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Original poster

I would like to buy your house

57 replies

WatchyMcWatchdog · 22/05/2019 13:39

There's a house in my village which I've had my eye on for a long time. It's owned by an older couple (early 60s) who have lived there for over 25 years. It's not in great condition but it's in a lovely part of the village, is good size with a big garden. Nothing else in the village matches our requirements but I absolutely appreciate it may well continue to meet theirs now and in the future. I would like to put a note through their door and be as polite as possible about it. Here's my current draft:

Dear Homeowners,

Apologies for contacting you out of the blue. We hope you don't mind us taking this direct approach of writing to you to see if you might be interested in selling your house at all?

We have taken the unusual step of contacting you as we are a local couple with young children who are very keen to stay living in the village. We have been looking for a long term family home in [village] for the last 2 years. Our children are # and # and we would love them to have a house with the space to play in and a garden big enough to run around in. From the outside it looks as though your house would be great for that. I am [involved in local thing] so living within walking distance of it whilst they grow up would be lovely for our daughters.

We would really like to hear from you if you are thinking of selling, or perhaps keep our details if you are considering moving in the near future. We haven’t contacted any other homeowners as we think yours is just right so if you aren’t looking to sell if you could let us know we would really appreciate it.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter.

WatchMcWatchdog

OP posts:
DaisyD0Little · 22/05/2019 13:41

Well you can try! I wouldn't pin hopes on it or anything but no harm in asking

mazylou · 22/05/2019 13:41

Someone did that with us recently - we're not looking to sell, but we certainly read the letter, and it wasn't far off what you propose. Good luck.

Gabrielknight · 22/05/2019 13:41

It sounds fine, but be prepared to hear nothing. We often get letters through our door that are very similar - they go straight in the bin.

BellMcEnd · 22/05/2019 13:44

I think that your letter is far too full on. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the principle but I think the level of detail you’ve included is too much and would make me a bit uncomfortable if it was my house, tbh.

BogglesGoggles · 22/05/2019 13:47

You’ve over egged it a bit. Just an expression of interest and your intention to use as a family home (a lot of people don’t like the idea of selling to developers) is enough.

Tavannach · 22/05/2019 13:49

It's too full on. I'd just put something like "We've always admired your home and if you are ever thinking of selling please contact us.". If they're only in their early 60s they could be there for many years to come.

LoafofSellotape · 22/05/2019 13:54

Too waffly imo. Keep it short and sweet. My parents got their house by doing just this so worth a shot

zucchinicourgette · 22/05/2019 13:54

I think it’s fine to put a note through their door but I feel your draft is too long-winded and too much personal detail. I’d make it shorter and more formal. And cut out the ending about you not having contacted anyone else and asking them to let you know either way - if they’re not interested you shouldn’t expect them to follow up with you. If they are not interested in selling in the near future they may well not even read to the end of the letter anyway.

Original poster
WatchyMcWatchdog · 22/05/2019 13:55

Draft 2:

Dear Homeowners,

Apologies for contacting you out of the blue. We hope you don't mind us taking this direct approach of writing to you to see if you might be interested in selling your house at all?

We have taken the unusual step of contacting you as we are a local couple with young children who are very keen to stay living in the village. We have been looking for a long term family home in [village] for the last 2 years. Our children are # and # and we would love them to have a house with the space to play in and a garden big enough to run around in. From the outside it looks as though your house would be great for that. I am [involved in local thing] so living within walking distance of it whilst they grow up would be lovely for our daughters.

We would really like to hear from you if you are thinking of selling, or perhaps keep our details if you are considering moving in the near future. We haven’t contacted any other homeowners as we think yours is just right so if you aren’t looking to sell if you could let us know we would really appreciate it.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter.

WatchMcWatchdog

OP posts:
LoafofSellotape · 22/05/2019 13:55

Just say you're looking to buy in the area and if they are interested in selling then please please contact you.

BitchyArriver · 22/05/2019 13:57

These letters normally state you would be willing to pay over market value for the property.

LoafofSellotape · 22/05/2019 13:58

Dear home owner,

We are looking to buy in the area, if you are interested in selling either now or sometime in the future please contact us on 012344.

