It is Spring selling & buying season for South Lake Tahoe real estate so while the market hasn’t fully heated up yet, it is starting to pick up. If you plan on looking at homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe and you want to make an offer on a home that is considered a hot buy, you may find yourself drafting a personal letter to appeal to the sellers. This is a pretty common tactic, especially on South Lake Tahoe homes for sale that have a lot to offer and are priced well. In most scenarios, a personal letter from a hopeful buyer can really make an offer stand out. However, there are things that you should refrain from. The folks at realtor.com were kind enough to put together the most common offenses. Check out the No-Nos below.
1.) Don’t tell them about all the remodeling you can’t wait to do after it is yours. Without outright saying it, you are basically telling the sellers that you hate their taste. Letting them know your big plans for their property can be a huge turn off. They know that you will probably make some changes at some point, but flattery can go a long way here. Even if the home hasn’t been updated since it was built in the 1970’s, flatter them. While the orange counters may be a huge eye sore, let them know you love the layout of the kitchen. The backyard may need some serious landscaping but let them know you can’t wait to roast s’mores in the huge back yard.
2.) Try to stay neutral on holidays and politics. While a serious seller usually doesn’t care about a buyer’s personal beliefs, there are some folks where it can be a deal breaker. Maybe refrain from the “We can’t wait to hold our religious holiday in this home” or “Our passionate *Insert political party* friends will love organizing rallies from the living room”. Unless you know they share your same views, this is a risky move when drafting personal letters on homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe.
3.) Don’t come off as desperate. By telling a seller you would do anything to buy their property, you basically laid out all your cards and they know they have you right where they want you. This can hurt your negotiation power, especially if the seller comes back with a less than desirable counter offer. Keep your cool when trying to appeal to sellers.
4.) Keep the pets out of it when drafting offer letters on South Lake Tahoe homes for sale. While most people are animal friendly, there are some that aren’t. Especially if your pet of choice is a large breed that looks scary (even if it really is a gentle giant) or an exotic animal such as slithery reptiles. While they are moving out, they could skip your offer letter due to the next door neighbor (who they have grown close with) having a severe phobia involving animals.
5.) Keep the demands to a minimum. Acknowledging that you need a quick close or have a lot of contingencies but still want to make it work can be a huge turn off for a few reasons. In a hot market, the seller holds the cards. Which means if homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe are selling fast, sellers can wait until they get an offer that matches the terms they want. For example, less contingencies or a longer close with a short rent back period. This can also draw attention to the negative aspects of your offer which is the opposite reason of why buyers draft offer letters in the first place.
If you are serious about buying homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe, getting creative is a good idea. The offer letter is a great way to do that, while still adding that personal touch. Just make sure what you are saying is just as important as what you are not saying. As always, your South Lake Tahoe Realtor will be able to consult on what to add in, take out and just not say altogether. For more information on buying South Lake Tahoe real estate, feel free to give me a call. I would be happy to help!
Footer
