The only thing that would make me suspicious is her offer over your asking. It is not as it there was a bidding war, your house was on MLS for a while before and just reentered the market. I as a buyer, and I think most buyers, would not be offering over the asking price at this point.

I don't know about that Rose. When we put our last home on the market, we received a bid that very first evening that was over the asking price and all cash. Our house was definitely priced well for the area, and definitely not too low. This couple just wanted it badly enough that they wanted to seal the deal and avoid a possible bidding war, as it had just been put on the market that same day. We were more than happy to accept . . . and very happy to avoid the hassles of more daily showings.

i don't know-- i would expect to be nickel and dimed with the inspection report, and i don't know what else!

it's not just the letter- offering above the asking price for a house just listed after one showing after it had already been listed for several months previously is just so unusual! and so different from anything i have ever experienced!

but, i tend to be a little cynical and she probably is just a sweet lady who really loves your house! :)

LOL, well I hope you're right with that last comment, busybee - and I tend to think you are. I have a great feeling about all of this. :-)

We are continuing to receive showing notifications on the house. Have had several more agents bringing folks to see it today. When it went back on the market yesterday it was priced lower than before, and it's now at a very competitive price. I suspect that's why the offer was over and above.

That's so sweet. Here in the hot market of Austin it is regular practice for buyers to write letters to sellers.

I've never heard of letters to/from the other party. But I do understand your feeling that she is the right one for your house. A few years ago, my sister and I had to go to back to our hometown for a visit. We drove past what had been our grandparent's house, which they built in 1930 and kept in the family until 1993. On a whim, we stopped. The man of the house was home, and after we explained who we were, he graciously showed us around. They had done some minor updating, but even after 20 years, that house was still like we remembered as kids.

He let us go upstairs, although he said his wife would have killed him because it was a mess. There was even a squeek in the floor that I remembered from childhood! They had replaced some of the bathroom tile and fixtures, but it looked almost exactly as we remembered. He showed us pictures of his small grandkids, and we were touched that another generation of grandkids was going to grow up in that house.

If the home is priced lower than it was and is very competitive, her agent can pull up all of that and be discussing it with her in writing up the offer. Se probably anticipated the interest you are seeing and wanted to get in first.

The house were live in now had been on the market and vacant about six months before we saw it (and we lived less than a mile away). The day we decided to make an offer the price was reduced to $1000 under what we decided to offer. While it was tempting to offer less, we got indication that another buyer was serious enough to be looking at the house with a contractor. We wanted to get in before their contractor drew up any bids and avoid a bidding war. We went in at the target price of $1000 over that afternoon to make sure we got the house. And we did. We consider that $1000 well spent.

(((((Hugs)))), nhbaskets.

How absolutely sweet! I did send the little old lady, that previously owned our home, photos of her flowers, bushes and trees blooming in the Spring. She loved gardening, and I hope that warmed her heart knowing we loved her house as much as she did.

We only owned one home before this one. It was modest but our kids grew up there, we put our hearts into making it nice, and it was hard to leave. We never had to put a For Sale sign out. As soon as we hired a realtor who came out to help set a price we phoned our next door neighbors (of 20 yrs) to let them know it was going on the market. The next day the wife called to say that the parents of one of her daughter's friends were thinking of moving and had expressed how much they liked our neighborhood. They came that weekend to view the house and offered us full price for it. One showing, full price, no hitches.

Fast forward 14 yrs.... This past summer DD sees some pictures on her Facebook newsfeed that look very familiar. They were posted by one of her elementary school teachers who is a FB friend. It is a gathering of people in a pool setting and it's our old pool and backyard! Then there's one in our sunroom! And another in our former LR with a dog in it that looks just like our dog Riley! The teacher is obviously friends with the owners. We felt like time travelers seeing our old home again. It was lovingly maintained and clearly being enjoyed.

