Please proofread my leaflet drop (and tell me if I'm definitely wasting my time)

[clippertyslippertyflipflop]

"Dear Homeowner,
We have just begun our search for a home in XXXXX. Fortunately there are many similar 4 bed houses with beautiful period features. However, XXXX Road is particularly appealing to us as the name reminds me of living in XXXX village as a child. If you are considering selling your home in the near future (either through an agent or privately) then we would be very grateful if you could let us know on .....
Clipperty"

^
I'm considering handwriting this on 40 cards tomorrow. It will take a couple of hours but will hopefully look more serious (plus my printer is broken), then posting them through the doors in this street. I saw some posts on here a couple of months ago about leaflet dropping, with some posters very enthusiastic and others less so. I currently live in an area where I typically bin touting letters from estate agents a couple of times a week, but wondered if this more personal approach would be viewed differently or would somehow seem to be intrusive. And would people think I was strange for preferring this street just because of the name? I don't mind wasting a bit of time having a go at something, but don't want to annoy people.

I actually tried leafleting in a different area earlier this year, but only posted ten and wasn't surprised to hear nothing, especially as it was in an area where the market is slow and people rarely move (which has since made me rethink my search there due to the fear of having a hard time reselling in the future, hence my change of search location).

Opinions/ advice welcome please!

We did something similar a few years ago and it paid off. You've got nothing to lose.

I think the saying you like the name is odd, but nothing to lose by letting people know you're interested. Personally I'd go with something simple like "I love your house and this area - do let me know if you're ever looking to sell"

Agree handwritten card is more likely to be taken seriously

Agree with Hermione, it's a perfectly valid thing to do but detailing exactly why the road name means so much to you sounds ott and strange.

Thank you. The name thing is a bit silly then, but there are about 6 streets with similar architecture and price, but I do feel drawn to just this one. I'm not usually influenced at all by things like that, and don't believe in fate.
Selling through an estate agent would cost vendor around £25,000 (London), and I'm not looking for a reduction. I just hate the race of having own under offer (which should hopefully take my place less than a week) just in time to put an offer in on the right place.
Will put my own on the market and see what comes up where I'm looking. On the list of home requirements, lovely-memories-street-name-as-a-future-address should be low down. Back to being sensible!

Hand written is fine, just make absolutely sure there are no grammar or spelling mistakes. Can you add something to confirm your position as good buyers, mortgage in place, large deposit etc but be truthful.

Agree to pp, keep it short and forget about the mention of the street name meaning something to you. Are you intending leaving a mobile number or email? Older people might prefer a landline number or address (though I don't think that's particularly safe to include).

I think the mention of the street name is quite good, actually. It makes your note memorable and personal (if a little unusual).

we quite often get leaflets like this and tbh if i read 'Fortunately there are many similar 4 bed houses with beautiful period features" i would think well go and buy one of them then and put your card in the bin.

My parents sold their house as a result of a leaflet drop like this. Only problem as a purchaser is that they sold it for the ceiling price for the street (probably more than it was worth) as the leaflet said how desperate they were to buy in our tiny village! So perhaps don't mention the street name thing.

All really helpful - I'm abandoning the idea now! Thank you. Though as a seller, I would like to receive a note directly from a buyer rather than have to deal with the hassle of estate agents and the hideous cost.

3boys, interesting you should say that as we bought our home after receiving a leaflet from the vendors. In a similar scenario but flipped, the leaflet smacked of desperation and indeed they had flights booked to emigrate. Hence, we got it for a song. So perhaps the moral of this story is not to show your hand too much, ifyswim.

I wouldn't mention your reasons regarding the name of the road. It's sounds a bit tbh. I also have mixed feelings about leafleting at all although I can understand the reasons. If someone takes you up and wants to sell, you are on the back foot from the off. It's hard to look poker faced when you have made the first move by asking if they want to sell in the first place.

Many years ago our neighbour in flat knocked on the door and asked us if we wanted to sell our flat as he wanted to knock through and make one large flat. He then said as we now had two children we would obviously be looking to move...

He then bought another one of our neighbours flats, an old couple and then harangued them to pop in for plans, measuring up curtains etc.. until the deal went through.

I think you should do it. You have nothing to lose and you are anonymous to them apart from that note.

We got our house through a leaflet drop. I included landline number and email address. We targeted two streets and only the houses we thought we're what we wanted - via google earth. I actually typed the note on a postcard size but hand signed and hand addressed. We stressed that we were local and looking for a long term family house.
I think we got 3 replies, then strangely another about 3 months after the original drop. Two responses were from people considering downsizing, another from someone who would sell at the right price (ie too high for us).
I also got a call from a confused old lady asking what this was all about selling her house and I had to reassure her that we weren't going to make her move. She did give some useful info about the different layouts of houses in the block.

I'd say go for it. nothing to lose and mentioning the street name has childhood memories might be an icebreaker.

leaflet drop is a great idea .
Simplify your message .

" Dear householder,
I am looking to buy a house like yours in this area. If you are considering selling in the near future please get in touch"

leave your email and mobile

hand written also good !

I got in trouble doing a similar leaflet drop. There was a very confused old lady living on her own who was convinced she was being forced out of her house! Her son rang me up and gave me a really hard time!! It was not nice and I think I would be wary of doing it again.