Our home is ours because of one letter.
Exactly one year ago today my love and I first walked into the house that would become our home. We submitted an offer the same day. However, we were not the only buyers who made an offer.
It was exactly what we were looking for: Land, privacy, space for my love’s automotive and welding projects, and a full heated basement. (If you live in the South you know how challenging it is to find a home with a full basement – let alone a partially finished one!) The other properties around the Triangle we had seen were on decently sized lots, situated in (typical) suburbia, with no dedicated workshop space. This particular home in Pittsboro is on more than five acres on a quiet dead-end street, plus two out-buildings for my love’s car and motorcycle projects. We wanted to move fast so that we wouldn’t lose it, but didn’t realize how fast.
Our offer on the home included a letter…
The house had only been on the market for three days and another couple submitted an offer the same day as us. The sellers did not want a bidding war and we were instructed to submit our highest and best offer. This was our only opportunity and we wanted to do everything possible to make the home ours! So we decided to make an offer and present it with a letter expressing our love for the house. (My mom suggested we write a letter as she saw buyers try it on a house hunting television show.)
We later learned that the offers were virtually identical, but our letter connected with the sellers. It “brought tears to their eyes” and fortunately sealed the deal for us.
Writers, you may not realize the power of your words or when significant life changes will rely on your writing abilities. Use your words whenever possible!
I am including the letter below in honor of the day we were introduced to our home. Enjoy!
We wanted to express our deep interest in your home and property in writing. Although this letter is inadequate in relaying our affection of the property, we thought the home and its caring owners deserve to be acknowledged.
When we saw the house, we fell in love with it in a matter of minutes. We love the craftsmanship and care throughout the home. All the small details of the house made us want to settle down and spend our future there. We can appreciate the effort and pride invested in the home and hope we can continue to maintain its charm. We loved the serene setting immediately, but fell more in love when we were greeted by a hawk on the back deck.
As a writer who makes her living entirely by the pen, the peaceful property is a dream space for work. Mike, an engineer, enjoys automotive restoration and rebuilding projects; and the garage and carport are the perfect foundation for his welding and metal work. Our dog is almost seven years old and has never lived in a home with a property he can run on, and we know he would enjoy the home the same. We can see our future in this home for many years to come.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration; we look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you so much for this. My bf and I are in the very early stages ourselves of searching for a home, and to be honest, I never even considered that writing a letter could help seal the deal. But you’re absolutely right. Why not use our words to our advantage?
You wrote a beautiful letter and I imagine that any couple looking to sell their home would be touched. Congratulations on one year in your home and may you all have many happy years to come 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
You are very welcome! This is an exciting time for you and your boyfriend. 🙂 I love seeing different home designs and decor to get ideas. The home search process is fun–and stressful! Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
People who write well have lots of deep feelings in their heart that they think out in their minds. People like hearing about emotions as deep as the soul itself — especially if they are expressed intelligently.
I’ve had a time when my writing helped me obtain something I strongly desired. I used to work as a transcriber for deaf people, and my workplace offered a free sign-language class by a deaf woman who used sign-language every day. But there was only room for a few people. I wrote to the manager about how deeply touched I am by the plight of deaf people and how deeply interested I was in learning their language.
My letter moved them and I was selected for the class! I got time off of work to take the classes and I had a blast.
I just finished school and am living with my parents (I’m the home owner, though, not them). I don’t have time for a girlfriend as I have to take care of my folks. I can’t stand the thought of them living in a retirement home. But I am looking for a bigger home and I will definitely keep your blog entry in mind. Perhaps my writing skills will land me the same luck that you found in obtaining the perfect home!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! Hope a letter works in your best interest during your home search. Loved that you got a seat in a coveted class. Sign language is really good to learn. Curious if sign language is universal? There are not separate signs for English, Spanish, etc right? Makes me think of one night I spent in Paris where two couples dined next to me, one French and one German, but neither knew the other’s language so they spoke English the entire night. Made for easy eavesdropping!
Ooooh, eavesdropping…naughty girl. They must’ve had an interesting conversation!
The sign language I learned was ASL (American Sign Language). I hear it’s the most popular one in the world, so if deaf people speak sign language it’s probably that one. So they don’t have to worry about speaking a different language.
The problem is that most deaf people don’t know sign language. And rates of illiteracy among deaf people is higher than in hearing people. That’s probably because they never hear language spoken. Their only hope in learning things like correct grammar is by reading a lot.
Deaf people have it worse than blind people, IMHO. Most people would rather see than hear. But I, personally, would rather be able to communicate more effectively.
Who knows, though. Maybe I’d be a better writer if I were deaf.