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.

Definitely give it a whirl. You've got nothing to lose. We did it - also in January when there was nothing on the market. I did about 250 houses in total I reckon - all the streets we loved. I got about six responses - some were too expensive, some weren't serious, but one was perfect. And here we are ten years later still in the same house.

I won't lie, it's very strange negotiating a price face to face but we also got to know the seller and she was able to tell us a lot about the history of the house and who'd lived here as it had been in her family for nearly 50 years.

Obviously the big motivation for the seller is no estate agents fee - so if you catch someone at the right time who's keen to sell there's a real advantage for them.

I think you've done right to say you're a local family and I think that will make a difference. Our seller said it was important to her that it go to a local family who loved the area and wanted a home rather than a developer or someone trying to make a fast buck. In fact, we're still in touch with our seller and she comes round for dinner from time to time to see what's changed. We love having her and hearing the stories.

So, yeah, go for it and I wish you the best of luck.

We have sold privately and also bought privately. Dropped about 60 letter and had 4 responses. A couple that were serious

Have you got the nextdoor app? You could try posting on there as interim until things have calmed down with covid. It's very active where we live.

The letter looks good to me. But Id wait a few weeks.

Outside of covid times, I don't think it is intrusive. People can put it in the bin and forget about it.

Of course most people won't want to sell their house and you may get nothing back. But nothing ventured nothing gained.

Hi again and sorry to bump an older thread.

I just wanted to give an update to those who were thinking about doing the same.

Today I posted 80 letters (only half of what I'd planned) and within half an hour of returning home, I got a phonecall! Going to view a property in a lovely street tomorrow.

I added a note to the letter to say that they'd been delivered with gloves and with hygiene precautions and the elderly lady who called me said that she really appreciated how careful I'd been. They have a new build to move to soon and recently had their house valued and are thrilled at the prospect of saving money on estate agent fees if it all works out.

Anyone considering doing this, I'd say go for it and good luck!

That's amazing @AllesAusLiebe, I'm glad you went for it, and I'm so pleased you had an immediate positive response (this gives me hope!). Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly!