Letter drop - please give me your opinions

[AllesAusLiebe]

Hi everyone,

We're looking to move at the moment and can't find anything on the market. We have a sale agreed on our house and are getting desperate in a very competitive area. Also, just missed out on a property we loved, despite offering the asking price, so I'm feeling a bit forlorn with all of this stuff right now.

Friend of mine suggested doing a letter drop in the streets I like and I've drafted a letter but think it sounds a bit pushy. Please tell me what you think:

Dear Homeowner,
We are a local family looking to buy a house on (road), however, there is nothing on the market at present.

If you are thinking of listing your property for sale, we would very much like to hear from you.

We are in a good position to proceed, with a mortgage agreed in principle and can move swiftly. We are also sufficiently flexible and happy to allow as much time as you may require.

If you are considering selling and would consider a private sale, please contact (Mr and Mrs AllesAusLiebe's email and phone number).

I'd also be really grateful for any tips if you've done this before! Thanks.

I like this. We had someone do the same to us, and it was quite verbose and long winded, talking about stamp duty and losing the estate agent fees. We aren't selling ours but are renting it out so did reach out to them in case an alternative arrangement works. Good luck!

IIRC a local councillor got into A LOT of bother for posting leaflets through people's doors recently. Covid innit.

I'd wait until things are back to normal.

I think it's a great idea. My sister did it and got her dream house. Covid is an issue though - people might be upset by infection risk.

People are nuts being unduly concerned if they are worried about infection risk from a leaflet drop. Unless they have barred all post from entering their home, an additional sheet of paper is neither here nor there.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Ohhh shit, I didn't even think about the current situation. We're mainly targeting roads where a lot of elderly people live, too, so don't want to cause any upset. Thanks for pointing this out - I honestly didn't think, but good advice to hold off for a while.

Thanks for the positive feedback, though! I'll get them printed and play a waiting game until things are a little bit less crazy.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/councillors-reported-police-rival-party-19784417.amp

It's nuts but real. Also in Bournemouth where the police told the Green Party to stop leafleting. Just because it's crazy doesn't mean it's not true...

Normally yes, we get letters like these often.

At the moment... probably not a good idea.

Ha, I did the a few years ago & the only reply I got was an earful from an elderly persons daughter demanding to know why I was targeting her mother!

We did and now live in one of the houses that came up through it. But I agree with other posters concern about covid.

Why not put something similar on social media - local Facebook groups or nextdoor etc

We got 3 responses - one we liked but it wasn't quite right in terms of layout - it had been built to the owners requirements- she got a bit snotty when we didn't go for it.

The one we're in, the couple who owned it were splitting up so it helped them out by us offering to buy it.

Another time I approached someone who I knew wanted to move abroad to be with her partner and the whole sale went very smoothly

So it's worth it and also gathering bit of info about people and being a bit cheeky - what have you got to lose?

Another option is finding the local Facebook group and posting in there. You'll mostly get people telling you about stuff that's already on Rightmove, but worth a try.

Very interested in your replies OP because we are considering doing this but with just one house we have viewed previously.

It was an elderly couple who in the end decided not to sell so I’d be wary of sounding pushy and would want to see phrase it more in a ‘please let us have first refusal IF you sell rather than please let us buy your house’

@Befals that drives me potty! Surely everyone looks at Rightmove so why bother saying ‘there’s one on Rightmove’.

I know people are just trying to be helpful but still.

Yes! And if you ask people nicely in your original post not to put Rightmove etc links, some people get all humpty about it, like it's a personal slight.

Could you post the notes and address to "the occupier" rather than leaflet drop during a pandemic? Good luck.

I'm all in favour of your plan, OP. I've done it myself in the past (no success, but anything is worth a go). If someone did it to me now, I'd give it serious consideration.

Most people are not paranoid about catching Covid from a leaflet, either. It's only on MN, I think.

We've had quite a few of these over the years and find them intrusive.

Intrusive, how? They aren't coming to your door and asking to come in. Or asking you for personal information.

The elderly have had their forst vacc dose (most of them) so they would be the least worried about picking up your leaflet. CAn always wash their hands straight after, obvs!
I'd say do a drop now instead of wasting more time, as many other buyers may come to the narket in spring (and have same idea).
The wording is good!
I so wish someone leafletted me tbh. So much easier than all the viewings / dealing with agents.

@LittleOverwhelmed

We did this, but actually posted them (ie with a stamp): so no real Covid worries.

We have been in the house we found, by doing that, almost 7 years: so it worked! Good luck.

Does posting a letter via Royal Mail prevent COVID? I’m going to stick a stamp on myself and post me hone from work rather than using the Tube.

I like the letter, with the suggested amendment of IF you decide to sell.

Sounds good to me. Can I suggest you set up a separate email account for this, rather than using your personal one.

We did this when we sold our last house, and DH and I use it now as a household email. Means we can keep all information together (separate virtual folders) on our council tax, utilities, holidays, sky etc, so either of us can deal with stuff that comes up. And it avoids clogging up your personal email account.

I would definitely do this now and not wait, if I were in your position and looking for a house. The recipients don't need to open the letter immediately, and they can always throw it away if they're so offended. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, is my view.

We're going on the market this month, so will hopefully be buying later this year. Once we've got close to completion, I'll start sending the notes to houses in the roads I have my eye on; the wording you have suggested is a perfect template.

@TeenMinusTests

People are nuts being unduly concerned if they are worried about infection risk from a leaflet drop. Unless they have barred all post from entering their home, an additional sheet of paper is neither here nor there.

Precisely

You can always write ‘PS gloves were worn when handling this letter’