How to Write a Letter to Seller of Home (With Examples)

Home buying is the most significant decision that many people make in their lifetime. However, sometimes it can be challenging to know what to say or how to say it. As a home buyer, the first step to buying a home is to write a letter to the seller of your potential home.

This letter is essential because it lets the seller know what you want in your new home. It’ll also give you room to inform the seller of your interest in renovating the house. In this guide, you will learn how to write a letter to the seller of a home. We’ll also provide some examples to help get you started. Let’s dig in!

Why Write a Letter?

When you’re buying a home, it’s essential to stay on good terms with the seller. After all, they might likely become your neighbors if they have other residential homes in the neighborhood! So, why not send them an offer letter to say thanks for their time and tell them that you’re looking forward to living in the area!

Letters can also be a great way to get your final questions answered before moving into your dream home. For instance, you might want to ask about the HOA fees or about when the seller plans to move out.

Whatever your reason for writing, a well-written letter will leave a positive impression on the seller. Who knows, they might even send you a housewarming gift once they’ve moved!

Tips for Writing a Letter to the Seller of a Home

When you’re writing a letter to a home seller, there are a few key things to point out. Before getting started, you need to be conversant with the relevant questions buyers ask sellers during the home buying process. Having said that, let’s get right into the basics:

1. Build a Connection

The housing market is quite competitive as many potential home buyers are out there. So, it’d help if you did something unique to stand out among others. Look for anything you and the seller have in common and capitalize on it. You can always ask an agent to help you out in getting the homeowner’s relevant details.

The idea is for the seller to connect with you and your family. Perhaps you work in the same field, attended the same university, or spotted many peony flowers in the yard. Pay close attention to details while your real estate agent shows you the house so you can identify and capitalize on a possible connection in your letter.

2. Be Specific

If the person selling to you has lived for a long time in the house you want to purchase, there’s a strong possibility that they’re attached to it and hence, want the potential buyer to love and care for it. Due to that, your personal letter should express how much you value the house and how you’re willing to maintain it.

Remember, many homebuyers looking to buy a home in competitive markets are always in for the competition. Make your house offer letters concise. Stick to the point. For instance, you could complement the kitchen tiling or the arrangement of a specific room and how you envision yourself using it.

3. Make It Personal

Remember that there will be several letters to home sellers from buyers interested in the house. That’s to show you how competitive the seller’s market is. There’s nothing you can do about that, so concentrate on being genuine and personal.

Don’t make the house offer letter a plea for assistance. You want to persuade the homeowner to sell to you, but that doesn’t mean you have to put the seller in an awkward situation.

Sharing an emotional connection isn’t the same as making the prospective seller feel sorry for you. Make a distinction between presenting your story and appealing for help. So, even if the home offer letter contains a tragic tale, strive to keep the emotional component of the letter positive.

4. Don’t Go Overboard

Remember, you and the seller presumably just met (or haven’t met), so don’t go too personal when drafting a letter to the seller of a home you like. Maintain a cheerful and light tone. Mention a few things about yourself, including your familial status, occupation, and hobbies, but don’t overdo things by discussing your complete life narrative.

Be polite and respectful throughout. Thank them for their time and consideration of your proposal. You have to set the standard to ensure you’re the right buyer.

Also, it’d be ideal if you consider avoiding any indication of significant remodeling plans since this may prick the seller’s emotions. People have strong emotional attachments to their houses, so instead of highlighting major renovations, focus on what you enjoy about the seller’s house as it is.

5. Maintain a Positive Attitude

Writing about all the bids you’ve made that were turned down in the past might put sellers in an awkward situation. Some may feel sorry for you, but they’ll eventually wonder why you have had such difficulty purchasing a home.

Don’t violate fair housing laws. Feel free to draft the house offer letter with your best interest in mind. Remember, no one enjoys drama. If you appear desperate for any reason, you’ll make the seller uncomfortable, so keep a positive attitude. Your goal is to make the seller feel good after reading your house offer letter.

6. Complement the Letter With a Competitive Bid

No matter how well-written and emotional your house offer letter is, you must ensure that your offer price is within a reasonable range of the asking price.

For instance, in bidding wars, most sellers would likely choose the buyer who can afford the more significant down payment over the one who penned the more admirable letter. In this scenario, before sending your letter, secure your mortgage rate and approval from your lender.

7. Edit and Proofread the Letter

Potential home buyers send several house offer letters to sellers, so make sure yours is error-free. When drafting letters like this, it’s crucial to rewrite and proofread—you need to have yours appear as professional and eloquent as possible.

Error-free letters have the potential to draw the attention of the seller towards you. When you draft letters in this way, it means that you’re serious with your proposal and you’re in for business.

Sample Letter to Home Sellers

Now that we’ve gone over the basics of writing letters to home sellers, let’s have a look at a typical letter to home seller example that hits all of these points:

Dear [Seller’s Name],

Thank you for taking the time to consider our offer on your home. My family and I are highly interested in purchasing this property and believe our offer is fair and reasonable.

We wish to draw your attention to some of the crucial points in our offer, which include our excellent financial status and strong interest in the property. We hope that these details will help you make your decision.

Thank you again for your time, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Conclusion

If you’ve found your dream house and are ready to make a home offer, you need to be conversant with the basic fair housing laws and housing tips. Before you do, you need to send a letter to the homeowner to inform them of your interest and give them some information about yourself. This offer letter is also your opportunity to ask questions about the home.

Remember that other buyers are looking to get the home you wish to buy. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for drafting a  letter to the seller of a home you’re considering but there are a few things you can do to make sure your offer letter stands out and gets the seller’s attention. With the info above and the help of professional real estate agents, you should be on the right track.

Are you an intending homeowner looking to secure your preferred property? Contact us at HomesbyArdor to guide you through the process of sending offer letters to sellers. Our team of professional real estate agents are always ready to help you get your dream home. We look forward to hearing from you!

Steph Wilkinson

In her 25-year career, Steph Wilkinson has been involved in the acquisition, marketing and sales of over $3 Billion dollars of residential real estate. A number of years ago, Steph transitioned into Brokerage Leadership for National real estate brands and tech start-ups. She has served as a Business Strategist for real estate agents and brokerages alike and is also a real estate coach and trainer. In her new role with the Iconic Team, Steph will be responsible for the growth of the team and will be working with all of our agents to increase their productivity and bottom line.