To post a note through the door of the house we are trying to buy in the hope of persuading the vendor to sell it to us?

[feelinginthedark]

My sister and her husband did this when they were buying their house in London and I am tempted to try. Essentially we are in a bidding war; neck and neck with another party; we are both in equally good purchasing positions. We desperately want the house, and can afford to keep bidding, but the price is getting to the point where the house will no longer be good value (it needs work). The asking price has been well exceeded at this stage.

We feel that a note might make a difference to the vendor's decision because DH and I are essentially good people, from the area originally but have moved our family around annually internationally for years in order to train in our respective fields (in our work we both help people a LOT- don't want to say what we do as it's totally outing), and would love to give our two girls the chance to settle in a lovely house, down the road from their cousins and grandparents, before our eldest starts school in September.

Would that info in any way swing your decision if you were the vendor? Or is it borderline psychotic / unethical?

Haven't read it all but did you not meet the sellers when looking around?
I think I would give it to the Estate Agent.
Some neighbours of ours had someone round to view their house who wanted to buy it to rent out to students. It's a nice quiet family area they sold to a family as they wanted to stay in touch with all their old neighbours and they have fortunately. But some may just see the £ signs. Good luck.

I'm sure anyone wanting to move to a property so much that they'll become involved in a bidding war has very strong personal reasons for wanting to be there.
They are also probably good people and have a personal connection to the house.
If I was selling and I got a note like that I'd ignore it and sell to the highest bidder

Wouldn't sway me in the slightest - I would sell to the highest bidder.

It would feel a bit intrusive for me.

I know someone who was in a similar position to you. All bidders were asked by the vendor to write a letter explaining why they wanted the house.

I think it can't hurt!

I'd find it cheeky because I'd assume that the other people felt the same way if there had been a bidding war, but it's up to you. I'd assume they were nice people too, may come from the same area but not moved away to further their careers. They may also have family they'd like to be close to.
I suppose in the end it boils down to the vendor and what they feel about your note.
The only problem you would face is if they think you are being cheeky and go with the other out of spite.
I think I'd just go with the highest bidder tbh, and/or the ones ready to move quickly if I was ready to move.

It would make me think you would be a needy pain in the arse buyer. Sorry

It would feel like emotional blackmail and would put me off of you. It's a business transaction at the end of the day and I wouldn't welcome you trying to play with my emotions.

We recently sold my deceased DM house to a chap living in Dubai to rent it out, rather than a local young family. This had been my family home and in our family for over 40 years. He offered more money though I'm afraid. I think that's what counts for most people.

I wouldn't even ask people what their plans were. And if I were buying I would give whatever answer I thought would please the seller.

And a house is still a home if it is rented.

We were once told by a vendor that we wouldn't be allowed to make an offer on his home because he overheard us suggesting a small change we would make to each other on a viewing. (we probably wouldn't have offered on that place anyway)

I really don't understand people who have a desire to control what kind of person buys their home. When I sell I'm focussing on my own family's next step.

aside from which, I don't think in general that the kinda people who assume that their own sob story/needs should "win" are usually the most worthy. They're just the most pushy/self involved.

It would put me right off and probably make me go with the other buyers.

My prime concern when selling our house is to get the most money possible and a quick, business like transaction. Tbph I couldn't care less about the people buying it as long as they have the right money.

I would really dislike this and find it unnerving and manipulative.

I suppose from the OPs POV its only worth doing if she's in a "nothing to lose" situation, like if the bidding has gone above where they can compete. Don't ask don't get and all that.

Otherwise it's too much of a gamble and is as likely to put you out of the running as ahead of the game

I wouldn't like it at all. In fact it would really upset me, you don't know anything about the sellers lives and how they would recieve such a note.

You could put a letter through the door but when we sold our house we got bids over £10k more than asking price, then we were given a brief about the people behind the offers, really detailed in fact, TBH it came down to the money and ease of sale. are they in a chain, which lender, which solicitor?

We had 2 bidders roughly the same, I went for the "nice" couple expecting their first child, we verbally accepted only for them to with draw their offer on the Monday as they had over stretched themselves

I wouldn't like it tbh. I'd find it a bit intrusive. I'd much rather get such information more 'subtly' dropped into a conversation whilst you were looking around the house. I DO think people like to sell to families who want to make it a home. Can you view again and pass on the info that way?

I would running a mile in the opposite direction from anyone who did this.

We feel that a note might make a difference to the vendor's decision because DH and I are essentially good people

WTF.

I'd find this a bit manipulative and smug. I'd go with the highest bidder

Good people who help others! Gosh, what a precious peach! It would put me right off as you'd come across like a really entitled and privileged pair.

Can but try

I think it will come down to the chain and what the offer is

To me your personal circumstances of your background, family etc would make no difference

If you suspect the EA is not going to pass on your offer because there is more money to be made out of another offeror who is selling through the same EA, write to the EA something like this: This confirms that we offer (subject to contract, subject to survey, contract denied) £x for the property at _. Please let us know your client’s reaction. I have copied this to your client.

And put a copy through the door. If you know the sellers’ name, use it, if not, just address it to “the occupier”.

Oh, and good ways to get the sellers’ names without the trouble of the electoral register. If they are there when you view introduce yourself by name, and it’s odds-on they will give you theirs. If they are not be “helpful” by picking up the post off the mat and leaving it on a table in the hall or the kitchen. And remember the name.

I’m a devious bugger . . .

If they are not be “helpful” by picking up the post off the mat and leaving it on a table in the hall or the kitchen. And remember the name.

Genuine question, why would you care so much about their names?