A couple weeks after, DD recognizes the homeowner ahead of her in the checkout line at Trader Joe's a few towns away. She introduces herself and the woman greets her with a big hug. She tells her how happy they are in the home and that their only regret was that their girls hadn't spent their entire childhoods there.

Sometimes these things really are what they seem. I am hoping, Jen, that this is one of those times ;)

How nice! It probably helps that others have met her, and the appreciation for your house seems genuine.

On the other hand, when we put in an offer for our house, our agent said she would write a letter for us. We didn't even discuss it beyond that. The owner so very much hated landscaping and garden maintenance that he concreted the entire back yard with a 5-7" thick slab. We are landscapers and love gardening; we purchased the place knowing we would have to demolish and remove that concrete. Ugh! What a challenging job!

I haven't a clue what our agent actually wrote about. :D

Yes, we had a letter from a buyer telling us how much they loved our house and waxing eloquent about every attribute. We sold the house to them but the letter did not figure into our decision. It was a couple, and the lady wanted to buy all our furniture so the house would look exactly the same. We didn't sell the furniture. How could they have gotten into their mid forties without any furniture they liked?

I haven't done this when buying a house (which I've only done once), but I've done it a couple of times when renting. I've had conversations with a landlord *before* being shown the house. I never offered more or less than the asking price, but I told them enough about our family so that when the meeting came I knew we already had a leg up. It's not so much that we were extraordinary people, but I tried to make a connection, esp. about our being responsible and taking care of the property. I know it made the difference in several instances.

I'm with busybee on this one, being a bit of a cynic too. I realize that many women are strongly emotional and would be smitten with the idea of baking cookies in your charming 1940s oven. She may have genuine deep feelings for your house. If I'd gotten a letter like that after the sale, I'd have been delighted. But I would resent getting a letter like that before the deal. It smacks of manipulation; at the least, it's skewing what needs to be a business deal into something more personal. I'd have saved the letter and read it after the sale, if the sale goes through. Then I could be happy knowing that the home went to the right buyer.

I appreciate all of your thoughts. I disagree with the cynics, and am not going to let those comments color what is otherwise a very happy and exciting time for all of us engaged in this transaction. There are some genuinely sweet and enthusiastic people out there, and I consider it a blessing to encounter them, no matter where or when.

No one is trying to ruin this happy and exciting time for you TR, we all certainly hope the deal will go through and everyone is happy, especially you. Some of us just have had more buying and selling experience and know what can happen.

I actually wrote a letter myself to the previous owner thanking them for leaving the house and grounds in such impeccable order. It mattered to me.

We are looking to buy a second home in Seattle for our son and his family to live in. There is a huge shortage of houses and it is very competitive. We have been advised that a letter is 100% expected and is a big factor in whether or not an offer is accepted. In our case we've been told that we (buyers) should write a letter and our son (tenants) should also write one. Our realtor said most people write about themselves/family/career, why they love the house and neighborhood and include a photo. I think it's really weird and could easily be used to discriminate, especially when there is a photo included. I personally cannot imagine going through a huge pile of letters from people who are begging to buy my house.

It's really interesting hearing experiences from various areas. I'm not far from TR, and our area of Tx is not known for bidding wars, needing letters, etc, at all. We have a pretty large inventory of homes for sale, at all price points, the majority of time. It's fairly easy to find what you want here, and at a good price .... but still, sometimes you just find that one house that feels absolutely perfect in all respects, and stands above the others.

That's why I think the letter and offer is sincere and emotion-driven, in this case.

Some of us just have had more buying and selling experience and know what can happen.

I'm not a novice at this. I've bought and sold a number of houses. :-)

I'm also not saying that anyone is trying to "ruin" my experience. Just saying I disagree with their point of view and am not internalizing it.

