Tips for Your Letter to Seller
For first-time homebuyers hoping to make a memorable first impression.
Header image taken on the day of the open house in April, 2019.
Photos by friends and family.
The backstory
Nearly a year ago to the date, we saw our first home for the first time. Anyone who witnessed our process would say it was out of the blue. We were happy in the condo we owned. We weren’t looking to buy a house. But once we set our eyes on this house, we were.
In April 2019, people would say it was a seller’s market in the Twin Cities. Homes were known to go in a flash and this one was no different. The house got listed on a Friday. Open houses were on Saturday and Sunday with a call for “highest and best” by the end of the weekend. We’ll spare you the spiral of emotions that ensued as we walked the house and the hours following. All we knew is that we wanted to do everything we could to call it our home. And not surprisingly, come Sunday night, 11 others felt the same way.
Luckily, our friend and realtor Thang M. C. Holt (@home_with_the_holts) guided us every step of the way and gave us the great advice of writing a letter to the sellers. If you’re going through or have gone through the process of buying a home, you know there is so much out of your control. One thing we did have control of was this letter. We wrote it around midnight the night we submitted our offer and to this day believe it made a difference.
5 Tips
1: Keep it short
Buying and selling a house involves a lot of paperwork. Don’t let your letter become something else the sellers have to read. Help them by keeping it to one page and making it memorable.
2: Get personal
Share a bit about yourself and your story. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, a recently-married couple or empty nesters downsizing, give the sellers a glimpse of your life and help them envision how you’ll make it your own home.
3: Don’t be afraid to be playful
Show your personality and shy away from being formal. Think about the last time you received a letter. What made you smile? What did you reread? Making light and writing fun into your letter adds joy to a process that can feel strange and impersonal. Emojis welcome.
4: Be specific
Describe what you love about the house in detail and how it makes you feel. Share what stood out to you when you walked through for the first time.
5: Share a photo or collage
This helps to put a face to the name. Pick photos that complement the stories in your letter and show a variety of moments to paint a picture of your lifestyle.
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