Thanks

User0ne · 22/05/2019 14:02

If they live in your village and are involved in the community surely you know someone who can introduce you?

Original poster
WatchyMcWatchdog · 22/05/2019 14:02

LoafofSellotape the problem with that generic letter is that we all get that all the time via estate agents leafleting the village. I've only once received a personal letter which I did respond to because obviously we are looking to move and there was somewhere we liked at the time. It didn't work out but it gave me the idea.

OP posts:
BellMcEnd · 22/05/2019 14:03

Dear Homeowners,

Apologies for contacting you out of the blue. We hope you don't mind us taking this direct approach of writing to you to see if you might be interested in selling your house at all?

We have taken the unusual step of contacting you as we are a local couple with young children who are very keen to stay living in [village].

If by any chance you are considering selling your house now or in the near future we would be so grateful if you contacted us.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter.

Yours faithfully

WatchMcWatchdog

LoafofSellotape · 22/05/2019 14:10

Presumably estate agents don't hand write it though?

Original poster
WatchyMcWatchdog · 22/05/2019 14:13

Draft 3:

Dear Homeowners,

Apologies for contacting you out of the blue. We hope you don't mind us taking this direct approach of writing to you to see if you might be interested in selling your house at all?

We have taken the unusual step of contacting you as we are a local couple with young children who are very keen to stay living in [name] village. We haven’t yet managed to find a house that meets our needs and from the outside it looks as though your house could be just right.

We would really like to hear from you if you are thinking of selling, or perhaps keep our details if you are considering moving in the near future. We haven’t contacted any other homeowners so if you aren’t looking to sell if you could let us know we would really appreciate it.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter.

WatchyMcWatchdog

OP posts:
BellMcEnd · 22/05/2019 14:16

Why do you have 2 identical threads?

LoafofSellotape · 22/05/2019 14:23

Dear Home owner,
We hope you don't mind us taking this direct approach of writing to you to see if you might be interested in selling your house?
We are a local couple with young children who are very keen to stay living in [name] village. We haven’t yet managed to find a house that meets our needs and from the outside it looks as though your house could be just right.
If you are thinking of selling please contact us.

Thanks in advance.

Villanellesproudmum · 22/05/2019 14:32

Id go with Bells otherwise it looks like an estate agents note

RomanyQueen1 · 22/05/2019 14:44

I really don't like this, i know some people do it, but personally i'd sell to someone through an agent when good and ready, not because somebody posted a note through my door.
I think it's the highest CF ever, but that's just my opinion. I'd be careful if it's a small village you could be judged by the entire population if they are so inclined.

Lollygaggles · 22/05/2019 14:48

I'm going to swim against the tide here, but I like the personal details about why you're asking and how it would suit your family, that's what I would respond to. For me, it would not feel cheeky at all, I'd be flattered. Winkand also relieved that I could downsize with potential buyers to hand!

Would you like to buy my house please? Grin

skippy67 · 22/05/2019 16:11

All of your letters are too full on. If I got that letter I'd be thinking I could ask over the odds because you sound so desperate to buy. Keep it general as suggested by PP.

SAHMlikeitHOT · 22/05/2019 16:18

I hate the 'at all?'. Upward inflection and tautologous. Just saying....

Original poster
WatchyMcWatchdog · 22/05/2019 16:29

Lollygaggles I'm sure I'd love to Grin

Thank you all for your perspectives. I want to include the right amount of personal information to not make it sound like a cold estate agent approach but not so much that I make them feel emotionally blackmailed. It's been good to get views on 2 different boards to see if people view the situation differently (I do genuinely want the full range of views as I have no way of guessing which view the homeowner will have).

Draft 4:

Dear Homeowners,

Apologies for contacting you out of the blue. We hope you don't mind us taking this direct approach of writing to you to see if you might be interested in selling your house?

We have taken the unusual step of contacting you as we are a local couple with young children who are very keen to stay living in [name] village but as yet we haven’t managed to find a house that’s right for us.

If you are considering selling, we’d appreciate it if you’d let us know, or perhaps keep our details if you are considering moving in future.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter.

WatchyMcWatchdog

OP posts:
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