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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

“If you are ever in the market we would be interested in your house”

247 replies

Foodfoodfoodie · 20/01/2022 21:48

We live in a desirable village in an expensive area. Today we had a letter through our door, summarised it read something like:

we are looking to move in the area and have flagged your home as one we would be interested in of you were in the market to move. If you consider selling in the near future we would love to hear from you and would be willing to negotiate a price around the X mark, which we believe to be higher than the asking price you would be recommended by an agent

AIBU to think this is really cheeky and intrusive? They are being very upfront about essentially eyeing up my home.

I’m not in the market to move but if I was they would be bottom of the list, regardless of money.

OP posts:
grapewine · 20/01/2022 22:38

@Allycott

It's nothing out of the ordinary and it's enabled you to brag a little. What's not to like 😁
Ha! 😁
WhatScratch · 20/01/2022 22:39

It’s a good idea but really bad wording.

‘We’ve been planning to move to X (town/village) for a long time and we really love the area around Y street. As properties so rarely come onto the market here, we thought we’d be proactive and ask if anyone who might be considering selling their home in the near future would get in touch with us. We are cash buyers/have sold our home/are in a position to proceed with any sale at the seller’s convenience and are happy to pay market value.

Regards”

Sending that ^ to several houses on a street would make someone look like a proactive (maybe pushy) committed buyer. The OP’s letter sounds like they’ve been checking out your home’s old sales details on zoopla. It’s a bit too much. I think it’s the ’have flagged your home as one we would be interested in’. It makes it sound like they’ve been cruising by the house or peeking through your letterbox.

BeMoreGoldfish · 20/01/2022 22:40

I’m astonished that you’ve clearly got to an age where you own your own home and yet have never heard of this tip Grin.

And how odd to put them to the bottom of your list and insist on paying ludicrous EA fees instead Shock.

People are endlessly weird. 🤷‍♀️

Pondtoad · 20/01/2022 22:40

So odd. Why wouldn't you sell your house to someone who wants to buy it? You'd rather pay an EA £10k and wait six months for a different person, whom you don't know either, to make an offer.

TooManyPJs · 20/01/2022 22:41

What a weird reaction. Of course it's not intrusive, they are making you a great offer, possibly above market value (if what they have said is correct, but that wouldn't be hard to check) and if you were interested could save you thousands in estate agent fees. What's not to like.

If you are not interested just ignore and get on with your day.

WhatScratch · 20/01/2022 22:42

I think smooth sales are the goal. There’s a fine line between ‘proactive’ and ‘cheeky fucker who will expect a discount above the agents %.’

MrsGinnyM · 20/01/2022 22:43

@FlutterShite

Relax. They're not being creepy. Houses in my area are snapped up before they hit Rightmove, so people go around leafleting whole streets. Usually they have a buyer for their house but nowhere to ruddy move to!

If it really bothers you, just do what my DH and DC do and make the exterior look like absolute shite, then you'll be left alone.

I don't think this always works because some people are looking for a doer-upper at a bargain price.
Rosebuud · 20/01/2022 22:45

Op, they aren’t standing outside or stalking you on line dreaming of buying your home and thinking of ways to get you out. They will have mailed many houses, it’s very common if you’re looking to move to an area where rhe house type you’re looking for isn’t on the market. Becayse you never know. Someone might just be about to go on the market and considering it. Then both parties win, no estate agent fees, seller gets more than the value, buyer gets the house rhey wish. It’s all good. If you’re not interested just bin it, they don’t expect to hear if you aren’t.

We don’t get them often, but about two or three times a year, I find it flattering and just bin it.

Blinkingbatshit · 20/01/2022 22:46

Lots of people do this! If there’s a particular road or house you like why not put a letter through the door and see what happens - I had a friend get her dream house this way!

housemaus · 20/01/2022 22:46

Totally normal and YABU (and a bit precious). We live in an area with good grammar schools, we get about 2 a year.

Butchyrestingface · 20/01/2022 22:48

I see nothing wrong with an approach of this kind in principle but I'm not a huge fan of their phraseology.

They may be your new neighbours soon though and you could find them delightful.

JudgeJ · 20/01/2022 22:48

I can't see the difference between this and the flyers that are pushed into the letterbox by estate agents touting for business.

Original poster
Foodfoodfoodie · 20/01/2022 22:49

Bloody hell if everyone is doing this no wonder people feel the need to do it because by the sounds of it it’s amazing anything ever reaches the market 😂

OP posts:
BuanoKubiamVej · 20/01/2022 22:49

I don't get why you'd be offended. If you were thinking of moving you would save thousands in EA fees from a letter like that, so would thank your lucky stars. If you aren't interested throw the letter away. If they send 10 letters and one person is interested and the other 9 bin the letter, that's fine.

InTheNightWeWillWish · 20/01/2022 22:49

I would love if someone were to post a note through my door. Sadly, I think the only idiots to be interested in our house is us and that was mostly desperation.

C152 · 20/01/2022 22:52

Yes, I think YABU. From the little information you've provided, it seems they've written you a polite, perfectly reasonable note. if you're not interested in selling, save their note for the future. If you'd never want to sell to them, chuck the note. It's not a big deal.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 20/01/2022 22:52

I get a handful of these every year (cheapish street right near a tube station). I would give them a call if I were selling, and I don't find them cheeky or offensive.

DrSbaitso · 20/01/2022 22:52

Wouldn't bother me. If you're not in the market, chuck it. If you are, great, keen potential buyer.

Original poster
Foodfoodfoodie · 20/01/2022 22:53

@MrsGinnyM I think that’s it - it’s my home already!

I dunno maybe it’s just pregnancy hormones making me Crazy but I thought it was pushy and presumptuous. And the whole price thing read to me like another person who had so much money they thought they could just buy someone out of their home

OP posts:
Thirtytimesround · 20/01/2022 22:54

The property shows on tv recommend that buyers do this.

missymousey · 20/01/2022 22:55

Oh get over yourself. They're using initiative and giving you a compliment all at the same time.

SEOeieio · 20/01/2022 22:56

I might feel a little insulted if I thought they had undervalued the home, but otherwise, it makes sense. If you were thinking about possibly selling, this would save both of you some trouble. It's probably not uncommon that someone would be willing to sell if the price was right, but haven't yet taken steps to list it.

LizzieMacQueen · 20/01/2022 22:56

Yes it is presumptuous. We get a few of the 'we'd love to bring our young family ...... ' and I think, yes, so would I. Perfectly harmless but the tone of the one you've received is on the bolder end of polite.

TheHoptimist · 20/01/2022 22:57

I get them weekly
2 A4 pages handwritten in lovely italic pen was the best- explaining why they wanted to live in our house.

My sister bought a house this way and my mother sold one.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 20/01/2022 22:57

That's exactly how my dad bought his house.

Have you never had an estate agents printed version through your door,they do it all the time? Same thing.