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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To put notes through letterboxes of these houses?

141 replies

makeupforever · 24/08/2021 20:16

My DM has finally decided she wants to move, I am overjoyed as her area has been deteriorating for a while and I just want her to be able to enjoy life somewhere nicer. She owns her house outright but she is limited as to what she will be able to buy as her house isn't worth tons.

We have found a quiet street of small houses that are absolutely perfect for her, they appear to be mostly owned by older people. And they historically are within her budget. We've just missed one up for sale as an offer has been accepted, I asked the estate agent and he said they get snapped up quickly.

She's got her heart set on living there which means a lot to me. I'm well aware that you can't have everything you want and there is a huge chance it won't work out and she won't be able to live there. But I'm willing to do everything in my power to try and help her as she has not had an easy ride and I just want her to enjoy her life now in nice surroundings.

I was thinking of putting notes through the doors of the remaining houses with my name, contact info and some context, and asking if anyone had plans to put their house on the market soon. On some nice note cards? Just on the off chance someone was putting theirs up for sale so it would give us a head start to get everything lined up.

WIBU to do this? Or has anyone ever done this before?

OP posts:

HaveringWavering · 24/08/2021 20:51

My Mum sold out family home to someone who out a note through the door. She lives not having to pay estate agent commission.

I would say yes, explain it’s for your mother. And when you set up the new email, make it something personal like [email protected] rather than [email protected] in case they think you are an agent in disguise.

Saskatcha · 24/08/2021 20:52

We sold our flat to someone who put a note through the door. Saved us agent fees

MrsMaizel · 24/08/2021 20:53

Estate agents do it all the time so why not you !

Yogateacherherehello · 24/08/2021 20:53

I bought a house like this - you have nothing to lose, go for it!

Airyfairymarybeary · 24/08/2021 20:55

What have you got to lose? Explain the situation and be honest.

NumberTheory · 24/08/2021 21:04

There's no harm in it. I wouldn't name your DM, though. Just in case it puts someone's back up and they then don't want to sell to her if she puts an offer in through conventional routes.

I would say that your mother is looking, probably give her age or say she's a senior citizen, say you would be grateful for a heads up if they are selling or, if they prefer, could come to a private arrangement so that they save estate agent fees (assuming DM is happy to do that) .

Personally, I would steer away from "cash buyer" language because it sounds a bit like someone trying to flip a house and you're trying to tug on the heart strings.

DarkDarkNight · 24/08/2021 21:09

I know someone who sold her house after getting a note through the door so it can work. She was contemplating moving and it gave her a push.

lannistunut · 24/08/2021 21:11

I wouldn't say cash buyer as it sounds like you have money available.

I would try to make it personal e.g. handwritten, but vague!

ThatWardrobe · 24/08/2021 21:12

My aunt did this years ago with a street she wanted to be on and offered part ex as an option. They did end up part ex-ing with no estate agency fees, her downsizing and them moving into her bigger home. Worked really well. Good luck!

lannistunut · 24/08/2021 21:12

I am amazed how many people are saying they have done this!

FredaFox · 24/08/2021 21:14

One of my friends got their house this way 30 years ago, he's still there now

My mum constantly gets them as she lives in a bungalow in a nice semi rural area

No harm in asking

BlueyandBingo · 24/08/2021 21:16

We got our house this way and moved in 3 weeks ago….
We specifically named the street so it didn’t look generic and listed what we were looking for, off street parking, garden etc. Definitely mention that it would be a chain free sale and make it clean that you aren’t a developer ….

BrilliantBetty · 24/08/2021 21:19

We have had two notes through and we have been here only a few months. But it is a very unusual street.

I don't mind as such but I just bin them. I won't bother replying or what have you.

No harm in trying but it would also be worth signing up with the local estate agents for information if any of these properties come up. Ours we viewed and offered on before it was even online. Many others the same.

Googleplexian · 24/08/2021 21:21

We tried this with no luck. Finally found a house we quite liked in our favourite street. Six months later, a family did the same letterbox trick and hit the jackpot: a massive house with the hugest garden for tens of thousands more than ours. A decade on and it’s worth £500k more than ours. Definitely do it. And do it again in six months if no luck. Circumstances change.

Meggie2008 · 24/08/2021 21:21

I got a note like this through my door at the tail end of last year. Unfortunately for them, I only bought it in October so no intention of moving soon 😂
It was a nice note though, it just said that they were looking to move to be closer to family in the area and the street caught their eye, and if we were thinking of selling to give her a call.

3years7months3days · 24/08/2021 21:23

I know someone who did this & it worked out well for them. I don't think you have anything to lose.

Fiddliestofsticks · 24/08/2021 21:30

If you say cash buyer then they'll think she has the money ready to go now. You would need to tell them that she'll be part of a chain, as she needs to sell first.

AlCalavicci · 24/08/2021 21:34

I get note through my letter box a few times a year , not so much because of the house , its a bog standard terrace but I am right in the middle of a triangle of a good nursery / primary school secondary school and two collages . so its a sought after area .

But I rent and dont think my HA would be happy if I sold their house . . . pity

CamCurls · 24/08/2021 21:35

I did this years ago for a specific house in a village but it turned out that the person who lived there had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Our approach caused distress. We genuinely didn’t know them or anything about them. It put me off trying this tactic although I know of a few people who have been successful.

elkiedee · 24/08/2021 21:37

Nothing wrong with that. I didn't do that but I did buy my house through a business connection between my aunt and the previous owner of this house. I had to wait ages for the building society to get a surveyor to come and look at the house and I think it helped us that although we still went through the estate agents she'd already used, we'd made a personal connection with the seller and were able to make good on her work friendship with my aunt.

If your mum has to sell her current home, it's not a chain free sale, but if she's not needing to borrow to buy, that's useful. And if she's a person looking to move in herself, rather than a landlord who might let a house out to tenants who could make the neighbours unhappy, that could also be a thing.

Viviennemary · 24/08/2021 21:37

I think this is the height of absolute cheekines and would never sell to somebody who did this.

PlateSpinnerJuggler · 24/08/2021 21:42

Definitely letter drop if there's a particular road you / your ma wants to buy a house in - good luck!

ohwhattodowithmylife · 24/08/2021 21:43

I have had a couple of friends who have done this and have been successful. The seller avoids estate agent fees so a good opportunity for them

NumberTheory · 24/08/2021 21:45

Definitely do both.

Local agents is how we've sold our last two houses, both of which were in hot markets. Estate agent had a list of qualified, cash buyers with no chain who were waiting for places like ours and did special showings just for them before the houses went on the market properly. We got what seemed to be competitive bids (obviously no way to know for sure that we wouldn't have got more if we'd waited longer) from people ready to move immediately.

MauveMagnolia · 24/08/2021 21:45

I get them all the time
The best was a4 handwritten in fountain pen
I bin all the estate agent ones without looking

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