Some of the stories here are so very sweet, and I appreciate the sharing. Buying and selling homes is certainly a business transaction, but to dismiss it as solely such and not recognize the emotional component is, to me, not realizing the full picture.

yes, if a new house just went up on the market in a very 'hot' area and the realtor feared losing a client's 'ideal' house- that is something totally different!

the fact that that isn't the case is what would make me a little suspicious. a busy 1st week or 2 of showings is pretty common for new houses on the market, from my experience... a savvy realtor would be advising her client appropriately- usually they work to get their clients a good house for a fair price and consult with their client on the offer... from what you told us, i wouldn't expect a realtor advising to submit an above asking price offer.

not in any way trying to dampen your mood!! but, us cynics are usually a little cynical for a reason, that's all! just trying to help you see the situation from other possible views. i think being wary and then confirming that the potential buyer is just a generous woman is a much better way to approach things than assuming the very best and finding out things weren't as rosy as i had hoped... not at all trying to dampen your mood!!

busybee, I haven't told you everything though. We did have a woman looking at the house at the same time as our buyer who drove here from out of town and had cash. That may very well have made all the difference to our buyer. I didn't feel it was necessary to provide every little pertinent detail as to why the buyer offered above asking.

I'm just not understanding what the cynics think could be "wrong" with the fact that the buyer is genuinely excited. She is closing on the sale of her old home. She has a partial cash down payment. She is preapproved by her lender. It never occurred to me that some of you would start "second guessing" this situation.

I didn't start this thread with an eye to having others try to tell me that something is wrong and I wasn't asking for opinions on what could possibly be wrong, and while I do appreciate the input because I believe you mean well, part of me is starting to wish I'd never posted about this in the first place because it feels like it's going off the rails. I'm not going to argue further, though - having stated my case sufficiently. Anyway - I already have an agent looking out for my back. ;-)

I wanted to hear from others who had received letters along with their offers, and I'm glad that there were stories shared in that regard.

Sometimes the stars align. Hopefully that’s what’s going on here.

When we put my mom’s house on the market we were prepared to see it sit there for a long time. Her neighborhood had deteriorated; hers was one of the few nice homes still remaining. Since it was my sister, dh & I buying her a new home we weren’t that concerned that selling might take a while. We were shocked when an offer came in almost immediately. Couldn’t ask my mom at 82 to move to an apartment temporarily while her new home was being built. Again we were shocked when arrangements were made to delay closing and allow her to live there for another 6 months.

Hope the inspection goes well and closing soon follows.

again, i try to be helpful and i like to look at things from different points of view -- if a friend told me this story and asked what my experience has been or if i experienced the same thing, i would respond the same way! there is so much fraud of all sorts out there that i tend to be wary. i didn't view what i said as argumentative at all, so sorry! :(

No worries, busybee. Thank you.

Our area is very much a seller's market. We sold a couple of years ago and the only offers without letters were cash offers; our realtor said that was pretty typical. Our realtor discouraged reading any of the letters or looking at family photos as "it can make things complicated that don't need to be." She had seen situations where a sentimental seller did not take the "best on paper" offer in favor of a buyer who promised to not tear down the house, take down a certain tree -- and then a year later the house is demolished, the tree is gone, etc. She also knew of a potential buyer who took a family photo with the neighbor's dog. Yikes.

In TurquoiseRose's case, though, it sounds like the buyer is just very enthusiastic -- best wishes for a smooth sale!

"Buying and selling homes is certainly a business transaction, but to
dismiss it as solely such and not recognize the emotional component is,
to me, not realizing the full picture."

Yes, there is a strong emotional component to it, especially if you've put your heart & soul into fixing up a house and if many, many strong family memories lie therein. That's why I'd rather not have an emotional letter from a potential buyer adding fuel to the fire. I'm just explaining my perspective, TurquoiseRose -- apologies if I rubbed you the wrong way! DH is a commodities trader, and I used to be one too ages ago, so when it comes time to buy or sell a house, we put our business hats on and set aside the feelings until later.

I can remember having sold our first house in 1988, being focused on moving cross country, getting the kids settled, dealing with last minute cleaning so the house was immaculate for the new owner -- and when the moving van pulled away, I broke down in sobs.

