Back in 2005-2006, when we were experiencing a rapid increase in home prices (not value, just prices), a purchase offer was usually accompanied with an letter from the buyer's agent and sometimes even the buyer.
Usually, these letters were pretty sappy. They went on and on about how little Bobby would just LOVE the back yard, and how they would take care of the flower bed.
Some purchase offers were delivered with a bottle of wine. Some with flowers. I even saw one delivered with the results of an ultrasound. There was a baby on the way! How could you NOT sell us this house??
Those days are long gone, but I still believe in personalizing the purchase offer just a little bit. If you don't tell the seller something about your buyers, they will always be just a name on a contract. Typed letters in black ink.
When I e-mailed a purchase offer along with a photocopy of the earnest money deposit, buyer's inspection advisory and pre-approval letter, I added a little summary about my clients. I made them real people.
We ended up in a multiple counter offer situation. After signing the counter offer and crossing our fingers, the listing agent called to tell me our offer was accepted. Evidently, the offers were really close, a "toss up" he said. But ... he thought what tipped the scale was the knowledge that my client is a firefighter.
Unbeknownst to us, the seller's late husband had been a firefighter in San Francisco!
Personalizing the purchase offer ... a little bit can go a long way!
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