Best way to make an offer BEFORE the property ends up at Sheriff Sale

[Shawn Herring]

There are couple properties going to a Sheriff Sale with the amounts owed to banks significantly less than the actual value of the properties. I want to reach out to the owners to see if I could buy the house from them before the Sheriff Sale happens. I have bought multiple SFH already, but this is my first time trying to buy from someone losing their home to a bank, so I want to be respectful... but I also want these deals. Any advice from those who have actually done this before?