Personal Note with the Offer: Good Idea?

When making an offer on a property, many agents ask their clients to write a personal note to the seller in an attempt to sway the seller to accept the offer as presented. Does this actually work, and is it a good idea? The answer, like much in life, is “it depends”. I only advise clients to include a personal note with an offer when there are clear signals that the seller may be emotionally influenced. The personal note is a two way street, though, and if you mention something that doesn’t agree with the seller, it can backfire. So proceed with caution, and keep the note short and sweet. When in doubt, write about the house instead of yourself. Below are two common scenarios one might encounter when buying a house. In the first scenario where a builder is the seller, a note is not recommended. In the second scenario where a property owner has lovingly maintained the home, a carefully crafted personal note may be appropriate.

Builders = No Note.

Show the depth of your commitment in the contract, not a personal note. I work with lots of builders, and I can tell you that they don’t typically have a strong, emotional attachment to the house they just built or renovated. For them, it’s a business with profit margins. They don’t care whether you have kids, coach soccer, love the outdoors, or volunteer at a homeless shelter in your spare time. The builders spent their limited time and hard-earned money renovating or building a house, and they probably don’t have any fond memories of it. If anything, the personal note hurts the offer because it clouds what matters most to the builders – profit. If I have clients making an offer on a builder-owned house, I almost always advise them to refrain from including a personal note. The builder wants to see a motivated and committed buyer in the CONTRACT, not a love letter.

Lovingly Maintained = Personal Note.

Keep the note about the house, not yourself. When a property has certain features that the seller has obviously devoted a lot of time and effort towards, a personal note showing your appreciation might be a good idea. The mature and pristine rose garden or the preserved and immaculately maintained woodwork may signal that the seller will be emotionally influenced by a personal note. In these instances, a note of appreciation for the dedication and effort in lovingly maintaining something may pull on the heart strings of the owner. I still argue that a strong contract offer is paramount, but the note might help, and in certain circumstances, may even make the chips fall in your favor.

What sort of note should be avoided in this circumstance? I strongly urge clients to keep personal notes neutral and focus on the house, not themselves. Err on the side of blandness, and if anything, be appreciative. The sellers are people with their own opinions, beliefs, and political leanings, so avoid these topics entirely. Seemingly general information about places of employment, weekend activities, or future plans might accidentally give information to the seller that is negative. Even if it shouldn’t matter, it sometimes does. If you want to volunteer personal information, do so only after the deed is signed at settlement. In conclusion, writing a personal note to the seller when submitting an offer can be beneficial, IF you do it right. Understanding who the seller is and what sort of note is appropriate given the circumstances is essential to deciding whether to write a personal note. At Lawyers Realty Group, we pride ourselves on understanding these important nuances. So let us guide you through the home buying process, and when you’re ready…Buy Smart. Live Well.