When offers are close in price (they often are), factors other than price make a difference.
Don’t ignore the most important rule
The most important rule is, “make it easy for a seller to say yes.”
Sellers are people too. We take the time to ask about their needs, listen to their answers, and try to write an offer that helps them.
If we make it easy for a seller to say yes, it is far more likely that they will.
Sellers have problems we can solve.
By checking the confidential remarks in the listing and calling the agent to ask about the seller’s plans, we often find valuable clues for how to write a much more acceptable offer.
It is not just about price. When we show them we care, sellers tend to respond in a personable way.
Remove the seller’s pain point
We once made an offer to a seller who needed to quickly move back east. The home was a mess.
When we realized this was the seller’s pain point, we offered to take the home in any condition.
Our buyer won the deal. He had to make a dump run, but ended up with a garage full of gardening tools, a window AC and some patio furniture.
By focusing on the seller’s needs, we created a better deal for everyone.
The step you can’t ignore
Historic home sellers are proud of their homes. They usually prefer to sell their home to someone they trust to care for the home.
We recommend you write a personal letter to the sellers to introduce yourself, talk about what you love about the home and your hopes.
Simple as it is, a letter is one of the easiest things you can do to make yourself stand out to the seller.
How we present an offer to build the seller’s confidence
It is critical the seller trusts you. Once we have your letter to the sellers, we add other things to your offer.
- We always include a pre-approval from your lender, demonstrating you are qualified.
- We attach your proof of funds, demonstrating you have the money to close.
- We ask the lender to personally call the listing agent to reaffirm that you are qualified and able to make the purchase.
How to get the seller’s agent on our side
Everyone loves a good story.
In addition to your personal letter to the sellers, we always reach out to the listing agent and tell them specifically why you want this home.
The listing agent wants to feel confident in the buyer, and the seller will often ask for advice.
Having a story about you helps the listing agent recommend you.
Get the Road Map
We have created a Buyer Road Map Infographic to help you get a sense of the home-buying journey.
This step-by-step infographic takes you through the process of finding a home, financing, and making an offer.
Start with “Just Looking” and follow the roadmap to the seller accepting your offer.
Print out this infographic to see exactly what to do and when to do it at a single glance.
Action steps
Compare the homes you like. Download this simple organizer.
Be the first to know what’s happening in the market. Subscribe to Market Watch.
How much money do you need? Download this worksheet.
