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Original poster

Should I drop a letter through potential letterboxes?

39 replies

cooperbug · 26/10/2020 20:47

We are at the point where our house sale is near completion and we are about to move into rented house in next two weeks. We have had no luck with the three houses we have offered on since June.

The market here is pretty quiet and I don’t think things will pick up until the new year now.

We are considering identifying potential houses we like and posting a little note through the door?
Is this cringe or has anybody had any luck with this?

OP posts:

Mapletreelane · 27/10/2020 09:51

We kept it short and sweet and just put we were a family looking to move into the area as we loved it and give us a call if they were thinking of selling. No mention of price. We had a look round, and we said we were interested. They then got 3 valuations and we agreed on mid figure. We had done a lot of research on the area, right move is a source of so much data for layouts, house prices. Also use google maps so you could see the plot,.aspect for sun etc. So pleased we did it.

muckandnettles · 27/10/2020 09:52

I would do it, definitely OP, but be warned that there are time wasters around who will play around with the idea of moving, but as there is no EA involved there is no one to stop them. We tried this idea once quite a few years ago and got our hearts set on a lovely house where the couple were going through a divorce, and we even moved into rented to wait for them to settle their differences and still didn't end up with it after getting in the middle of a really acrimonious situation for the best part of a year. Another person also contacted us so that we could basically go and look round their house and admire it...not really any intention of selling at all. So tread carefully, that's all I'm saying!

caringcarer · 27/10/2020 09:56

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

GiraffeNecked · 27/10/2020 09:57

We got 3 valuations after we were approached, we already had an idea anyway. I wouldn't bother mentioning a price first off. Wait till you've seen round it!

A simple letter saying you are interested in buying in the area, the position you are in and I think making it clear that you are a family looking to buy.

ILoveYoga · 27/10/2020 10:25

We have friends who did this. Similar position you’re in now too. Someone did come back to them and they weren’t ready to sell for a year (child finishing a levels the following year), our friends were in rented with a year lease anyway so decided to wait. Worked out really well for them.

FManc · 27/10/2020 10:35

Last year we tried two different methods; posting through letterboxes and posting on local FB groups. We got so much more interest through Facebook and viewed several properties this way before they hit the market! We did nearly offer on one as it was pretty much perfect but an even better property hit the market.

ShaunaTheSheep · 27/10/2020 10:49

If you'd be interested in selling then we'd be interested in saving you estate agent fees by doing a private deal.

That would put me right off, not sure why, maybe the implication that we might need to save money, or that the buyers would be awkward about other aspects of the sale.

Isit2021yetplease · 27/10/2020 12:43

We just said - we're looking for a family home (no mention of budget) and we fell in love with your road. Here's a bit about us and why we love this area. If you're thinking of selling then we would love to talk to you, here are our details.
Out of 40 I think about 10 people replied which I thought was amazing - 9 to tell us they weren't moving but appreciated the letter and one to tell us they were moving - and that's where we live now!

ShaunaTheSheep · 27/10/2020 14:42

Following on from my previous post, having thought about it, the prospective buyer is implying that they are would be doing me a favour by buying my house (which i may or may not have have any intention of selling). From the seller’s perspective it would be me doing them the favour of selling them their dream home.

40somethingJBJ · 27/10/2020 16:40

I asked on the village Facebook page as there was nothing got sale that was in my budget a d that I liked. I got a couple of responses and bought my current house off one of them. Actually offered 10k under the valuation as it was saving them money in estate agents fees, and they happily took it.

Original poster

cooperbug · 27/10/2020 18:11

Well will see what happens, I have about 30 notes ready to post through doors tomorrow of houses we like the look of 🤞

OP posts:

Oranges555 · 27/10/2020 21:23

We have done this. We couldn’t find anything we liked and I had a specific area in mind. I hand wrote all the little notes and posted to about 15 houses, got 5 responses, viewed 2 and are buying one of them! Check Rightmove before got target roads/houses (you can even see there previous photos for some) to give you a guide on price etc. Both we viewed we were given very good prices for, market value and they took off the EA fees they would have had to pay. So glad I braved it and posted some, we’ve found our dream home!

Original poster

cooperbug · 30/10/2020 22:00

We have two houses to view this weekend from our letter drops earlier in the week! 🤞

OP posts:

needanewidea · 30/10/2020 22:45

That's great news! Good luck!

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