On Real Estate “Love Letters”

I’m not sure this is up your alley, but should I write a real estate love letter when I find my perfect home? Angie

Personal, heartfelt notes written in a tight real estate market, potential buyers compose real estate love letters to homeowners in hopes that their bid is chosen to buy the residence for sale.

Here are excerpts from one I recently helped write with a friend.

Dear homeowner,

Please allow me to explain why your home is the perfect one for me.

I recently lost the love of my life to cancer. Although we lived in several locations across the country, it was our summer trips to Squantum to visit his parents that I remember most. My husband would spend many hours at the Thomas Crane Library across the street from your home searching for mysteries to read at the beach.

Now age 73, I plan to spend the rest of my life in Quincy near his family. I can walk to his sister’s home nearby, but, above all, the view of the beautiful library from your balcony will bring back special memories of my beloved Walter. Thank you for your consideration.

When realtors post online photos and descriptions of homes for sale, this is marketing, plain and simple.  They print out spec sheets to provide details on amenities, costs-per-square foot, neighborhood schools, and much more. Sometimes they splurge for staging and other marketing ploys.

Why should the marketing be only one-sided?  Why shouldn’t potential buyers be able to market themselves as well?

Before my twilight career as an interior decorator, I worked as the director of marketing and communications at a university graduate school.  I would write web content, brochures, and email campaigns to recruit qualified graduate students. In turn, prospective students would submit applications to compete for a limited number of openings trying to convince the admission committee that they would be the best fit for our program.  I see these real estate love letters as no different.

Whether it is a young couple looking for their first house in which to raise a family or a retiree wanting to move closer to family, I think a short self-promotional marketing letter is perfectly acceptable.

Whether the homeowner wants to accept the highest bid or wants the best family to move in is their personal decision and the love letter helps in the selection process.

Barbara Graceffa owns and operates Secretary of the Interior in Quincy, MA offering creative solutions at reasonable rates. Learn more about her services, workshops and quilt lecture, workshops and shows at www.sec-interior.com and enjoy her art quilts on Instagram @secretaryinteriordecorating. You can reach her at 617.921.6033.