise their family there when they are dealing with someone who lived there many years & raised their own family there.
What I meant was that in that *specific* situation, if I had the same finances & all the same intentions as another buyer, the fact that they have children could be the winning factor. Also, writing ability does matter, not that it will be graded, but some people are just so uncomfortable with it (or English is not their first language) that they can't get their point across or can't even get the words on paper.
Christine, you obviously know if this works-so I guess that is good to know and thanks for giving a realtor's POV, but I personally disagree with the practice & would discount any letters if I was selling my home. I would be tempted to count a letter against someone, but that would be just as wrong.
That is all.
Message edited 4/21/2015 12:19:49 PM.
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| Posted 4/21/15 12:18 PM |
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Otherme
Square head cutie pants
Member since 3/06 6899 total posts
Name:
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Thanks for your thoughtful (as usual) response , Christine.
The way I see it, when you sell a house it is no longer yours. Unless your mom lives next or it is a historic property your all you should care about is if the buyer is serious & the money will come through. I feel it is none of the seller's business whether or not the buyer has family around the corner or is new to the country or is going to raise a family in it, host parties, flip it, demolish it or live the lonely life of a recluse in it.
Several people said I was assuming that sellers prefer people with children, but I was jut referring to those posters who stated that they play up the fact that they have children & want to raise their family there when they are dealing with someone who lived there many years & raised their own family there.
What I meant was that in that *specific* situation, if I had the same finances & all the same intentions as another buyer, the fact that they have children could be the winning factor. Also, writing ability does matter, not that it will be graded, but some people are just so uncomfortable with it (or English is not their first language) that they can't get their point across or can't even get the words on paper.
Christine, you obviously know if this works-so I guess that is good to know and thanks for giving a realtor's POV, but I personally disagree with the practice & would discount any letters if I was selling my home. I would be tempted to count a letter against someone, but that would be just as wrong.
That is all.
I think i know what you mean, and honestly when i read the OP and thread initially i had the same reaction. It smacked of playing to emotions and brown nosing to me.
But, after reading the rest of the responses on the thread, I totally see the benefits of it and why a letter could resonate well with certain sellers. To be honest, i have no idea if that would work for me if/when we sell our house because i'm skeptical by nature.
but i'll think twice about it now 
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| Posted 4/21/15 3:46 PM |
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lorich
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Member since 6/05 9987 total posts
Name:
Grammie says "Lora Gina"
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
We didn't include a letter to the seller with our offer, but she did take extra interest in us because we were a young couple taking care of my grandmother.
She too was an older woman who had lived & raised all her children in that home. A home to some becomes almost like a family member. Special memories are had and they want to feel they're giving their home to someone who will care for it.
At the time we viewed our now home, there was another couple looking at it & ready to put in an offer, but because of our circumstance at the time, she chose us. It didn't come down to dollars & cents - it came down to who would be living and caring for her home.
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| Posted 4/21/15 4:14 PM |
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mrsgee625
LIF Infant
Member since 9/11 164 total posts
Name:
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Letter to seller - anyone do this?
I Recently purchased my home in January... I did this. There were a few offers on the table but honestly, I just put some emotion into it and it worked...I just told them how I instantly fell in love when I walked in and how I would spend many holidays hosting in the big formal dining room... And they loved it... The more sincere and heartfelt you are the better
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| Posted 4/21/15 4:37 PM |
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LI-Joy
Member since 10/07 2910 total posts
Name:
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Re: Letter to seller - anyone do this?
Never heard of anyone doing this, but I think it is a great idea. Good Luck!
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| Posted 4/24/15 8:07 PM |
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