Love Letters

There was a time I suggested buyers to write love letters if the situation arose. In fact, one client of mine got a screaming deal on a house in Scottsdale with such letter. But now, I've had  a change of heart.

In my industry, a "love letter," is a letter from the buyer to the seller telling the seller why the buyer just loves the home. In a super-competitive market, letting the seller know something personal about the buyer might be a nice edge to beat out the other five offers. In a not-so super competitive market, letting the seller know something personal about the buyer might score the buyer a lower price.

Love Letters go something like this: 

"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Seller, we are a family of four, lovely people who have done all these things to make the dream of owning home a reality. Your home is everything we ever wanted. A bit about ourselves. Howard, who has retired from the military, has found the cure for brain cancer. Mary stays at home and raises our twin daughters Prudence and Temperance. In her spare time Mary grows herbs and volunteers at the local woman's shelter. Your home is perfect for us because the back yard will make a beautiful garden and the woman's shelter is within a mile of Prudence and Temperance's school. We grew up in this neighborhood and want to be close to our family, as our parents are in their 90s and need our care. We love your red wallpaper and green carpet and would keep it just this way in your honor and because Christmas is our favorite holiday. If you see fit, Mr. and Mrs. Seller, please consider our offer over the other ones. We will treat this home with tender loving care and cherish it for the rest of our lives. Thank you, The Buyers." 

I don't let buyers provide love letters to my sellers any more. It is a dangerous practice in this woke and triggered day and age. Fair housing violations come from the hurt feelings of the soon to be homeless who lost out to 12 other offers (examples: the buyer wrote a letter and the seller allegedly discriminated when they found out the buyer was a minority... the sellers allegedly discriminated because they didn't like the church the buyer mentioned... the sellers allegedly discriminated because the buyer's family was too big, and the list goes on). 

On my last two listings I specifically told my sellers not to allow for this practice. So, until we can all get along and play nice with others, it is probably best we stop the love letter practice and just stick within the confines of the contract.