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

[Foodfoodfoodie]

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.

Nothing wrong with it you are being precious I'm afraid just bin it if you don't like it

Yes YABU just bin it

YABU

Weird that you're offended by this.

Absolutely bizarre that you would be offended by this.

Do you honestly never ‘eye up’ houses?

On my usual running route, I’ve catalogued every one I pass as somewhere I would or wouldn’t like to live!

That is a really good way of everyone avoiding the nonsense and fees of estate agents and also putting it out there to the owners incase they are thinking about it. Not sure why you think it’s cheeky. If they ever ask again just politely decline? They are unlikely to ask again if they don’t hear from you. It’s a compliment that they really like your house!

Sensible of them. I wouldn’t mind if someone did this. Thinking of doing it to a house I saw on an open gardens visit this year.

How on earth can anyone find these offensive

We've had two handwritten letters asking us to consider selling our house and one printed flyer I assume off a company who blanketed the area. I didn't get annoyed about it though, if you don't ask, you don't get! Or as my Dad says, the squeaky hinge gets the grease! 🤣

I’d be flattered not offended!

YABU. It's politely worded and what's more, they're being upfront about their offer, rather than trying to play games to get a bargain price. You're not looking to sell, but they don't know that. Most people who were looking to sell would be delighted to receive that letter.

Pretty common round where I live. Don’t bat an eyelid about it.

I find it cheeky and very forward but I suppose that’s what some people are like when they go for what they want and are trying to avoid estate agent fees.

Do you have any thoughts on how to stop people looking at your expensive house in your desirable area? Maybe move to an undesirable one so people won't put letters through your door wanting your cheap house.

Fair enough @Foodfoodfoodie 🙂

I guess what people are saying is that the letter in itself, may not be coming from a place of cheekiness or intrusion, i.e. that is not likely to be the prospective buyer’s intent.

I know what people mean about the word ‘flagged’, but it’s a common phrase used where I work (and my previous job) and seems like a bit of a harmless buzzword.

Also don't take it too personally. It is very likely that they have sent letters to lots of home owners in the area.

You might not be as special as you think you are!!

Nothing wrong with that at all. If you were thinking of moving, it would save you the agent's fees. Just bin it and forget it, no point getting offended for the sake of it.

Someone put on a FB page I am on looking to buy in our area. We were just about to put my fathers house up for sale. Contacted her. Private sale completed very quickly.

We get mailshots from estate agents asking to get in touch if we are going to sell as they have lots of buyers looking at the moment and they are short of housing. I don't find this remotely offensive

I read this is banned in some places as the volume of letters is too overwhelming now.

God, if it was a really crazy amount of money I'd probably take their offer! 😂

You're not in Buckinghamshire by any chance are you, OP? Sounds like the area where my friend lives. She said it's so sought after barely anything ever goes on the market

I’ve lost count of the times we’ve had a letter like this. Some of them are full on family biographies with reasons why we should sell to them (the Kirstie & Phil letter - they used to suggest it) and now we’re getting letters from off-market/private sales estate agents telling us they have buyers waiting.
I usually drop than anyone email saying thanks but no thanks and wishing them luck with their search. Once I told someone that one of the neighbours might be interested. They were and a deal was done. Never heard a peep from the buyer since. Some people have no manners 😂

@Burgersauce

I think it’s great and would contact them if I was selling.

So would I. You'd save a packet in agent's fees.

You're not in the market for selling, so just chuck the letter away.

I suspect its the emotional response to the language used that is niggling rather than the fact that they have sent a letter.
If the letter had been written in language that you use, in a style that you use then perhaps you would have felt a different emotion.
Although house sales are a financial transaction that should be treated as a business deal - the precise fact that they are our biggest purchase means that its impossible to keep emotions out of it...
If you love a house but know you can't stay forever then the next best thing is that someone you can relate to ends up living in it...

I think the principle of doing this is absolutely fine, can work well if someone is in the market for selling and keep EA fees out of the picture.

However I do think the wording of the note is a bit off and presumptious with them "flagging" your house and discussing the figure they'd pay. I personally wouldn't word it like that but I'm sure it's well intentioned, just throw the letter in the bin and think no more of it.