Wording for leaflets through doors in our desired area

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 2021-06-26T15:17:29+00:00

We're on the lookout for a new (to us) home but nothing is coming up in the area we want. I'm considering popping notes through the doors. Has anyone ever done this? Did it work and what did you say? I can't decide whether to make it bright and breezy or make it more formal. Any examples you've used or seen?

Wobblington · 26/06/2021 20:25

Yes, I did this recently, I got about a 6% response rate of houses not yet on the market. I kept it postcard size as I thought there was more chance people would read if they didn’t have to open an envelope/think it was junk. I just said I was looking in this area but there wasn’t anything on the market. If you are thinking of selling and have a family size house please email/tel ….

PurplePansy05 · 26/06/2021 20:35

Some people do it in our area and frankly, our neighbours and we really dislike it and would never call. It's a popular enough area that we don't need to bother with contacting anyone individually beforehand, houses often sell within 1-2 days. The reason why we dislike it is that we really do not like junk mail. It might be pet hate to some, but if you had tons of leaflets over a period of time, you just don't want more. We all have stickers on doors asking not to post unsolicited mail and it wouldn't go down well to ignore this tbh.

Besides, there will be people who are proceedable and are already registered with estate agents waiting to purchase in that area if it's that popular. Why do you think it's appropriate to jump the queue? I don't support this way of thinking at all.

Warmduscher · 26/06/2021 20:38

@PurplePansy05

Some people do it in our area and frankly, our neighbours and we really dislike it and would never call. It's a popular enough area that we don't need to bother with contacting anyone individually beforehand, houses often sell within 1-2 days. The reason why we dislike it is that we really do not like junk mail. It might be pet hate to some, but if you had tons of leaflets over a period of time, you just don't want more. We all have stickers on doors asking not to post unsolicited mail and it wouldn't go down well to ignore this tbh.

Besides, there will be people who are proceedable and are already registered with estate agents waiting to purchase in that area if it's that popular. Why do you think it's appropriate to jump the queue? I don't support this way of thinking at all.

Blimey, you sound hard work.

Subbaxeo · 26/06/2021 20:47

@PurplePansy05 maybe someone is considering selling and is quite grateful to receive a letter because they don’t have to involve an estate agent. We know 2 people for whom this was successful and when we did it, we had a reply from someone who ‘liked our initiative’.

We kept it quite short, first names, said how much we like the area, explained our position and email. Sure, some people don’t like it and would throw in the bin, but other people would be happy to receive it. What have you got to lose? A bit of legwork and paper.

PurplePansy05 · 26/06/2021 20:49

OP has asked, I said what I think in response as someone who receives this kind of leaflets regularly. Of course this method might work for some people. It won't for others. We're all entitled to an opinion.

Original poster

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 26/06/2021 20:55

Thank you for your suggestions and opinions. I don't consider it jumping the queue. Surely if someone isn't interested in selling their house they won't respond and if they are they might like to save the estate agent fees. I'll keep it short and simple, thank you.

OP posts:

NewHouseNewMe · 26/06/2021 23:11

Someone did this recently on this street. It was very well worded: we are a family with young children who want to buy a detached property on this street. Our previous home is sold and we are in rented so are chain free. For a no-obligation chat, please call X and Y (mobile phones and emails)

I am not selling but didn't find it intrusive at all. They seemed like nice people.

Isit2021yetplease · 26/06/2021 23:36

We did this and it worked! Now living in a better house than we could ever have imagined which never even went to market. You don’t ask, you don’t get!

We simply said, we’re looking for a family house in the area and fell in love with this road. If you’re thinking of selling at any point please do talk to us, we’d love to chat. About 20% of people responded just to say thanks but we’re not moving. 2 people said they were thinking of moving, one changed their mind, and the other sold to us!

The area we live people tend to stay for a very long time and it’s apparently really common for people to get houses this way as I think a lot of people are older and know they have to downsize, but there’s never a specific reason to, but they get prompted into action bu knowing someone willing is ready and wants exactly what they have to offer.

Original poster

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 27/06/2021 12:21

Thank you @NewHouseNewMe and I'm very pleased it worked for you @Isit2021yetplease.

OP posts:

Imdoingitnow · 27/06/2021 19:21

We did it. We know where we wanted to be and targeted particular streets that we liked. We avoided telling them too much as it felt pushy and intrusive We kept it to a an a5 sheet and we avoided saying how desperate we were or anything like we'd love your house, as people can find it a little scary, one lady had recently lost her husband and she felt threatened by such a note - she actually said to us "they want me out don't they and I don't want to have to leave my house" so have some sensitivity and remember it's not all about you and how interesting, a family you are.

