Note through the door approach to buying a house?

[pinkflamingo86]

Hi everyone

I've never posted in this section before. I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on this approach to finding a house to buy.

Basically we have sold our house (in Feb) and my estate agent says we are almost at the point where we are going to agree a date to exchange/complete. Only problem is we haven't found a new home. We've offered 4 times on one house and 2 on another but we lost out to higher bidders both times. There's nothing much other than these two available at the moment.

We are quite prepared to rent and know we would be in a good position but I am keen to pop a friendly note through some doors on in the area we ideally want to be in ( we like 3 medium sized estates in a small town). My husband thinks it's a bad idea but I think we have nothing to lose! If we found something we could move in with my parents in the interim but not indefinitely (which is why we would have to rent if we don't find a house)

What would you write in a note of this description?

Has anyone had experience of this on either side ? Positive or negative.

Thanks all...

My friend was renting for several years and loved the road she lived in. She leafleted all the houses in the road (it was basically a crescent made up of 2 roads) and they found a house that way.

This sounds like a good idea and one I kinda wish I had considered.

There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with it - it's legal, proactive and shows initiative as far as I can tell. Like many have said - you may also end up with the actual home you want.

Hmm... just to be devil advocate - someone mentioned people who would feel it's "House Invasion" or something like that. I guess if everyone leafletted as a regular thing it could be viewed as unsolicited mail and some people have signs up against that, so as long as that kind of thing and privacy are respected I'm sure it's fine.

Might be an interesting thing to do during a recession. May give some families considering moving some hope - because they have a buyer straight away that could help with a financial struggle. However, for some families worried about losing a home they are desperately trying to save/keep (so feeling a bit fragile about their financial circumstances), they might feel more insecure - but I guess that's not really your problem because you're just offering an idea/possibility.

Good luck! Let us know how you get on. Sounds like a good idea if done well - like the right wording in the leaflet etc.

If you don't ask you don't get.
Go for it pinkflamingo86

My mum and dad got a letter through their door once, they live in a nice area on a corner plot. They had no intention of selling but my mum was extremely flattered and pleased that someone was coveting their house.

We live close to an outstanding primary school so get those sort of notes reasonably often. I would worry about how best to agree a price etc if buying/selling that way but I wouldn't think it was cringey.

I don't see any harm in it. As another poster has said upthread, another approach would be to post on a local Facebook page. We live in a village and get this quite often.

If I received that sort of note it might encourage me to move because I’d be rubbing my greedy hands thinking how much I could overcharge

That’s an odd reaction. I’ve had two of these notes in the six years I’ve been here, I’m not selling so they went in the bin but if we were considering it, or would be shortly, it might/would give us the nudge.

I’d not assume though the people interested were willing to pay over the odds though, I’d assume normal valuation process. I’d not even assume they weren’t cheeky fuckers who wanted to try and buy cheap. You can’t assume anything, just if you’re interested in selling or wish to sell you can take the discussion.

I’d also agree posting on the local Facebook page is a good idea, I’ve seen a few on ours, as in looking for a propert in this area, x bedrooms, does anyone know of any properties coming up for sale. There is always a couple of responses.

Weirdly enough we got one today....maybe it was from the OP !

My estate agent did this for me. It was advertising for their services saying mr and Mrs W are looking for a house within short walking distance of x church. Please contact us if interested in selling.

We saw two houses before on open market this way, but didn't buy either.

We moved in with family for three months while we waited for our perfect home.

Just suggest you will pay a fair market price on the basis of 3 valuations

You don’t have to leave a contact other than
Claire/phone number

I'd love a note through my door.
Mind you, then I'd have to convince dh to move. That wouldn't be easy.

I know someone who got their house that way.
Go for it.
If you don't ask you won't get.