‘Dear seller: We are the best family for your home’

Should you sit down and write the seller a letter?

In a housing market characterized by a short supply of properties and by bidding wars, some buyers are hoping to get a competitive edge by writing sellers short notes about why they are so right for home and want to become its new owners.

It can’t hurt. Agents say a personal letter adds a human element and sellers usual prefer a buyer who will truly enjoy the home.

Although finding the right buyer can make people feel better about selling their home, experts say these letters will do little to help a buyer’s case if the offer is significantly lower than competing bids.

Foreclosures and short sales are quite different. Lenders care little about such letters and only want the highest price and earliest closing possible.