If you would consider selling your house to a buyer who put a note through your door...

[BigGreenBaskets]

What would be the wording that may persuade you the buyer was serious, and worth contacting?

We'll use local agents too but are also keen to see if there are any leads for people who are maybe thinking about selling and might be convinced by the thought of no estate agents fees.

Would you focus on the human side (young family, would love a well loved family home to raise our children in) as well as facts (in a position to proceed/under offer or not, mortgage in principle agreed etc), or just very short, sweet and to the point?

Position to proceed mostly but add something briefly about your family as I imagine most people would prefer to sell to someone who plants to live in the property rather than an investor/someone planning to turn it into a HMO or something...

Yes but not a whole big sob story, that would be cringe.

Our neighbour (an elderly couple) didn't sell to the highest bidder, but a young couple that they saw themselves in.

I would definitely consider this. I'd want to know you were ready to proceed mostly.

Couldn't care less about your family. Financing in place and a reasonable offer would get my attention.

I would but would want you to be upfront about financial situation, readiness to move etc. Would not really care about anything else as I know what type of person/family my house would appeal to.

It was not unusual here for Estate Agent to put a generic flyer in the door in our locality on behalf of a client, usually along the lines of "disappointed underbidder on another property in the area" or "'confirmed cash bidder". Happening a bit less frequently these days as there is a lot of building happening a bit further out. I think I would be more comfortable with this than trying to avoid EA fees.

It was not unusual here for Estate Agent to put a generic flyer in the door in our locality on behalf of a client, usually along the lines of "disappointed underbidder on another property in the area" or "'confirmed cash bidder".

Those are just standard flyers to encourage people to use the agent. I think they stopped because people were wise to them. They have been replaced with 'We have recently sold these properties in your area' ones.

However, if someone dropped a letter round, and were genuine buyers, not agents, yes I would consider it. Have had them in the past but not ready to move, next time round I would be interested.

Usually they say 'We are a young family looking for a home in your road, love the road/area' sort of thing sometimes say how many children they have and include contact details and first names, sometimes also a last name. That is enough as an initial contact.

The problem for us is finding a place to buy in order to sell to someone that wants to live here because houses always sell where we are but no-one is selling what I want to buy.

When we sold our house it went to sealed bids and two of the buyers put letters through our door.

We didn't decide only by this but it was a factor.

We-on the back of this-put one through the door of the house we wanted. It did sway the sellers toward us and we happily bought house!

I wouldn't be interested in your family and thoughts about having a lovely home. I would want cold, hard facts. Even so, I would have to be as good as about to put it on the market to consider contacting someone after a note like this. You have nothing to lose though, so if you can be bothered, then putting a note through door isn't a bad idea.

as this is presumable aimed at someone who may just be thinking of selling, rather than actually have started getting ready so i'd stress that it was area/road you liked, were actively looking but not in a hurry to complete sale, 9 they havent had a chance to look yet) that you would not expect the house to be in showhome condition- use diplomatic wording ( i assume anyone putting house on market has to do a decluttering exercise and maybe do some paintwork top ups etc) but if they are considering a move would love the chance to view and of course save them the cost of estate agents markeing their home.

I’d be interested in a bit about your family, just so I knew who was going to live in my house

I know someone who sold her house this way, she was thrilled no agents fees.

I would only be interested if I was already strongly considering moving. Being somewhat cynical, the sobbier the story the less I'd believe it, and the less likely I'd consider you.

If I was toying with moving I would. We actually did it, sort of. There was a house that was rented near us. We found out the landlords contact details and just said we were a family looking for more space who wanted to stay in the village. The owner did get back to us and actually had the house valued but ultimately decided to keep letting it out. If you don't ask though you never know.

We sold my Mums this way. Local lady had heard that she had died and put a note through the door explaining her circumstances and leaving her contact details. We had a very smooth private sale

We had a very businesslike, to-the-point note put through the door of my dad's house after he had moved into a nursing home. Literally just said that they were very interested in buying the house and could we please ring them if we'd consider selling. Shook hands on a full-asking-price offer half an hour later!

Thanks all, some really interesting stories and thoughts.

Given we have nothing to lose I think we'll aim to do this- will do a brief overview but no sort of sob story (we don't have one, just want to live there!) but a focus on financial position and the like.

I'd consider it and the most important factors to me would be people who could proceed smoothly and not mess us about at all.

Oh god I hate these. My mother lives in a highly desirable area in a house which is probably the best in that area . Top school catchment area also. She is a widow and lives alone and gets them regularly plus even the very cheeky who knock on the door when they find out it’s an older lady living alone.
Be very careful how you word it it does upset some people.
Oh and no sob stories it will never work

I would never be persuaded by a note through the door, I wouldjust direct them to the agent. I have had notes when I am nit selling and they annoy me

I wouldn't be interested in your family and thoughts about having a lovely home. I would want cold, hard facts. Even so, I would have to be as good as about to put it on the market to consider contacting someone after a note like this

Exactly this. I hate these types of notes but I hate the twee ones even more. There's no need to tell me about your kids, how old they are and how much they'd love to have a garden/live next to woodland when I don't give a fuck about them.

Bought my house this way. Can't stand agents so cut the middle man most of the way out. Worked a dream.

Hello

I would like to buy your house. I am in a position to proceed immediately.

Ease call 12345678912

Thanks

Your name.

Should just about do it.

please call