Where did you find your house?

[staranise]

We're looking to move to a small town - have identified the precise area we want, we know what sort of house, what price, local schools etc. as yet, there is no suitable house on the market - the sort of house we want doesn't come up very often (though I know it exists).

I'm watching Rightmove, prime location, zoopla etc and have rung up the estate agents in the area - of which there are a lot of very small local agents . Is there anywhere else we should be looking? It's been years since we last moved, the market has completely changed plus. The town is also too far away for us to be able to visit easily and we don't know anyone who lives there who might be able to keep an eye out for us. Where's the best place to find houses for sale?

Registering with the local agents, and keeping in touch with them will probably be the most fruitfull.

I think it is probably worth a letter drop in some houses that are suitable just asking that they let you know if they decide to sell. Perhaps some posters in the post office/newsagent window.

Its probably going to be the agents and watching the websites that will get you a result though.

Was 13 years ago, but we drove past the areas we fancied living in and saw this house for sale. I loved it and said that if it was under £X amount it was ours. Put an offer in after seeing it and it had only been on the market a few days.

Guess it's easier now with rightmove and estate agents websites.

If you've a focused area then registering with local agents and keeping in touch so they know you're still actively looking. You may get to hear about places before they're listed on Rightmove etc (saving the agent fees).

If you're search covers a larger area (as ours does) then Rightmove etc are the best approach - I don't want to be receiving phone calls and emails from thirty agents!

Yes, tempted to do a letter drop bt don't want to look like pushy blow-ins! Do you thinkthey work?

Yes, there are a few threads on here about it if you fancy a search. Obviously mixed resuts, but yes they can work.

Most importantly it is very very unlikely to offend anyone, so nothing ventured nothing gained!

LetTer drops definately work. We heard through word of mouth that a house was going to be going on the market. We popped a note through the door saying that we were interested, stated our personal and financial situation and we had a phone call straight away. That was August last year and we moved into the house in November. We saved alot of money as the vendor was pleased that we had saved them agency fees and they got a quick sale.

Heard about it from a friend, before it went to market. Spoke to vendors, and shook hands on a price.

Didn't actually believe it would be ours till we set foot in it, and had the keys in our hands.

Wow, sounds like letters are definitely worth it. Thanks for the help