Mr and Mrs Retrowire are about to enter a BIDDING WAR

[retrowire]

We’re making an offer on a house tonight…. What WILL HAPPEN?

Any advice to make the offer more appealing? Do they like baskets of fruit!!?!?

We're writing a letter to the seller, what should we write?

[trueblue2007]

1. OFFER them money and 80 pounds of good chocolate,

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear retrowire!

First, Good Luck!

Secondly, in your letter, tell them why they should sell their house to you! Make your case. Talk it up, but of course, be sincere!

[retrowire]

3. Should it be handwritten or emailed?

It's hard to tell these days, my wife has rewritten the letter 3 times because she doesn't like her handwriting. lol

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I would use a word processor, and then print it out.

Hand sign, and then snail mail.

It looks better that way, than emailing.

[mopinko]

5. is there time for snail mail?

did you offer more than asking?

[retrowire]

7. no time for snail mail, but we can give the letter to our buyers agent

No, we haven't offered more than asking, but we're considering matching their asking price. We think our competitors are making lower offers as it's priced more than the area average.

[trof]

6. Letter, meh. If you can, include a YUUUGE earnest money check.

Seriously.
Money talks.
Most buyers accompany the offer with a token $1000 check as 'earnest money'.
That money is immediately available to the sellers if they accept the terms of the contract.

Make it $10,000 or more if you can.
If they accept it, they have taken your offer.
Did I mention MONEY TALKS?
Former realtor here.