I've only sold 2 homes, but have never received a letter. In both cases, though, the offer came through with the buyer's agent's description of them where they emphasized their similarities to us. "Buyer is new to town and in your same profession and loves the proximity to work and the park", "Buyers are transfers from out of state with young children who just love the neighborhood and style of the house".

When we were bidding above asking on our current home we didn't write a letter, no idea if our real estate agent did on our behalf or not.

A lot of people have an emotional attachment to their homes that goes beyond a business transaction, though I do envy those who are better at separating it than I am. It's nice to think of your place being loved and appreciated. I would have a lot of trouble selling my house if I knew it was going to be substantially reworked away from where I liked it.

That said, TR's buyer's letter does sound a little OTT, which is I think why people think it's odd, but maybe she is just that enthusiastic.

I never received a letter but did receive a phone call from the people I sold my and my late Dh's custom built home to. It was heart wrenching to sell our family home but I was remarrying and I couldn't bear the thought of sharing our home in another marriage.

I listed it and had two offers the same day it was listed. I took the offer that was above my asking price. After the sales transaction was over the new owner called and thanked me profusely for leaving the home immaculate and in such well cared for condition. It was a nice phone call as I was concerned that I hadn't cleaned well enough!

I've never written nor received a letter. However one of my close friends purchased a home from an elderly couple who had lived there for 40 years and had raised 7 children in the house. After settlement my friends stopped by the house to take a few photos and noticed a small piece of paper taped to the stairwell. It was a poem written by one of the daughters. She mentioned some of her favorite memories and wished them much happiness.

I did send a letter to the new homeowners of a house on my street. They had put on an addition, re-styled the exterior, changed all the windows and landscaped. I sent them a note welcoming them to the neighborhood and telling them that their 'new' home was beautifully done, elegant and inviting.

They were so thrilled that they immediately sent me a thank you note.

My parents also received such a letter when they sold our family home last year. It was accompanied by a nice offer, with no challenges in the nitty gritty details of the sale.

Sometimes people are just moved to say something nice. As long as the offer is solid and backed by cash/loan, I don't see where it matters.

That's so sweet Jen! In my last 2 homes i've left a bottle of wine(sweet white), as well as a list of various services/ businesses I frequented in the neighborhood. In the first of the 2 homes, also a beautuful orchid in a small cement planter. I wanted to leave the responsibility of killing it to someone else, so sad.

Sounds like she wants to buy a home, not just a house.

Saw it on HGTV Property Brothers.

Hasn't happened to me -- but I've only moved myself twice. As far as I know, my parents never had that happen either, but it sounds neat.

That is so nice! I hope the whole process goes smoothly for you and her.

When we were looking at this house (just moved here in Nov), the realtor told us that the sellers only hoped someone would love the house as much as they did. They'd been here for almost 30 years, I think. I wanted to tell them that I would!! The family room has knotty pine paneling and I FELL IN LOVE the second I saw it. I couldn't wait to get into that room with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket. I wanted them to know that. :)

But, I didn't tell them. The transaction was very, very sour almost from the start (their doing) and I couldn't wait for it all to be over so that I could get in here and enjoy that room. I feel badly that they don't know that I love this house and will take good care of it... Maybe if I'd written a letter, they might have been a little easier to deal with?

No, pippiep, if you'd written a love letter, the sour sellers might have seen you as a as nice fat fish on a hook to reel in. IMExperience, you're better off not appearing too eager. The chance of walking away from the deal works to the buyer's advantage too.

My friend's daughter received a letter from a young couple saying how much they loved the home she was selling, how they would raise a family there, and so on. Friend's daughter sold to the highest bidder and never looked back! The high bidder was a contractor who knocked the house down and built a larger home. The daughter moved across country and never gave a hoot about who owned the house or what became of it. She was glad for the money in her pocket, not someone else's dream of living in her old house. Smart move.

dedtired, I understand what you're saying about keeping emotions out of financial decisions. But I believe the two don't have to be mutually exclusive.

