Roses are red. 

Violets are blue. 

I love your home. 

Let me buy it from you.

Congratulations! You found your dream house. The One. 

There’s just one problem: The market is still hot – and you’re not the only one.

If this were the animal kingdom, you’d fluff your feathers, puff your chest and perform an elaborate dance to distinguish yourself from the rest of the potential suitors. And while that might convince some buyers, unfortunately, a more conservative offer letter would better serve you. 

So barring the inarguably impressive productive value of the Bird of Paradise’s courtship spectacular, here are the do’s and don’ts of writing a seriously compelling offer letter.

Do … 

Be genuine. 

Sure, there are templates you can use for a little guidance to get started but since this is such a personal plea, it’s best to speak from the heart. A little authenticity and heart-felt sentiment go a long way.

Keep it to one page. 

If you’re in the midst of a bidding war, remember that the sellers are, too. Keep your letter concise, writing a single page that focuses on two to three of the most compelling reasons you are the best buyer for the home.

Use names.

Dale Carnegie said, ‘A person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest, most important sound in any language.’ So use it. If you don’t know it, check online or with your real estate agent.

Be positive.

Save the drama – no one wants to hear about how many houses you’ve lost out on. It makes sellers uncomfortable. We’re going for warm-and-fuzzy so it’s important to stay positive. 

Show, don’t tell.

You want the seller to experience your emotions. So instead of generic ‘Your house is so beautiful,’ try, ‘We can already see our three young children playing happily in your pool.’

Be complimentary.

Here, flattery gets you everywhere. But be specific about what you love. From the neighborhood, to how well the seller has kept the home over the years, to the specific slab of granite in the kitchen – be specific and genuine.

Introduce yourself and your family. 

Talk about your careers, how you and your partner met, where you grew up, hobbies, kids, pets – anything that will humanize you and distinguish you from being another letter in the pile. 

Imagine the future. 

Paint a picture of your life in the house. Hosting children’s birthday parties in the backyard, planting a garden, cooking and hosting family holidays and gatherings – get the sellers to emotionally buy-in to you moving in.

Find common ground. 

While touring, find clues of things you have in common with the homeowner. People like to connect so look for something you and the buyer have in common and build on that connection. 

Stand out. 

Letters are so common, so make yours pop with personalized photos, videos and fonts. You might be able to win them over by including a picture of your family and even your pets to help the seller imagine you as the new occupant of their house.

Finish Strong.

Just as important as starting strong is finishing strong. Express genuine interest in buying the home, reiterate specific things you love about the home, and thank the seller for taking the time to consider your offer. 

Proofread it.

Proofread for grammar, spelling and punctuation, paying close attention to sneaky mistakes spell check often overlooks. Their/there/they’re, anyone? A thoughtful, well-written, mistake-free letter shows you care.

Don’t … 

These are decidedly simpler and to-the-point. Gotta keep it ‘positive,’ right?

Don’t use a template. It’s impersonal.

Don’t start with, ‘From the moment we walked in the door …’  It’s tired.

Don’t negotiate. This is personal.

Don’t discuss remodeling. Let the seller picture you enjoying the home exactly as they did.

Don’t gush. You’ll sound insincere.

A thoughtful, genuine offer letter to the seller humanizes your bid. With it, you’re no longer just a number on a piece of paper; you’re someone who loves the home, has a story, and can envision making a new life there. And this letter is your opportunity to show the sellers just that.

While an offer letter isn’t a silver-bullet guarantee that the home is yours, it does give you the best odds of being a top contender – in addition to having the right experience real estate professionals from DeLeon Sheffield Company in your corner.

Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’