I saw this show--and it really was quite touching. I think it is a fabulous idea!

.

This was on a post a couple of months ago.  I encouraged one of my clients to do this, but they didn't.  I think it is a great idea.

when I first went through training couple years back, we were encouraged to write these letters with our buyers or have them write them. It was at times when we used to deal with a lot of multiple offers, so it only made sense. I never actually had any buyer write one but did write a somewhat "touching" fax cover once for one of my first time buyer couples and we did get the property while in a multiple and offering couple thousand less than what the best offer was. I'll never know if this faxed helped us at all but I'm sure it didn't hurt the situation.

I've had my agents use this technique whenever there are more than one offer coming in, and/or if they are writing a low offer.  It works many times.  We have also used it years ago with Veterans when we were using more VA loans with a spin on being able to get the "American Dream" they were fighting for for all of us.

I saw the same show a few months ago and I think its a good thing.  Its right up there with making your offer higher than the asking price, quick closings, large deposits, all things that appeal to the seller especially if there is a bidding war it makes the buyer stand out and    that's the way to get an edge.          

I, just a few weeks, ago had sellers do it for potential buyers.  It was a great handwritten note that each potential buyer received when they came through the house.  For those of you that will say, "Well, those items should have been addressed before hand." - yes, you are correct.  However, we were contigient on another home and all of this took place within 10 business days.  So, the sellers wanted to be sure that some items were addressed prior to an offer coming in.  I got a response from each and every agent that showed the home and they thought it was a great idea.  

Dear Prospective Buyer,

Welcome! We wanted to let you know we are in the process of making this house ready to be your home.

We have loved this neighborhood, this house and are confident you will too. We have been working hard at making this a comfortable, social and fun loving home. We doubled the size of the deck this year, so it will accommodate all the wonderful friends and family you will have here. We also just had 5 full trees removed from the yard (9 total since we’ve been here,) which is why the grass is so sparse right now. The drought hasn’t helped!

We can appreciate your decorative taste may be different from ours; rest assured we will have all those nail holes filled, walls touched up and painted clean and carpets professionally cleaned, so this can be your home, ready to move into!

Sincerely,

Hi Bill,

I ask my sellers to write a letter to prospective buyers when I list their home.  I include the letter in the marketing brochures that are left at the house for buyers to review.  With the over supply of homes on the market, I think that it helps.  

I think that the personal touch on both the buyer and the seller side is very helpfull in getting a deal negotiated out.

Rob

Bill & Leesa,

This is wonderful!  Both letters depending on which end you are at, at the time.  I never saw the show but no matter.  All of you are great!  Have a Super Day!!!

-Allison

I have used the Buyer letter several times.  More often than not, it works, but pretty much only with downsizing families who have a lot of equity.  I've also had Sellers write me a letter explaining why they first purchased the home.  The features they found desirable, and what do they like/love most about it.  I've used many of their comments in the MLS.  Their personal experiences in the home can help sell it.  I used this when I sold my Aunt and Uncle's home in South Dennis.  In this case, though, it was my own memories of summers spent with them.  Sure enough it was a younger family looking for just that kind of Cape Cod experience who bought the home.  They just spent their first summer there and said it lived up to all their expectations.

Thanks for sharing, Bill. This is really neat, and definitely worth trying.

Brian Wilson, Zolve.com

I used a similar strategy years ago. I was showing starter homes to a young Polish Fellow who had immigrated to Canada a year before. He was looking to buy his first home. When showing the home he saw a family plaque and he mentioned that the sellers were also probably Polish.

He loved the house and we went back to prepare an offer. We registered the offer with listing agent and were told that there was another offer. I think the list price was 143,000 but he was only qualified for a max of 140,000.

Then the idea of a letter came to me and I helped him prepare the letter which told of his maximum price and the fact that he was saving to bring his aged Mother over from Poland. Buying the house was so his Mother would have somewhere to live.

We presented the Letter at the offer presentation and were told shortly after that our offer had been accepted even though ours were less money than the others. It probably helped that they were both Polish but no one would have known without the letter.

He still lives in the same house some 21 years later and yes Letters can definitely help.

I love the letter stories. I encourage buyers to write letters but never thought of having sellers do so. What a great idea - especially in this market with so many homes to chose from.

Bill, I agree 100% about the negativity. Agents and buyers often lose sight that a property is someone's home. No matter what the condition, it is or was someone's dream. I like to think that as Realtors that we sell dreams and goals, not just properties.

Janet Gaut