Have you ever wondered how to write a real estate offer letter? How should you address the recipient? What should the tone of the letter resemble? Perhaps even more importantly, what should you talk about when the numbers aren’t enough?
If you have ever wondered how to write an offer letter, and are—more or less—asking yourself these questions, look no further. Below you will find what should be included in your next offer letter and what will give you an advantage over the competition.
What’s an Offer Letter?
A real estate offer letter is nothing less than a physical correspondence expressing a buyer’s intent to purchase a property from a homeowner. As its name suggests, offer letters are given to homeowners in an attempt to express a buyer’s interest. To be perfectly clear, an offer letter is an informal offer to capture the owners interest; it should come complete with a concrete offer and an explanation as to why selling would make perfect sense. It is worth noting, however, that an offer letter should be handwritten and include no assumptions. The idea is to be polite and offer a service. Remember, you do not know the state of the homeowner, so it’s best to approach the situation with care, and a properly written offer letter can be a great introduction.
How to Write an Offer Letter to Seller in 7 Steps
Not surprisingly, offer letters are drafted to address one specific issue: the amount you are willing to pay for a respective property. The intentions should be clear and the letter should answer more questions than it asks. It’s worth noting, however, that offer letters aren’t simply a means of submitting an offer; they are also your chance to make a great first impression. After all, what seller wants to work with someone they don’t trust?
While your next offer letter should, in fact, make the price you intend to pay for a home abundantly clear, it also needs to build a working rapport between the two parties in question. In order to make your offer letter more effective, try following these seven steps:
- Exercise common curtesy and refer to the seller by their full name.
- Express why you love the property in an endearing way.
- Divulge personal information about yourself.
- Include a photo of yourself for a reference.
- Highlight any commonalities you and the seller may have.
- Remember to keep the letter to seller leads short and simple.
- Finish strong and be sure to reaffirm your genuine interest in the property.
Address The Seller By Name
Real estate is a people business, and it’s important that we never lose touch with the human element—even when communicating through a correspondence letter. Having said that, the most important step in writing an offer letter is perhaps the simplest: address the seller by their name. Exercise common curtesy and refer to the seller by their full name at the top of the offer letter, and you will find that it can make a world of difference. Don’t believe me? Consider the alternative.
Not only does starting off your offer letter with “Dear Seller” suggest a lack of curtesy, but it also acknowledges the fact that you neglected to do any additional research upfront. Remember, sometimes what you don’t say is just as important was what you do say, and those that don’t address the seller by their name are speaking volumes to their lack of professionalism and commitment.
It’s worth noting that the seller is likely receiving multiple offer letters, and anything you can do to separate your letter from the competition is advised. I can assure you that using the seller’s name will sound a lot better than a generic placeholder. If for some reason you don’t have their name, feel free to ask the listing agent.
Highlight Your Favorite Features
Despite their latest attempt to sell the home, it’s safe to assume the owner has developed a nostalgic attachment to the property. While you may not know the intricacies of their particular affinity, it’s entirely possible to use their own personal attachment to your advantage. Over the course of your offer letter, don’t hesitate to play off of their own attachment to the home. Divulge what it is you like so much about the property, and you my find your appreciation reciprocated.
In highlighting what you like most about a home, you are accomplishing two important things: you are reaffirming your intentions to follow through with a purchase while simultaneously establishing an emotional connection with the seller. Remember, a little flattery can go a long way. Why wouldn’t you want to do everything you can to secure a deal, especially if all you have to do is compliment the home you are already genuinely interested in? Calling attention to the home’s best features may place the seller at ease, as they are more likely to sell to someone they feel won’t tarnish their own memories of the property. If you want to learn how to write an offer letter, try exercising a little humility and putting the seller’s needs ahead of your own, even if they are superficial.
Divulge Personal Information
In addition to addressing a few personal items about the seller, I recommend sharing a little bit about yourself. Don’t assume sellers only want to hear about themselves; they want to ensure the property is going to be in good hands, so convince them that you are their best option. Include personal facts from your own life. Do you have any children? What would this house mean to a family looking for a home?
There are a number of directions you could go with this, but the idea remains the same: fabricate a picture of what acquiring the home might mean to you. The more friendly of a picture you can paint, the more likely the seller is going to favor your offer over the others. If you can convince them that their home will be in good hands, you are already ahead of the curve.
Remember, the whole idea behind an offer letter is to place yourself ahead of the competition and land a deal. In providing sellers with the right information about yourself, it’s entirely possible to generate positive sentiment. And it’s worth noting that said sentiment may be the only thing that separates you from the competition. In an industry as competitive as real estate investing, that may be enough to land you the deal.
Include A Personal Photograph
In addition to revealing a few things about yourself, it can’t hurt to include a picture. You would be surprised at how many people want to be able to put a face to the words they receive. It’s also worth noting that this step should be viewed as a compliment to the previous one. The idea is to help sellers envision who will be living in their home long after they are gone. And while you may not be the one living in the house after you buy it, your are the next in line to decide who will call it home next. Believe it or not, sellers want to know their home will be in good hands, and if a picture can sway them into thinking your hands are the safest, why wouldn’t you include one?
Identify Your Similarities
Generally speaking, a great offer letter forms a relationship between two otherwise complete strangers while simultaneously sparking negotiations. While the offer letter should certainly talk numbers, you don’t want to be too forward. Instead of throwing a number out and seeing if it sticks or not, continue to develop the relationship I have discussed in the previous four steps. One thing I like to do is to highlight any commonalities that may exist between myself and the other party. Few conversations are more beneficial to the foundation of a relationship than one that revolves around the similarities each party has. And while you may not know the seller personally, you can typically glean everything you need to know from what their home says. Find something you both have in common and use it to your advantage. You will find that few things can break down barriers faster than a common interest in something.
Keep It Short & To The Point
It’s safe to assume that you aren’t the only interested party in a particular property. Neglecting to assume anyone else is interested in acquiring the same deal is simply ignorant, and a sure-fire way to lose a deal. Instead of writing an offer letter without any sense of urgency, do the opposite. Understand the situation you are in, and even the seller’s. You must assume they are receiving multiple offer letters. As a result, make your offer letter as short and concise as possible while still leaving room for everything I have discussed up to this point.
In the midst of a bidding war, the brief tone of a well-drafted offer letter may place it ahead of the completion. If for nothing else, sellers may not have the time to sit down and read those letters that are far too lengthy. Don’t let your letter get passed over because you wrote too much.
Finish Strong!
In wrapping things up, don’t forget to reaffirm your genuine interest in the property. Sellers are more comfortable when they are positive buyers aren’t wasting their time, and this is your chance to let them know you can be counted on. It’s also a great idea to thank them for their time in advance. Let them know their time is valuable and you appreciate the consideration.
Comments are closed.