7 Ways to Draft the Best Homebuyer’s Letter
In the fix-and-flip game, there is a TON of competition when it comes to finding lucrative properties. Apparently, everyone wants to make a massive return on their investment or some nonsense. So, if there are multiple buyers looking to snag the same discounted home, how do you tip the scales in your favor?
One of the most popular (and effective) ways to show a seller that you’re the best one for the property is to draft a homebuyer’s letter. This is a personalized letter to the seller to engage and convince them that you should be awarded the house instead of another buyer. If you’re not William Shakespeare or are not sure what to say, never fear! We have included seven tips guaranteed to help you draft the best homebuyer’s letter and secure that excellent investment. To remember these tips, all you have to do is follow the alphabet:
A. Always Stay Upbeat
No matter what you do, remember to stay positive throughout your entire letter. No one will want to sell a home to someone who is brooding over the competition or lamenting over lost offers from the past. If you appear negative or desperate for any reason, you will definitely make your seller uncomfortable. Focus on topics which are upbeat, such as what you can offer to the home and how happy you were when you finally found it. Positivity can go a long way in your homebuyer’s letter.
B. Brevity is Brilliant
Keep your homebuyer’s letter short – nobody wants to have to pour through an homage to Tolstoy’s War and Peace. A short, sweet and to-the-point message goes much farther, especially in this day and age of instant gratification. You don’t want the seller to feel like their life is buffering while they’re reading your letter. Narrow down the letter to one single page and focus on two or three reasons why you’re the best buyer for the home. The seller doesn’t need to know your life story – they just need to know exactly why it’s in their best interest to choose you.
C. Come to a Connection
When writing the letter, it’s very important to find and focus on what you have in common with the seller. This goes along with the ‘Always Stay Upbeat’ tip – when someone feels like they are bonded to someone else, it adds an automatic feeling of positivity. The goal is to help the seller identify with you. Pay close attention to all of the details of the house as the real estate agent shows it to you and see if there are any hidden clues as to common interests. If you spy a mounted fish on a wall in one room and a Yankees ball cap hanging from a bed post in another, you can start off your letter with an introduction including your passion for fishing and major league baseball.
D. Don’t Overshare
Just as important as sharing what you have in common, it’s very important that you remember not to overshare. This goes along with steering clear of negativity in your letter. Even though you’re most likely planning on changing absolutely everything about the house in your rehab, don’t share this information. The last thing a seller wants to hear is that they have terrible taste in paint and wallpaper and how it’s all coming down once you take possession. Odds are, the seller will still have somewhat of an emotional attachment to the house they lived in for many years – be aware of this and keep your rehab plans to yourself. Let the seller know how much you appreciate the house as it is now.
E. Express Emotion
If you took a writing course in high school or college, you may recall your professor teaching you the art of “show, don’t tell” in your writing. The idea here is you want to be able to show your positive emotions in your letter. Don’t be afraid to show your attachment to the home – the seller will want to know how invested you are in this property to ensure they’re putting their home for sale in capable and caring hands. Instead of writing, “Your property is in a great area and is just what we’ve been looking for,” try “Seeing this beautiful home brought back happy memories of growing up for me – it is absolutely ideal.”
F. Finish Strong
It is essential to keep in mind the form of the letter as you write it. Make sure it includes a solid, brief introduction, a body paragraph where you cover the main points as to why they should sell you the house and a strong finish which reinforces those points. Finish your letter with a short paragraph which also thanks the seller for their time and expresses your appreciation of this opportunity to write an offer. Be sure to sign off with a greeting that is more warm and less business-like. A closer such as “Thank you for your time,” as opposed to “Best regards” is much more effective and personal.
G. Get to Proofreading
One of the greatest indicators of your serious intention to purchase the house is whether or not you took the time to proofread your own letter. If your letter is fraught with spelling, grammar and punctuation errors, the seller is less likely to take you seriously. Assume that your seller is a bona fide member of the grammar police and pay close attention to sneaky mistakes that spell check may have trouble catching, such as they’re/their/there and it’s/its. Approach this homebuyer’s letter with the same attention to detail as you would a cover letter for a job opportunity. A well-written letter free and clear of any mistakes shows that you care about making a good impression.
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