Buying your first home is hard – I want to make it easier for you. Crafting a compelling and heart-felt
letter of offer can sometimes be the difference between securing a property and missing out,
especially in a competitive housing market.

What should you include in a letter to help you secure your first home? Here are some tips to help
you stand out to sellers and make a lasting impression.

Appeal to the vendor

Your letter doesn’t necessarily need to present the highest offer. Instead, focus on building a
connection with the seller. Highlight how purchasing their home will help your family, and why you
are the best buyer for their property. Think of this as your chance to sell yourself.

Be personal and heartfelt

You might like to start your letter with a personal touch. If you don’t know the owner’s name, you
can still make a connection with a creative address, such as:

“Dear owners of the sweet, yellow Cape Cod with so much charm…”

Introduce yourself

Be authentic. Briefly tell the seller about yourself and your family. For example:

“My name is Anna, and my husband Jeff and I have been trying to find a house in this
neighbourhood for some time. We both grew up in a similar home and think it’s the perfect place to
raise a family. We’re expecting our second child in November and are looking for a little more
space…”

Paint a picture with your words, if you can.

Highlight the home’s attributes

Point out specific features of the home that you admire and highlight how they fit into your lifestyle:

“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 toddler and her cousins who always seem to have sticky
hands.”

Find a connection

Look for something in common with the seller to build a connection:

“I couldn’t help but notice the photo on the wall of a young man graduating from University of
Canterbury. I studied engineering down there. It’s where I met my wife. Go the Crusaders!”

Explain your offer

Even if your offer is lower than the asking price, explain your situation respectfully:

“Although your home was a bit out of our price range, we had to take a chance on an offer because
it’s everything we want and is in a great neighbourhood for our family. We know you’re asking X, but
we respectfully ask if you would consider Y. It’s the top of our budget range, and our goal is to turn
our dream into a reality without overextending ourselves.”

Close with gratitude

End your letter with a heartfelt thank you:

“Thanks so much for your time and consideration. We would be so honoured to live in the house
that you’ve made into a beautiful home. We look forward to hearing back from you.”

Example Letter

Here’s an example to illustrate these points, but please do write your own. You want to be authentic
and heartfelt.

Dear Seller,

My name is [Name] and my husband and I recently toured your home. The built-in
bookcases and the French doors opening up to the small garden reminded me of a
storybook. Your home is really well cared for. I love it!

Not only is this a wonderful neighbourhood to raise a family, but the house has the perfect
amount of space. I also noticed the big open kitchen; we love to entertain and this is a must-
have feature for us.

We have a mortgage preapproval and would like to offer [XX] to show our commitment to
this beautiful home. If you accept our offer, please know that your home will be well-loved. I
hope we get the opportunity to make memories in this home.

Thank you for considering our offer,

[Name]

By following these simple tips and crafting a thoughtful, personal letter, you can make a strong
impression on the seller and increase your chances of securing your dream home. Anything you can
do to increase your chances of securing the perfect first home is worth a try.

Good luck from Nic’s Mortgage Magic