Anyone who’s trying to buy a home knows that, sadly, homes come and go quicker than they appear. And, once you see the home of your dreams, a million other people have too, so the race is on.
If you’re a potential home buyer with a home in mind that you’re dying to have, one of the ways you can make a strong first impression (and also win over the sellers) is by writing a to-seller letter.
But, isn’t this illegal?!
No, it’s not, but there are some things to keep in mind as you write the letter since there is a potential risk for sellers to go against the Fair Housing Act after receiving a to-seller letter.
However, this shouldn’t deter you from writing a letter of your own if you’re highly interested in a house on the market.
In this guide, we’re teaching you all the tips and tricks for writing a powerful, open-worthy to-seller letter, plus the pros and cons to consider.
What Is a To-Seller Letter?
A to-seller letter, also known as a “letter to the seller,” is exactly what the name suggests: a written (or typed) letter to the seller of a home.
Usually, an interested buyer is the one who writes the letter to convey their appreciation for the home and desire to purchase it. Though it’s not a required step to purchase a home, it does give the writer an edge over the other bidders by taking this extra step to establish a personal connection with the seller.
Pros & Cons of Writing to a Seller
As we mentioned above, writing a to-seller letter is not required of anyone who’s interested in buying a home, but can work in your favor. It can also work against it.
Here are a few pros and cons of writing a letter to the seller to keep in mind to help you determine if it’s worth it or not to draft your own.
Pros
There are several pros to writing a to-seller letter, including:
- It establishes a personal, emotional connection to the home and seller.
- Allows you the chance to explain your monetary offer.
- May increase your chances of getting the home by going above and beyond to write a letter.
Cons
Additionally, there are a few cons to be aware of when writing a letter, such as:
- May infringe on the Fair Housing Act.
- Your letter may not come across to the seller as you intended.
- You may overshare information with the seller.
How to Write a Homebuyer-to-Seller Letter
Now that you know what a to-seller letter is and the pros and cons of writing one, here’s how to draft your own in 9 steps.
1. Choose Your Letter Style
Before you start writing, take some time to consider how you want the letter to look to the seller once they open it (handwritten or typed). You only get one shot at writing a to-seller letter that convinces the homeowner to accept your offer, so choose a letter style that best reflects you and comes across as sincere.
2. Introduce Yourself
The very first thing you should write in your letter to the seller is a personal introduction that establishes a connection. Put yourself in the seller’s shoes and pretend you’re getting ready to sell a home that means the world to you, you’re going to want to know who you’re selling the home to.
Remember that you don’t (and shouldn’t) go overboard with a lot of personal information, but you should do so in a way that ties in the house. For example, maybe the home is near a park and you’re an avid runner. Including a detail that states you’re a runner and love that the park is close by for you to run at is a great example of a short and sweet personal introduction/connection.
3. Don’t Write a Novel
As we just touched on, a letter to the seller should never look like the first draft of the next great American novel. It should be short, sweet, and to the point.
Because of that, you need to know that every word in your letter matters. Since you’re only needing to write a short and simple letter, you need to write something that’s heartfelt and emotional, but won’t take a lot of time for the seller to read.
Instead, try to keep your letter to one page (just the front), and write about two or three reasons as to why you really love the house and want to buy it.
4. Amplify Emotions & Imagination
If you can’t tell, appealing to emotions is key for a successful to-seller letter, and the best way to write with this in mind is to use imagination within your writing by showing and not telling.
What we mean by this is not telling the seller why you love the house and want them to sell it to you, but show them how you’d use the house.
For example, does the house come with a large front yard? Write about how you can envision your kids playing in the front yard or using the land to build precious family memories.
At the end of the day, sellers want to see that their house means more to you than just being your next place of residence. The more you can make the home seem like a sweet investment, the stronger your letter will be.
5. Skip the Remodeling Ideas
No matter if the house was built in the 1800s and hasn’t seen a single remodel since the day it was finished, or if it’s a modern house with walls you want to repaint, never ever ever mention remodeling ideas in your letter to the seller.
This could offend the seller since odds are your remodeling ideas will completely alter a room that they have fond memories in, so it’s best to keep any future ideas to yourself at the moment and only write about how you want to use the house.
6. Explain Your Offer
One of the perks of writing a letter to the seller is that it gives you a chance to explain your financial offer, which is something you don’t get when only making negotiations through your agents.
If you’re planning to pay in cash, tell them. If you’re planning to go through a mortgage, tell them. The only thing to remember when it comes to writing about your offer is to never include too much financial information as this can make the seller uneasy and actually harm your chances of getting the house.
7. End Politely
At the end of your letter when you go to write your call to action (CTA), end strong with a brief reiteration of why you want or love the home and thanking the seller for taking the time to read your letter.
The key is to end the letter with a strong reminder of your appreciation while also being polite since you want the letter to read positively all the way through.
Another key tip for ending a letter is to continue with words that feel conversational instead of endings that feel professional or “business-like.” For example, signing off with a, “Thank you for your time and consideration,” sounds more friendly than, “Best.”
8. Reread Your Letter
As always, you should proofread your letter before putting it in an envelope and mailing it off.
As you go back through your literary masterpiece, carefully pay attention to grammar mistakes or misspelled words, and punctuation.
9. Deliver To Your Agent
Once your letter is complete, it’s time to “mail it off,” which in this case, means delivering to your real estate agent. Your agent will deliver the letter to the seller’s agent who will deliver the letter to the sellers. Then, it’s just a waiting game until you hear back from your agents who had heard from the seller’s agent.
Sample Letter to the Seller
If you’re struggling to write your own letter to the seller, here’s a sample for you to view and get inspiration from.
One of the best ways to gather ideas for what to include in your letter is by viewing the house so you can find key pieces to include like their dreamy kitchen, spacious primary bathroom, or several acres.
Dear [SELLER],
I’m [YOUR NAME], and my family of four and I love your home. My husband and I recently toured it and instantly fell in love with the spacious backyard that we can see our six-year-old and two-year-old playing on for years to come.
Not only does your home come with the yard space we’re looking for, but we also adore the beautiful kitchen and finished basement that gives us plenty of space to entertain and make family memories in.
Attached to this letter is our mortgage pre approval for the asking price, but we also want to offer an additional $7,000 plus a 25% down payment.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and consider our offer. Please know that if you accept, this home will be greatly loved and cared for.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
Conclusion
Writing a to-seller letter can be a great way to establish a leg-up on the competition of buyers who are vying for the same home. Though these letters can put the odds in your favor, it’s not an automatic guarantee that you’ll win the bid since it all comes down to the monetary offer. But, if you write a convincing letter that mentions a convincing offer, you never know what can happen.
Just remember to include the basics in your to-seller letter, such as a personal introduction and message that’s short and sweet to best increase your chances.
