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Original poster

What would you want a letter to say that was posted through your door to ask if you'd sell your house to us?!

81 replies

userblah · 03/09/2018 11:15

Hi
The question pretty much speaks for itself
My dh and I are keen to move but live in a house that's far too small
We live in a lovely town but property here is too slow paced for my liking so we are now considering posting letters through about 20ish houses doors to ask if they would consider selling.....

Is this crazy?! What should it say without sounding desperado?!

X

OP posts:
frogsoup · 03/09/2018 12:00

Meetme but those are all examples of strangers knocking at your door trying to sell you things! Which I agree is really intrusive. But the op is only talking about a letter through the letterbox. That's a crazy low bar for the definition of 'disturbing the sanctity of your home' surely. And their 'offer' is mutually beneficial in terms of avoiding agency fees, so its all pretty transparent in terms of their offer 'standing on it's own merits in the open market'.

IhatetheArchers · 03/09/2018 12:03

If I was going to sell I put my house on the open market to achieve the best price possible. I'd rather pay a decent estate agent than take a random offer throughout the door. Plus you have the estate agent dealing with the buyer, I really cba with that.

MeetMeInMontauk · 03/09/2018 12:04

Well maybe in such situations I would be cutting my nose off to spite my face, but I maintain that I would be naturally suspicious of anyone trying to circumvent the standard means of doing business, estate agent's fees or not.

Cheesemachine · 03/09/2018 12:08

@MeetMeInMontauk

Why suspicious? What is suspicious about finding out of people living in a desired area are thinking of selling especially when it is a fast lining market and/or there is little on the market?

It's a very common thing to do OP. Most people would be at worse flattered that you like their house and at best thinking of selling but hadn't quite got round to it yet. Go for it and good luck.

TellerTuesday4EVA · 03/09/2018 12:15

It wouldn't bother me, I don't have any desire to move so I would just bin the note, I certainly wouldn't be put out by it.

Anther approach that I've seen recently was from my friend, they had sold their house & the one they originally wanted fell through. There was nothing on the market that suited them so she posted on the local Facebook groups saying what their requirements were & if anybody was thinking of selling to get in touch, that worked for them.

MeetOnTheLedge · 03/09/2018 12:16

I'd consider a personal one, especially if chain-free, cash buyer etc, but we get loads from estate agents and assume they are blitzing the whole area, those go straight in the bin.

itbemay · 03/09/2018 12:18

Happens to us about twice a year, I think it’s nice that people make the effort. I always respond with an email or text to say thanks but we’re not moving

MeetMeInMontauk · 03/09/2018 12:21

Seriously, nobody here is at all worried about having the support of an established, experienced third party in what (for most people) will be one of the single largest and riskiest transactions of their life? Knock yourselves out, but I for one will happily hand over my percentage to the agency for their assistance.

BigBlueBubble · 03/09/2018 12:21

People who aren’t considering selling their houses will only be enticed if they think they’re getting a high price. I’d probably respond to such a letter with an inflated price, assuming they’d fork out if they’re that desperate to live here.

Rabbiting on about how you’re a genuine family and want to get your kids into the local school etc would have no effect. It’s not like I’m going to give you a good deal because I feel sorry for you, or let you have my house because you’re genuine and you really want it. Sorry but it’s about money - I couldn’t care less about your kids schooling or where you’d like to live. Your phone/email and max price you’re able to pay is all I’m interested in.

redsummershoes · 03/09/2018 12:23

Seriously, nobody here is at all worried about having the support of an established, experienced third party in what (for most people) will be one of the single largest and riskiest transactions of their life?

but for that you have the solicitor/conveyancer Confused

MeetMeInMontauk · 03/09/2018 12:28

For the legal side, yes. They will do nothing for you in terms of sifting the wheat from the chaff regarding dodgy bids and timewasters, which brings us back to the 'posting offers through my door' bit. But I'm clearly in a hyper-vigilant minority.

MaybeDoctor · 03/09/2018 12:29

It happened to us a couple of times when we were living in London, but they were always a couple with young children wanting to live in the area but pay £50k under market price. Grin

I would be really happy to sell a house to a nice family, but would always refer them to an estate agent in order to do so. A good agent can help a transaction go smoothly and takes all the personal awkwardness out of a very high-value transaction.

HoleinmyBucket · 03/09/2018 12:29

In my experience the Estate Agents I have dealt with have added virtually no value to the actual conveyancing process once the 'marketing' side of things is done and dusted and a buyer has been found.

I've found an efficient conveyancing solicitor to be key to the process though.

Original poster
userblah · 03/09/2018 12:31

There are various reasons why are considering doing it

Local agents have been terrible
We've heard of lots of locals not keen to go on the market because local agents are terrible
We are chain free cash buyers

Thanks so much for your opinions. I hope I don't put my letter through a couple of your doors! If I do, I'm sorry, try not to let it annoy you and recycle it !

OP posts:
redsummershoes · 03/09/2018 12:36

I'm waiting for your card through the door then Wink

Toofle · 03/09/2018 12:41

Perfectly sensible thing to do and not at all intrusive. A letter like this was the start of a very good friendship that has lasted decades, for my family.

MakeItStopNeville · 03/09/2018 12:41

I wouldn’t mind a letter but get really fed up of people knocking on my door asking if we want to sell. We get that a LOT and it’s really intrusive.

Snog · 03/09/2018 12:44

I'd be happy to receive a letter from a family but would expect to get top dollar if you particularly wanted my house/ my road.
Letters from estate agents I don't welcome as yes 5hey are just touting for business.

Rockbird · 03/09/2018 12:46

We nearly did this but then a house came on the market anyway that we bought. I wouldn't mind someone doing this. We are contemplating moving but even if we weren't, there's no harm in asking politely. If people aren't interested they'll just bin it, but it might just nudge someone like me into getting their arse in gear.

RomanyRoots · 03/09/2018 12:47

I'd call you and tell you to fuck off as i'd see you as a cf, my language would include cunt.
This is how I feel about this though, very strongly.
If I want to move I either place a sign in my window or go to an estate agent.
it obviously works for some people and they don't mind.
We get lots of leaflets asking if we want to sell, they make out they are a family or couple, they are all EA or cf's Grin

cantfindamoniker · 03/09/2018 12:51

I would like this. We are toying with the idea of moving but DH can't bear the hassle. If we got a good offer from a chain free serious buyer, without using an EA, it might make us move! We have regular contacts from various EA but assume they're just looking for business - even when they say there's genuine interest. Why not do it? It's a complement! If they are irritated, they are irritated. I wouldn't worry.

toastfiend · 03/09/2018 12:59

We get these sometimes. Personally I find it irritating, we've only been in the house less than a year and it feels like someone is trying to hustle us out! They're not to know that though and we just bin them. I'm sure if we were thinking of selling my reaction would be different!

Original poster
userblah · 03/09/2018 13:03

Romanyroots
Hope I don't put my letter through your door either!

OP posts:
MiddlingMum · 03/09/2018 13:23

We have no intention of moving, but live in the catchment area of a very sought after primary school so get letters like this from time to time. We just bin them, it doesn't offend us or annoy us in any way.

Friends of ours sold their house this way - in the catchment area for the same school. They were about to put their house on the market, got a letter, invited the sender for a viewing and agreed a sale on the spot.

bertiesgal · 03/09/2018 13:27

Worked for us.

Put a wee note through all of the 5 bed houses in our estate.

Got a phone call, made an offer (delay due to an estate agent getting involved 🙄) and the house is ours.

Can’t believe Romany’s reaction. I’d be quite touched of someone wanted our lovely house 😊

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