When my Mom passed it was hard for my Dad to live in the home they'd shared for 30 years. He had an opportunity to move to a brand new apartment constructed specifically for seniors with all the amenities he needed, but he had to take it when offered because there was a wait list. He could not afford to keep the old home and we had to sell it pronto. We emptied and cleaned and priced to sell. When a reasonable offer was received it was sold without thinking much about the buyer. That was a situation that called for pragmatism.

In other cases, though, when the need for a sale isn't urgent and the seller has options about who will live in a home that meant a lot to them, I don't see the harm in taking into account who the next person/family living there will be.

You're so right, amck2. There's something to be said for top dollar but I don't believe that's always the strongest indicator for everyone in every situation. It will actually mean something to me to know that the person who lives in my old house cherishes it. There is value in that. To me.

Like you, we've written to a seller. But never received. Usually the communication is so tricky because the buyers often want to change what the seller so lovingly did.

But an offer above asking plus a letter! When do you go to contract? Heartiest congratulations.

We are under contract, the inspection is complete, and we are scheduled to close in 30 days or less. We are thrilled and thank you so much for the kind words!

Congrats!

So happy for you AND for your former home that someone who loves it will be living there.

We have been advised that a letter is 100% expected and is a big factor in whether or not an offer is accepted. In our case we've been told that we (buyers) should write a letter and our son (tenants) should also write one...........I think it's really weird and could easily be used to discriminate, especially when there is a photo included. I personally cannot imagine going through a huge pile of letters from people who are begging to buy my house.

Melis, I agree that photos could easily be used to discriminate! The housing market must be completely out of kilter in Seattle if such shenanigans are the norm. It sounds like the kind of thing some people would publish on facebook, iykwim.

Best of both worlds when the high bid comes from the most desirable buyer. I'd definitely give up a small amount to sell to someone who would be the best fit for my home and neighborhood. I would just hope they don't turn around, sell it and make the profit that I gave up! The houses on my street are close together and we are always grateful for a good neighbor. We do have a couple rotten apples.

So glad to see you're under contract TR, hopefully closing will go smoothly and you'll have the relief that not only did the house sell, but to someone so appreciative of it.

When we were looking for a house and viewed the one we purchased, the original owners were here, an elderly couple who bought it when the subdivision was just built. It was '09 and a buyer's market mostly (Texas didn't have the huge highs and lows other regions did but still, this was a nice house that had been on the market for 6 months or so).

They were selling to move into assisted care living as the elderly gentlemen had several medical problems, they showed us around the place, introduced us to 'Christine' the water fountain out back that "was staying", my hub liked them as much as the house, we made an offer very close to asking and they accepted.

We talked on the phone several times, came over twice, for inspection and then to hash out when they were moving (they didn't want to leave before closing), other details of the house they wanted us to know, everything very friendly. The Mrs. had given me her e-mail address so we could stay in touch, I did sent her an email after we'd gotten moved in, no reply, I called her cell, no call back. Then problems with the house started occurring (rapidly), the sanitary line needed replacing, doors started sticking and the foundation needed levelling, the whole back fence line that looked perfectly fine until you put your hand on it and it bent backwards needed replacing, the first two years here were an endless series of expensive things that had to be done.

We bought it as a forever house and it likely will be, we've sunk so much money into it it probably has to be. lol

I'm getting ready to paint my computer room a rosy coral, nothing bad has happened in maybe a year so I feel like celebrating. :)

P.S. I did forget that we have to have a good-amount of electrical work done, it seems the panel was never labelled so when we had that done a couple months ago it was discovered there are way too many circuits on each breaker (and far too few breakers) but we're waiting until we find a good electrician as the one who did the indexing broke one of the breakers and had to rewire two outlets to get them working again. The fun just never ends. ha ha

I knew it would sell :-)