With the real estate market flaming hot in Ontario and almost every trade going to multiple offers, it is important to make your offer stand out against the rest. If the Seller is a flipper or corporation, it’s likely that they won’t even read the letter (but you never know) and that all that matters is the $$. However, if the Seller has lived in the home it is likely that they have a connection to the house they have made home. In this case a personal letter can go a long way! Here are 6 steps to writing a Personal Letter to accompany your offer:

1. Make your opener as personal as possible: Get out your pen, yes, a pen (you want your letter to be authentic in every way) and a piece of good stationery. Before you get started, think about your tone. A house offer letter should be friendly and heartfelt.  Think creatively about how you address the letter.  You could start the offer letter like:  Dear (Sellers name), owner of the sweet, red brick victorian home with so much charm, 
2. Tell them about yourself: Many sellers like the idea of passing their home on to people who will care for it. A house offer letter is your chance to show the real person behind your offer paperwork. There’s no better way to create a human connection than helping the seller visualize your life. My name is Katy, and my husband Lyle and I have been trying to find a neighbourhood for years, and have fallen in love with yours. We think it’s the perfect place to raise a family. We have 2 kids, Elijah and Logan and are looking for a little more space…
3. Point out the home’s attributes: If the seller has lived in their home for years, odds are, they take pride in it. Even if you think it’s a fixer-upper, talk about the things you love about the house. Because who doesn’t like a compliment? We love to cook and have family over. The kitchen has such great counter space—I can just picture it holding our big Sunday dinner buffet. And I love that you’ve got a refrigerator that doesn’t show fingerprints. That will be a big help with our youngest Elijah and his cousins who always seem to have sticky hands. And, I enjoy gardening. Of course, the first thing we noticed was your beautiful garden full of hydrangeas and hostas. We could tell how carefully you’ve tended to every aspect of your home…
4. Find a connection: When you were viewing the house, did you notice the photos on the wall of children playing lacrosse? The same style of eat-in kitchen as the home you grew up in? Make a connection by mentioning what you saw. I couldn’t help but notice the photo on the fireplace mantle of a young man graduating from McMaster. My dad grew up in Hamilton and went to school there. We spent a lot of time at Cootes Paradise with my grandmother. Go Maraudres! 
5. Close with lots of thanks: This is your closing argument and your last chance to weave in some flattery. Thank them and let them know you’re hoping to hear back from them. Thanks so much for your time and consideration. We would be honoured to live in the house that you’ve made into a beautiful home. We look forward to hearing back from you.
6. Add a family picture: Add a family picture, if you have pets add them too.