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Original poster

To write a letter to the vendor? (Best and final offers)

29 replies

WildflowerChild · 03/03/2020 18:58

I saw a house yesterday (already knew it was going to best and final offers) and I asked the estate agent if I could write a letter and she said of course and they would pass it on.

Then I was contacted for feedback and honestly the woman when I double checked it was ok made me sound like I was a off my head for wanting to send a letter.

Is it weird? I was just going to put my offer, position and just say that I’m not an investor and would love to purchase it to make it my home (nothing ott) just felt it was more personal.

OP posts:
YeahWhatevver · 03/03/2020 19:00

Don't see how as a seller anything but £££ is going to make a difference

Put yourself in their shoes. I wouldn't really care who was buying it. Are you hoping they'd accept a lesser offer off the back of the personal touch?

Largeyellowdaffodil · 03/03/2020 19:01

Does the letter say:

You are a chain fee buyer (nothing to sell)
You have a large deposit (specify what percentage)
You have a mortgage agreement in place (specify which lender)
A date by which you could exchange and complete? (Possibly an agreement to what whilst they find somewhere if occupied)

That is the kind of thing that would make your offer more attractive.

alwaysthinkingofsleep · 03/03/2020 19:01

It actually is important to some people who they are selling to, not all but some! Plus a letter is a very polite way of putting in an offer which suggests you are a serious buyer.

NailsNeedDoing · 03/03/2020 19:03

It is a bit weird, but in the right circumstances it might be worth it. There’s no harm in trying, but bear in mind that some people don’t really like the thought of their home being made into someone else’s, so if you don’t know why they’re moving, then there’s a possibility a letter could do the opposite of what you want.

Redwinestillfine · 03/03/2020 19:05

She's probably just thinking of her cut!

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 03/03/2020 19:05

I'd class it as weird!

If it's just factual I guess it would be OK, but if you're going for emotional manipulation I think that's seriously out of order.

YeahWhatevver · 03/03/2020 19:05

Largeyellowdaffodil

Every time I've sold I've known this stuff as part of the offers received. Same when I've bought, the offer has been made with this info passed on

Almostfifty · 03/03/2020 19:07

My pal's DC has just done exactly this. They've got the house because they said they thought it was lovely and they really wanted to live in it, rather than the people who were buying to let it out.

dworky · 03/03/2020 19:24

I would definitely sell to a private buyer over a buy to let, for the sake of my neighbours.

Original poster
WildflowerChild · 03/03/2020 19:30

Firstly the house is empty and has been a rental before that for years so I don’t think there is an emotional attachment.

Also emotional manipulation? I did say I wouldn’t over do it ... just that I wanted to say that I’m buying it to be my home.

I just thought a personal touch might be better. I’m still offering over asking.

OP posts:
Original poster
WildflowerChild · 03/03/2020 19:31

If it's just factual I guess it would be OK, but if you're going for emotional manipulation I think that's seriously out of order.

What kind of thing do you think I’d even say? Confused

OP posts:
Largeyellowdaffodil · 03/03/2020 19:32

Firstly the house is empty and has been a rental before that for years so I don’t think there is an emotional attachment.

So how quickly can you complete? Chain free?

Original poster
WildflowerChild · 03/03/2020 19:36

So how quickly can you complete? Chain free?

My sale should be completed in the next 10 days.

I have a 50% deposit and a mortgage in principle.

OP posts:
JackieJormpJormp4 · 03/03/2020 19:57

We did this. There was more of an emotional attachment for the vendor in our case as it had been in their family for a long time. We explained our strong position, chain free etc and also that it would be our first family home. They chose us over a developer who had offered several 1000s more, we don't know the developers full position so can't be 100% sure but I think it made a difference in their decision to go with us?

Kastanien · 03/03/2020 20:03

We had this when we sold my parents house. There was a family who told us great detail how their DC aged 2 & 3 were really looking forward to living in the house. That put me right off, it was obvious that DC that age would have no preference and that they were hoping to emotionally manipulate us. What tipped it though was the other offerees were already chain free, whereas they still had a house to sell. We took the chain free offer as it was convenient for us, and I am sorry if that upset their DC!

Properbobbins · 03/03/2020 20:20

We had this when selling my in laws house, a house that had been in the family for generations and had decades worth of memories. Selling and moving on was a huge deal for them and when they received a letter from a local family knowing it was going to another family made all the difference to them - for some people it’s definitely not all about the £££ and they do care who they are selling to.

Largeyellowdaffodil · 03/03/2020 20:23

If it is in a will then the executor has a duty to get the highest price.

brimfullofasha · 03/03/2020 20:25

We wrote a heartfelt letter when we made an offer on a house. It was 'best and final' and we knew it would be competitive. We thought it might make the difference if it was down to two equal offers.

We didn't get the house. It went to someone who bid over £20k more than us!

Malvinaa81 · 03/03/2020 20:30

I would think the sender of the letter might be creepy, or mentally ill. And would take no account of it.

Original poster
WildflowerChild · 03/03/2020 20:30

We didn't get the house. It went to someone who bid over £20k more than us!

Yeah unfortunately the house I want is in a prime area so I know the competition will be high.

You can but try

OP posts:
carly2803 · 03/03/2020 20:36

i have done this before - posted it straight through to the house (was bought from a family)!. Not via the estate agents.

just said how much i loved the house and area, and how much i would enjoyraising my family there

worked!

Original poster
WildflowerChild · 03/03/2020 20:38

^ I like the idea but I get the impression the seller doesn’t even live in the same city so who knows if they’d get the letter.

OP posts:
Pipandmum · 03/03/2020 20:38

My house went to best and final and all those who offered sent a letter with it. But the agents already knew the financial position of each, so the letters were more along the lines of: 'we have two children and have always loved the neighborhood...'. But frankly in the end I went with the offer that made most financial sense. Bottom offer was too low, top offer was from people who still had to sell their house, middle offer were under offer through same agents and in better position to proceed. The letters were sweet and obviously the norm in my area (sw London), but money talks.

Roaren · 03/03/2020 20:41

Whenever I've sold before, I've gone for the people who has fallen in love with the house and wanted to live in it rather than investors. Not really for sentimental reasons but because investors might be more likely to pull out/negotiate at a late stage as for them it's a purely financial transaction.

When you want to buy a house because you love it and want to live there, you've got more motivation to get to completion without too much funny business.

I think it's always worth making sure the vendor is aware of your motivation for buying.

Largeyellowdaffodil · 03/03/2020 20:46

just said how much i loved the house and area, and how much i would enjoyraising my family there

We get at least 1 a month. The most impressive was 2 sides of cream heavy A4 paper handwritten in black fountain pen.

It was all a bit creepy.