Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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:
DesperateHouseknife · 22/05/2019 16:48

Your draft still comes across as overly self-indulgent. You should focus on what they would get out of the arrangement.

"When you eventually decide to sell your property, could you please consider getting in contact with us. As locals, we have admired your house for several years and have always felt that it would make a perfect home for our young family. When you are ready, we might be able to offer you a simple and trouble-free transaction.

Our details are....

Regards
....

DesperateHouseknife · 22/05/2019 16:52

Replace "could" with "would" in my previous post. A barely forgivable error on my part.

LittleLongDog · 22/05/2019 16:59

@RomanyQueen1 what am I missing? I genuinely can’t see the CF element here.

PCohle · 22/05/2019 17:09

I think the level of detail you're including comes across as guilt tripping.

I would also take out the "We have taken the unusual step of contacting you as" bit. It just highlights that you're doing something unusual which makes it seem like it's weirder than it really is.

LordPickle · 22/05/2019 17:12

How many times did this need posting? Why are you running the exact same thread on 2 different subtopics? Confused

RomanyQueen1 · 22/05/2019 17:43

littleLongDog

I don't think you are tbh, it's just me and my opinion.
I think it's because they would be talking about my home, that I love, and most people go to an agent when they want to sell.
I'd just be really pissed off. Might just be me Grin

ravenshope · 22/05/2019 18:16

I would feel like you, Romanyqueen.

pickledpepperspub · 22/05/2019 18:31

Why not? You've got nothing to lose. Only on Mumsnet could a simple note be seen as an intrusion. We sold our last house to people who posted a note through.

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 22/05/2019 18:47

If I got a letter like that through my door I would be pissed off too, not because someone wanted to buy my house but because of the way it’s worded, to me that letter really says is ‘you are an old couple, you don’t need a house like that, I do! I’ve got children, it’s should be mine not yours!’ But I’m a cynical cow. However, if the letter simply said that you admired my house and if would like to buy it if we were thinking of selling I would be far more receptive.

DuchessOfAdler · 22/05/2019 18:53

Nobody is going to sell to you because your letter is nice, so it doesn't matter if estate agents also already write generic ''want to sell your house?'' style letters!

I think I'd be annoyed by a longer letter as there's a pleading tone to it. It'd make me feel I was doing something heartless by not selling my own home! which is crazy! Better keep the letter very short and sweet.

Landfilly · 22/05/2019 18:59

We get letters through our door - live in a village where not a lot of property comes up for sale

The pleading tone is v offputting

Just a generic "love your house, live in the village" note with a contact number is enough

Anything more is embarrassing

VanillaCoconutDove · 22/05/2019 19:02

The trouble is, do you show your hand or not. If you’re gushing in your love for this house and singling it out, then would you accept whatever price they put on it? (Not talking silly Millions, but if an estate agent would value it at 350 and they said they’d move for 375/390?) Or do you go more of general business like approach of making a query if they’d be interested in selling.

luckiestgirl · 22/05/2019 19:08

I wouldn’t start with ‘dear home owners’ - it sounds generic and like you’ve written to many houses. I stop reading when I see its to ‘home owner’.
I’d start with ‘dear number 64’ or something

MaybeitsMaybelline · 22/05/2019 19:18

I feel the same as you RomanyQueen, I read all these drafts and feel pissed off, or i would if that came through my door.

It reads quite entitled to me, entitled to my lovely home because you have decided you want it and its garden for your family, so push off and hand it over older couple will you, you’ve had your turn.

Tone it right down.

RomanyQueen1 · 22/05/2019 19:34

To me it's like they are calling you stupid too, just like those companies who want your house, and will offer peanuts.
If you want to sell surely you'd put a sign up if selling privately, or go to an EA.
Your not going to be happy in your home and then voila want to sell it because somebody puts a note through your door.

kizkiz · 22/05/2019 19:42

I've read threads about this on various forums. Lots of people have bought and sold houses through notes, so don't believe the nay sayers.

Passthecherrycoke · 22/05/2019 19:44

I think you’re massively overthinking this- it’s no big deal really, and you shouldn’t get your hopes up because the chances of it working really are teeny tiny. Just a hi we always admire your beautiful home if youre ever thinking of selling please do contact us, we’d love to make an offer

Rhica · 22/05/2019 19:48

My uncle bought a house recently and this is exactly what he did!! You never know so good luck to you!

The amount of people this appears to annoy is surprising. If someone posted through my door it would just go in recycling without a second thought. Perfectly fine letter 👍

Oblomov19 · 22/05/2019 20:04

Far too long winded and emotional. Cut it much shorter, as recommended.

Nandocushion · 22/05/2019 20:10

I think a little bit of personal info is good, OP. We get these letters from time to time, but usually from an agent so we ignore them. If I thought it was from a buyer I might reply.

As PP have noted, though, it always makes me assume that the buyer is willing to pay full asking price or even more. Be prepared they may come back with a cheeky price.

myhamster · 22/05/2019 20:19

My friend did a similar thing to this, the homeowners were actually very please as they were thinking of downsizing in the near future, and they did sell it to my friend, as they loved the fact that another young family were going to grow up in the house that they had brought their own children up in. It just brought their plans forward a bit.

I don't see how you have anything to lose OP.

MummyOfTwo92 · 22/05/2019 20:33

We often get letters from people looking to buy houses, not an issue to us as we rent but I think that letter is far to full on. You will see if a for sale sign goes up surly? Until then they aren't selling

BlackPrism · 22/05/2019 20:50

I don't see what their home has to do with your living situation? It's like you're trying to guilt trip them out...I'd be annoyed

Original poster
WatchyMcWatchdog · 22/05/2019 20:53

Just in case my OP was unclear, I will be sending the letter (& taking the consequences/fall out if it goes wrong) and this thread is looking for advice on how to maximise the chances of it working and minimising any inconvenience it might cause if worded insensitively.

OP posts:
Surfingtheweb · 22/05/2019 21:39

I think it's ok to put a note through saying you'd like to buy it..... but your letter sounds like emotional blackmail 🙈