"Signed, Sealed, Delivered” Why Mortgage Professionals Are Turning to Handwritten Letters to Bring in More Business

Let’s get straight to the point: mortgage professionals are brilliant at numbers. But when it comes to standing out in a crowded inbox or rising above the flood of LinkedIn DMs, there’s one timeless tactic that’s outperforming digital gimmicks with quiet confidence: handwritten letters.

Yes, in 2025, handwriting is not dead in the AI era, it’s surprisingly having a resurgence. With savvy mortgage brokers using it to carve their initials into the minds (and pipelines) of potential clients.

The Data Doesn’t Lie: Handwritten Mail Delivers

Forget email open rates that hover around 21.33% (Mailchimp, 2024). Direct mail (especially handwritten) has been quietly stealing the show and here is why:

99% of people open their direct mail, and 77% of them sort it as soon as it arrives (Royal Mail MarketReach, 2023).
Handwritten envelopes boast open rates of 90%+, compared to around 20–30% for printed DM (Fundraising IP).
Studies have shown response rates of up to 4.4% for handwritten direct mail, versus just 0.12% for email (DMA Response Rate Report).
One campaign for a financial services firm using handwritten postcards showed a 33% increase in conversions compared to their digital counterparts

Numbers like these aren’t just good, they’re mortgage-gold.

Why It Works for Mortgage Pros

The mortgage world is intimate. Buying a house is deeply personal. So why on earth are we still blasting generic emails and boilerplate messages?

Handwritten letters whisper what digital screams can’t: trust me, I care.

They:

Cut through the clutter
Spark curiosity (“Who wrote this? Is it a cheque? Is it my nan?”)
Create a tangible brand touchpoint
Foster real human connection- without an awkward Zoom call

In a market where trust is everything, a well-penned letter says “You’re not just a lead in a CRM, I actually value your business.”

However, Handwritten Direct Mail company Pen Written Post argue that combining both automation and handwritten is providing the best results and that we are in a new era of combining personalisation and humanisation into the AI era.

Where to Find the Right People For Letters (a.k.a. Lead Sourcing 101)

Here’s how you can legally and effectively gather data to fuel your campaign:

Land Registry / Companies House: Great for targeting BTL landlords, newly formed property companies, or directors with multiple properties.
Estate Agent Boards: Old-school, but if they’re showing “To Let” or “Sold,” those clients likely need mortgage advice.
Rightmove & Zoopla Scraping Tools: Get smart -use tools that gather data on new listings, auction properties, or recently reduced homes.
LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Filter by job title (e.g., “Property Investor”) + location + keywords like “Refinancing.”
Mailing List Services: Use SIC code filtering to grab tailored lists of high-propensity buyers, landlords, or remortgage candidates.

Once you’ve got names, addresses, and context, it’s time to let the pen do the selling.

What Should the Letter Say?

No, don’t start with “To Whom It May Concern.” You’re not Shakespeare. Here’s the golden rule:

Personalisation is power.

Try this:

“Hi Sarah,
I noticed your property on East Street just sold -congrats!
I am local to the area and wanted to reach out and say that if you’re considering a remortgage or second investment, I’d love to help you access better rates than the high street’s offering. I work with independent lenders and have access to deals not found online.
Scan the QR code below or drop me a text or Whatsapp to book a no-pressure call with me.
I am friendly, approachable and well known in the local area with fantastic reviews. You will be in good hands
All the best
INSERT NAME HERE
INSERT PHONE NUMBER
INSERT EMAIL ”

✔️ Short
✔️ Specific
✔️ Personal
✔️ Actionable

Add QR Codes to Make It Trackable

We’re not anti-tech, we’re just pro-meaningful tech. That’s why individual QR codes are becoming an interesting add on your handwritten campaign.

Each recipient gets their own trackable QR code linked to either:

A Calendly page
A WhatsApp chat
A mortgage calculator
A custom landing page

When they scan it, you know exactly who responded. No guessing. No attribution headaches. Just clean, direct conversion data.

Platforms like Pen Written Post can handle not only the letter production but the the QR code generation and tracking for you.

Real Results from Real Campaigns

A UK finance broker using handwritten notes to thank clients post-mortgage saw a 21% referral increase in the following quarter
A mortgage company added a handwritten note to their cold outreach and saw a 12% lift in response rate over email-only control groups.

Where Handwritten Letters Fit in the Mortgage Funnel

Handwritten direct mail isn’t just for opening doors -it’s a versatile tool that plugs into multiple stages of your marketing funnel. Here’s how savvy brokers and mortgage advisers are using it throughout the buyer journey:

Top of Funnel – Awareness & Cold Outreach

Target: Property investors, first-time buyers, remortgage prospects, local landlords
How: Use SIC codes, Companies House, or property platforms to build your list. Send short, personalised letters introducing your service, with a helpful insight (e.g., “Rates are shifting—let’s talk before they do again.”)
Goal: Start a relationship before the inbox is ever involved

Middle of Funnel – Nurturing & Engagement

Target: Leads from a previous call, newsletter signups, or webinar attendees
How: Send a thank-you note for the chat, include a helpful explainer (“How to get the best remortgage deal”), or follow up after a rate quote
Goal: Keep warm leads warm, with that all-important human touch

Bottom of Funnel – Conversion Boosters

Target: Hot leads hesitating at the finish line
How: Remind them you’re available, that you’re local, and you’ll fight for a better deal than the banks. Add a handwritten nudge like, “Happy to answer any lingering questions – just scan below to book a call.” It is also possible to include a small gift like some sweets or a bar of chocolate to show that they matter and that your service is top tier.
Goal: Create just enough warmth and pressure to close
Post-Sale – Retention & Referrals
- Target: Past clients (especially happy ones!)
- How: Send a heartfelt thank-you or a 6-month follow-up (“Hope the new house is feeling like home—here if you ever need me or know someone who does.”)
- Goal: Generate referrals and build long-term loyalty
  Note that these weren’t long-winded essays—they were 40–60 word notes, sometimes on quality paper that made people not throw them out. Which, in today’s short-attention-span economy, is half the battle.

UK Handwriting and Marketing Pros Could Be Your Secret Weapon

UK Handwriting specialists can help with:

Real pens you can tell a printed handwritten letter from a mile off
Data help: Need a list? We’ll help source one.
Personalised QR tracking: Monitor success in real time.
Eco-conscious delivery: Sustainability built with high quality recycled materials.
Zero faff. Maximum charm. Verified results.