To post a note through the vendors door?

[katem98]

Is this a stalker move?

We have been house hunting for around 10 weeks VERY unsuccessfully, the market seems really slow at the moment.

On Friday, the house of our dreams was added to Rightmove. Called Connells and they only had availability due to staffing Fri 31st. Houses like this are being snapped up.

We’ve booked in the viewing but AIBU to post a very friendly note through the vendors door expressing our interest?

Our property is sold subject to contract to first time buyers so I suppose we’re in a decent position.

DP is unsure a note is a good idea, colleagues think it’s a done thing.

TIA for your views!

If I was selling I would want to know. The estate agent might or might not have told them about you, and might not have said that the delay in viewing is due to their staffing not your lack of enthusiasm. I would absolutely want to know that there was a prospective buyer willing to offer asking price in a good proceedable position (make sure you include all this info in your note) . Good luck!

Yes of course it’s a brilliant idea. The passive purchaser who can’t be bothered to do this will miss out on good properties

I wouldn't do that; it's not long to the 31st and a note through the door will annoy the agents and possibly the vendors too. What you could do is let the agent know that you are extremely interested and if the viewing goes well you will be offering the asking price. Ask is there any chance of bringing your viewing forward, and if not, will they at least let the vendor know.

If you are desperate for it honestly I’d put the note through and say you’d like to offer £370k and tell them your position. If it were me I’d accept it

We are currently selling our house and buying the new house with Connells and have several times seen our new house without the estate agent and shown buyers ours. They seemed quite happy to offer an evening or Sunday if that suited the vendor to do the showing. Maybe ring Connells and ask? I'd have been very annoyed to hear they were keeping keen viewers waiting

There is a risk that showing additional keenness will signal to them that there is likely to be interest in the property from others too, or at least you are keen enough to be squeezed for more, and as this is a couple divorcing they ultimately may want the highest price possible so they are each in the best position for their next move.

We’ve recently had ours for sale. I’d have not been remotely offended by a note through the door. Hand written or typed is fine. Just politely say what you said in your first comment. You’ve nothing to lose.

We have bought and sold 11 houses, my advice is no don’t do it.

The agent is doing the viewings presumably so the vendors don’t have to get involved, they may see a note as an intrusion.

i have never wanted to get involved with anyone I have bought from or sold to, it’s purely a business arrangement.

If I received a note it would arouse suspicion.

It's fine to express an interest, but if £350k is your limit and they are OIEO £350k then you'd be lucky unless you don't have a chain, or can move things quickly.

Yes I would and I have done this with success.

I understand how frustrating it is to wait until Friday so I think a note letting the vendors know the situation with EA is fine - but not if you then want the house for £350,000! With “offers over” they’re testing the market and you’re just confirming they could get more. Good luck though.

Just to add I haven’t done this with a house but I did with my car - sent an email saying it was perfect for me and it worked!

If it was me I’d refer you to the agent. Most likely they’d have to pay them a commission anyway, as you found them through the listing. I don’t like showing strangers my home, certainly not one who just knocks on my door that has been suggested - that’s the agent’s job.

I'd do it! Also less intrusive I think than just knocking on the door. I'd put my mobile and email. I'd also put a little about you and family, like how people write letters to the seller sometimes.

Not sure how I'd word it but I'd make it clear no pressure to respond, just reaching out in case as you really love the house.

When we sold our last house a few years ago, a young couple who had viewed it popped a handwritten letter through the door to say how much they loved our house and how much they wanted it. They said that they had just accepted an offer on their house and hoped that we would consider their offer on our house. Our estate agent had not told us about their offer at all! They were pushing for us to accept someone else's offer. We contacted the estate agent the next day and accepted the couple's offer. If they hadn't have written the letter we would probably have accepted the other offer and possibly never even known there was anyone else interested. So I suggest you write the letter - nothing to lose.

I think the worst that could happen is they are a Mumsnetter. They'll post to say do you think it's weird this potential buyer has posted a note thorough my door?. They will then be advised it's either a scam or you're having an affair with their husband.

The agent has done what s/he's supposed to do - created interest in the house and attracted potential buyers. Frankly I think I would pop a not in, hand written, to say you want a viewing before the one booked and are not trying to get round the estate agent. I mean, legally the T&Cs with the agent would say they get their cut whether they are there for the viewing or not.

I wouldn't because I don't see how it would achieve anything. The vendors are likely to just tell you to go through the Estate Agent. That is what they are paying them for

I would like expect the sellers to know that and that they have asked for the Estate Agent to show buyers round because they don't want to

Our house had been on the market for a few months, plenty of viewings but no offers. One Sunday afternoon a couple knocked on the door, were just passing and out of area. I showed them round, they offered 2 days later through the EA and the sale went through

I would go out of my way to avoid a buyer that put a letter though my door tbh. These people are paying an estate agent to avoid having to deal with buyers like you themselves. I’d assume you would be demanding in other ways too.

If definitely do a handwritten letter with your situation and mobile number - good luck xx

I'd definitely do it. They want to sell their property and an agent who cant facilitate viewings for a week is not on.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Agree - this looks like the EA is setting up a bidding war particularly if the house is in a popular area.

@Arlanymor@GunzThank you. We are sold to first time buyers and able to move along quickly - solicitors instructed etc.
I don’t trust Connells as far as I could throw them. They used this selling tactic on a house we offered on a few weeks back and they kept trying to squeeze more out of us. The house we eventually pulled our offer from (5k under asking) and they ended up taking 10k under.