How To Write The Best Cover Letter For Your Offer

Should You Write A Cover Letter For Your Offer?

You’ve found the perfect home and now ready to write an offer. Simple, right? Wrong. For seasoned pros like Joe Parker and Garrett McCaw, writing an offer the home sellers are likely to accept demands careful attention to detail as well as information gathered while viewing the home or talking to the listing agent.

Some think the key to getting an offer accepted is the price. Although the price is a leading factor, it is not the only one. Often, the home seller has an attachment to their home and area. For many, they feel it important the new homeowners fit into the neighborhood. Some have even been approached by their nearby friends to make sure they sell the home to a “nice” person or couple.

By writing an engaging and personal cover letter, you give the seller more and often important information to help them to make the choice they really want.

7 Steps For Writing The Best Cover Letter For Your Offer

1: Make it Personal, Engaging and Authentic. The overall tone of your letter is important. Overdone catchphrases and flowery language will, in most cases, turn off the reader. Heartfelt words are most likely to win them over. Make sure you use their names as you begin your story of wanting this particular home.

2: What do you most like about the home and neighborhood? In your letter speak to the things that you like about both the home and area. Maybe they added something special to the place or their attention to maintenance or landscaping. If appropriate, let them know you recognize the love they’ve put into the place.

3: What about you makes you the right person for the home? Remember, they the home seller wants the right price and the right people to buy their place. Perhaps you saw some personal items in the home that can become a point of commonality. Perhaps the schools are important to you and your kids. Maybe the yard or kitchen is perfect for your family and needs.

4: A family picture is another way to personalize the letter. If they have a family dog or cat and you do too, they could be an additional point of interest a picture helps tell.

5: Think about things that seem important to you and them based on what you noticed while looking at the home. Do you like gardening and they seem to too? Do any pictures around the house give you insights into common interests?

6: Don’t write a book. Although we’ve mentioned several thoughts about what to include, keep it short, sweet and to the point. Three or four short paragraphs should be enough to tell your story.

7: Close the letter with a statement about wanting the home, thanking them for the opportunity to live in such an ideal place and for them allowing you to visit the place. Let them know you are ready to give the home and neighborhood years of love. Make sure and proof the letter for spelling and grammar errors. A great tool is an online checker called Grammarly.

Should You Write A Cover Letter For Your Offer – Conclusions

Although a cover letter doesn’t guarantee you getting the home, it certainly helps. Likely, most other offers will not include a cover letter; thus your extra bit of effort may be just the thing to sway the home seller in your direction.

Please know, Garrett McCaw or Joe Parker of the Santa Barbara Group will be there to help you every step of the way, including helping you write a great cover letter for your offer.

How To Write A Winning Cover Letter For Your Offer

A Short Video by Joe Parker