Offer Letter for a House – How to Write One and What You Should Know

Sometimes, a buyer’s offer price isn’t the only factor that sellers take into consideration when choosing between offers. Some sellers want to know on a more personal level who is buying their home which is why it’s important for buyers to learn how to write a meaningful offer letter.

Oftentimes, in competitive markets, it helps for buyers to make their offer stand out amongst the rest and one way to do that is to include a letter to the seller along with your offer. Sometimes adding a bit of a personal touch is what a seller is looking for when deciding which offer to accept.

Why do people write offer letters for homes?

People write offer letters for homes for a variety of reasons. Maybe you want to let the seller know your future plans with the home, your emotional attachment, or even your desire to start your future family in the home. A well written offer letter is sometimes exactly what sellers want when choosing the next person to live in their home. Below are some helpful tips on crafting an offer letter.

What needs to be included in the offer letter?

Simply writing an offer letter won’t necessarily do the trick. You’ll want to compliment the seller, convey emotion and let them know how serious you are.

Compliment the home

Compliment the home’s characteristics! Maybe there are really nice wood finishings or a pretty stained glass window. Hype up what you love about the home and what makes it “the one for you.” Many people take pride in their homes and like hearing from people what they like.

Additionally, if there has been a lot of effort put into the home by the seller, include what you love about their work in your offer letter. People like to have their accomplishments recognized and sometimes they want to hear that all of their time, hard work, and money have paid off with regards to any upgrades.

Convey your emotions

People are typically emotionally attached to their homes because it can represent so many things on a personal level. Maybe it’s where they raised their family or it was a couple’s first home they purchased together. Selling a home can instill anxiety for these reasons and more likely than not, they’ll feel better about selling it to someone that expressed a personal connection to the home. Tell the seller why you want to live there, what you love about the home, and how you imagine the future in their home. This can help ease the seller’s anxiety as to what their home’s future looks like with a new person living in it.

Communicate how serious you are about purchasing

One of the biggest causes of anxiety for a seller is whether or not the offer they accept actually makes it to the closing table. No seller wants to have a buyer that isn’t very serious about the transaction that might bail on finalizing the deal. If you are set on making the place you want yours, let the seller know in your offer letter you are willing to do what it takes (obviously, within reason) to purchase the home. Including this sentiment in your offer letter can help the seller feel much more confident that you are a serious buyer. Sometimes a seller would rather choose a more serious buyer that is likely to close over one that is not.

Keep it short

Depending on the level of interest in the property and how many offers a seller needs to review, it can be a long process. Reading through a letter that is too long may actually inhibit your efforts in communicating your interest in the property. That’s why it’s important to keep your letter short and to the point. Additionally, consider adding a picture of you or your family to the letter.

Types of real estate offer letters

In addition to writing an offer letter that conveys your interest in buying a property, there are also conditional offer letters. You would write a conditional offer letter if you wished to purchase a property only when particular conditions are satisfied. For example, a termite inspection, home inspection, or even a tree removal. If all of the conditions are met, then you can proceed with writing a formal offer to the seller.

Sample offer letter

Here is a sample offer letter template that you can use the next time you find yourself needing one.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Date]
[Seller’s Name]
[Seller’s Address]
[Seller’s City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Mr./Mrs.] [Seller’s Name],

Thank you for the opportunity to make an offer on your beautiful home. The second your home popped up on my radar, I knew it was the one! I instantly fell in love with the exposed brick walls, the beautiful fireplace, the location of the property, and the attention to detail throughout the house. After seeing the property in person, I felt like I was at home. My husband and I have had our eyes on your neighborhood for the last year. We love the location because of the opportunity to walk to all our favorite restaurants, shops, and breweries. The close proximity to the interstate is also perfect for us so that we can easily commute to work. I regularly travel the state for work, and have been looking for the perfect place to come home to. 
As someone who has purchased many homes, I have been anxiously waiting for the perfect fit for my lifestyle and personality. The details throughout the house, from the fun artwork accentuating the exposed brick, to the wainscoting in the bedroom are exactly what I am looking for. I am prepared to make you a respectful offer and thank you for your time and consideration. I greatly appreciate the chance to make an offer on your home. 

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]