Buyer’s Love Letters

Mike Buder

Potential buyers in some of the more competitive real estate markets have been writing letters to home sellers for years in an effort to gain an edge over competing offers, many buyers desperate to land a seller’s acceptance have asked their agent to attached these letters to the purchase offer…It’s the perfect house in the right neighborhood, so the competition is stiff, but you’ve absolutely got to have it. You make your bid, sometimes even offering more than the list price because of how insane the real estate market has been the past years, and then you sit down and write a love letter…”We cannot express to you how much we love your home”, says an internet letter writing- primer template that includes tidbits about 20 month old Jimmy, “A wild, fun, curious boy” who’s going to love the backyard”, while family felines Bubba and Mr. Whiskers “will love basking in all the natural light.” This practice has always struck me as creepy – a fawning essay contest in the dream house sweepstakes. Lately, many of these love letters have become disingenuous and are generating their own hate mail. They’re under attack because temptation on the part of buyers to portray themselves as similar to sellers, and likely to perpetuate their values and sensibilities. Some of these love letters have included family photos and even videos. This practice can create a very slippery slope if a seller bases a decision on a bidder’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status or familial status. These letters can reveal information about a buyer that should not be considered by the seller in choosing among any competing offers. A seller’s assumptions about a bidder could run afoul of the law. Applying these assumptions (whether intentional or not) can result in unlawful discrimination. I have seen people put their kids on the playsets in the backyards of properties and then add the photo to their love letter, saying, they’re so looking forward to little Billy or little Sally “enjoying this wonderful backyard”. Some might argue that homeowners who built a playground for their kids have a right to wish that another set of kids will enjoy the amenities. Another buyer could go through a property and notice something on the wall that’s religious and make comments in their letter about it trying to connect with the sellers. These are the things that potentially could turn what should be nothing more than a business transaction into something else. This can also lead to second guessing from losing bidders who demand to know…” Why didn’t you choose me? We offered the same price or more with better terms, and you didn’t choose me?” My advice to buyers who are bidding for a property…nothing works better than to come in “high, quick and clean,” meaning to offer your best price that’s quick on the table, without contingencies that would delay the closing. We living in a multicultural society, and while we, as Realtors, are barred from showing preferences…sellers may not feel the same way and could have hidden agendas…I think buyer letters to the sellers should not be used.

If you are looking to buy or sell real estate call Mike Buder at RE/MAX 10 (708) 418-4444, E-mail: mikebuder@remax.net, Website: www.BuderHomes.com. Facebook Friend request Mike Buder: your comments are always welcome.

Mike Buder

A local Christian Businessman