Local Agent Says Personal Note from Prospective Buyer Made the Sale

A Real Estate ‘Love Letter’

Residential real estate transactions are among the most emotionally charged purchases one can make. For many, the notion of a dwelling being a home, rather than just a house, is a very powerful concept.

According to real estate agent Courtney Roberts of Ketcham Realty Group Inc., prospective buyers shouldn’t shy away from the ethos of the situation. In recent years, Roberts and her colleagues have encouraged buyers to write a letter of introduction to the property’s current owner, explaining why they fell in love with the house and how they intend to make it their home. Due to the sentimental nature of this technique, Roberts and the rest of the Ketcham crew have affectionately dubbed it the “love letter”. 

And, apparently, it has a pretty high success rate. 

“I’ve been sitting at a closing table with my buyers, and the sellers have told me that ‘we took your offer and it was $5,000 or $2,000 less than somebody else because of your letter and because there was that emotional appeal,’” explained Roberts. 

Over the summer, one of Roberts’ sellers received such a letter and they, too, were struck by the author’s words. 

Originally listed on May 24, the property on Cameron Chase Drive met with early interest, but the sellers were reluctant to give up their longtime residence for $215,000 — a price point $14,000 below their original asking price of $229,000. By late July, the owners of this 2004-built home were prepared to negotiate. 

For the buyer’s part, she was eager to move closer to her loved ones, Roberts said. In her letter, the buyer wrote that what attracted her to the listing was the safe neighborhood, open living plan, the cleanliness of the home and its move-in-ready interior. 

“[The sellers] wanted the person within the letter to be in their house,” said Roberts.

Quick Look

Address: 3379 Cameron Chase Drive
Listed: $225,000
Sold For: $214,000
Square Feet: 1,740
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2