We got several replies, one who was expecting us to pay over the estate agents valuation and got a little nasty when we refused. and the other house was a couple splitting up. They had the house valued and we offered them midway between the valuations and it all went smoothly and we've been in it for the past four years.

Original poster

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 27/06/2021 22:22

Glad it worked out for you @Imdoingitnow I was wondering how people came to an agreement on price. Thanks for the advice.

OP posts:

CatAndHisKit · 28/06/2021 01:13

As opposed to Purple I'd simply LOVE to receive such a letter as the normal route has proved ridiculously srtressful (difficult buyer) - the only leaflets I got was from a few house-buying co's.
Not begging-style but short and to the point.

Imdoingitnow · 28/06/2021 09:23

@Oblahdeeoblahdoe we looked at similar houses and what they'd been sold for and when they'd been sold - I read somewhere that the area prices had gone up by about 5 - 10% and took a chance on a figure that fell within the valuations and it was accepted - we were in a good position as we had a buyer. We'd have gone up a bit with the price if we'd had to

We then put this in writing and both sides instructed solicitors - it went really smoothly except for someone in our buyers chain slowing it down

Bythemillpond · 28/06/2021 09:38

We have this for our house as it is a small house with outbuildings on a large plot and people think they can make money by knocking it down and building a large house.

Problem is we called all the regulars that message us when we came to sell, the ones that wrote every few months and a few new ones that had recently started messaging and they wanted the house for the amount I couldn’t get a 2 bed flat for in the area.
I am with PurplePansy05 after several years of begging letters to sell my house I have come to the conclusion that they only want to buy off book because they think you are stupid and don’t know what your house is worth and just want a bargain

ThePlantsitter · 28/06/2021 09:45

I would hand write it. I realise it's a massive pain in the arse but anything printed I would assume was an estate agent (we get a lot of those letters and some of them are in a 'handwritten' font and then say 'please email [email protected]).

If people don't like it, well... Who cares? Anyone who will cross check your name to people making offers on their house is likely to be a nightmare seller anyway.

Cookies47 · 28/06/2021 09:53

We got one of these letters through.. the names of a nice little couple asking if anyone was considering selling as they love the area. When I searched a little more, turns out they are a very small family run estate agents nearby!

So I will ignore these in future.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 28/06/2021 09:56

I get these notes often and although I'm not looking to sell they don't bother me at all. I genuinely can't see why they would.
Most of them just say who they are, that they rent in the area and want to buy, that they love the street and are really committed to the area etc. Some are handwritten but most are printed.

If I was thinking to sell and liked the sound of them I might call, but I would be looking for the same price I would get through an estate agent.

Clymene · 28/06/2021 09:58

I get them a lot and I don't mind them. I don't care what your children are called though which people seem to think might make them more appealing. Good luck - it might work.

Bythemillpond · 28/06/2021 11:18

I think they are more like begging letters. Did meet one person who sent one of these letters when out with dc one day.
They got really angry when they found out their letter wasn’t unique. Felt personally attacked by the snide remarks because I wouldn’t sell her the house.

squashyhat · 28/06/2021 11:31

We occasionally get them and they only serve to make me feel smug that we live in such a desirable area.

Mizydoscape · 28/06/2021 13:52

We did this about a month ago. Typed up a short message saying what we were looking for (family 2/3 bed in this area), what our position was (sstc and aip in place) and if they were considering selling to get in touch. We had several replies including some saying they weren't selling but good luck.

As it happened one family had signed a contract with estate agent that day and asked their agent to call us. They let us view before it officially hit the market, we offered and are now going through the process to buy it.

It can work OP. We thought that if people didn't want to sell they could chuck it in the bin.

Original poster

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 01/07/2021 15:33

I wouldn't be looking to undercut the market value, more of a head start or a prompt in case someone is thinking about selling. It would probably be more beneficial to the vendor as they could save the EA fees.

OP posts:

ExConstance · 01/07/2021 16:51

I put a "wanted" ad in our local newspaper when we got married and moved to a new area. We found a lovely georgian house that had not yet gone on the market where we were very happy.

Hotelhelp · 02/07/2021 03:30

In this market you’ll be lucky. You’re looking for that one in a million person that’s not aware of how property prices are going absolutely mad.

Clymene · 02/07/2021 03:40

@Hotelhelp

In this market you’ll be lucky. You’re looking for that one in a million person that’s not aware of how property prices are going absolutely mad.

The op has said she's not trying to undercut the maker value. I'd do it if I were looking to sell. Saving myself 1-1.5% would be great!