I want the seller to know how empathetic I am.Seller Answer: “He said it would be about 10 percent total, six percent for him and four percent for the other costs.â€REI Statement: “He said it would cost 10 percent, outstanding.â€REI Statement: “I am going to write the four percent on the yellow pad.â€As long as the seller is in reality land, somewhere above two percent for seller costs, I will not object to their answer.

After conversing with the owner and hearing his dilemma, I was empathetic with his situation.  

Your letter should come off as relatable, personal and empathetic.

Where you are not insulting their intelligence, but you're also making it clear that you are sitting there with the intention of making a profit, and hoping that what you offer will also be something that they will be comfortable with.Most people can smell a hard-sell or a "technique" from a mile away.I've never done what you're doing, but I can be empathetic with the people you would be approaching. 

Therefore, it’s important to be empathetic with the seller as they may be going through a lot of stress.Tips on NegotiatingWhen negotiating with the seller on an off-market property, a strategic approach may help you land the off-market deal.

Loan Officer is fortunately responsive (initial person I got in touch with to start the process), Loan Processor although empathetic, is almost unreachable.

I explain all this in a very kind and empathetic way,  by telling them that I know that it won’t be an issue for them but because of an experience I had where I didn’t do this, and it ended up costing a lot of money and time, I learned to start the process right away. 

It's fine to be empathetic in certain situations, but a "few months" could easily be forever.

@Tom KaserThis might sound harsh, and I am empathetic to your tenant's situation, but...it is your tenants situation.

I explained that’s not how it works, was empathetic, and asked to contact her employer she listed on the lease to verify she lost her job and I would work with her.