With so much in the news about the real estate market, we’re hearing from you, our smart and savvy California Listings readers, that there are some big questions that remain. So, we’re turning to our neighborhood agent partners to answer your burning real estate questions in our recurring feature—Ask The Expert!
This week, Hollywood expert Sean Galligan offers his take on making your offer standout in today’s competitive market:
Do “love letters” really work? If so, any tips on writing one that lands? With inventory so low and competition so high, how do I make an offer stand out beyond throwing more money at it?
In today’s fiercely competitive real estate market, buyers need to leverage every tool in their arsenal to get an offer accepted. “Love letters” are a controversial topic in real estate, but as long as they remain legal in California, I will continue to have my buyers write them. A good love letter will highlight what makes the home special to the buyer, how dedicated they are to making it theirs, and will convey personal gratitude for being considered. As the purpose is to add an element of emotion to the words and number on the offer pages, the more it comes from the heart, the more effective it will be.
Quite honestly, equal to the bottom line, most often buyers and sellers want a collaborative and feel-good selling/buying experience. It’s an emotional process and most sellers want to know their home will be taken care of when they’re gone. Beyond the persuasions of their realtor, a love letter is a chance for a buyer to convey directly to the seller that nothing will get in the way of them closing the deal. If all things are equal between two offers, nine times out of ten a buyer who took the time to extend a personal sentiment is more likely to prevail.
To connect with Sean Galligan, click here.