Sell me your house! II

NervousYetFeisty

We've been looking to buy for months now, as FTBs. We've made a couple of offers on one house that we really liked, but the owners have changed their minds about selling (although the house is still on the market). They didn't decline our offer as such - then again they didn't accept it either, but they've decided not to sell yet. I think just they're holding out for a better offer, although ours was pretty good IMO and the house has been on the market for ages. Other houses nearby (within half a mile and all very similar) have come up for sale but they're overpriced IMO. Again they sit there with no takers, but the vendors won't budge on the asking price. I must add here that I'm not out to buy a cutprice house - the offer we made was right at the top of our budget and we couldn't offer any more.

That house we really like, I've given up on. To be honest I don't trust the vendors not to suddenly back out at the last minute so even if they did accept our offer I have serious reservations.

I was thinking about leafletting houses in the area, asking anyone if they're interested in selling to us. Has anyone tried this, and did it work?

[Deleted User]

Quite frankly, I think you would be wasting your time. I frequently get similar leaflets from EA telling me that they have a Mr & Mrs X looking for properties in my area. This sort of thing does not encourage me to sell. Now if they tell me that they are willing to pay 2X the market value.. well.... now you're talking!!!!

exil

A lot of people put houses on the market in the hope of getting a sale,
but not really wanting or needing to sell. These people are not going to accept
anything below the asking price. If they MUST sell (in financial trouble, changing jobs
or trading up) they will be more flexible - but you can't tell which the vendor is
from looking at the EA's description. No seller is going to give the impression they're desperate to sell - and this is why!

Doozergirl

What do you have to lose?! I'd recommend a handwritten note over something that could be mistaken for a an EAs leaflet - it's just something people would be more inclined to read and consider IMO.

No point in leafleting the houses you don't like the look of (obviously!) and it would be a good idea to say how many bedrooms you're looking for etc so people could see if theirs is what you're looking for. They may not contact you directly, but it may push some people to consider putting their house on the market and thus make it available to you.

NervousYetFeisty

I think the problem we've been facing is that pretty much all of the vendors in the area we're looking at are older couples - empty nesters - who don't need to sell. The younger ones, with children still at home, don't need to sell and are staying put because the houses are ideal for them (hence we want one!).

seabright

Try using this website: http://www.houseprices.co.uk/ to see what properties in that area have gone for recently, to check your offer is as competative as you think. Also, ask the agent for feedback on your offer - the sellers will have told them why they have decided not to proceed with your offer.

Lastly, do you have a 10% deposit and a mortgage arranged in principle? If so, ask the agents to point this out to the sellers. If they know you're not messing about and have your finances in place and can move quickly they might change their mind.

Goof luck!

michaels

After I was gazumped on a property I leafleted (hand written as described above) the rest of the street, I was a ftb ands ready to move and stressed I had just been gazumoped on the road (I bet/hope it caused some embarrassment to the seller who had treated me so badly). I did get a response from someone who was thinking of moving and liked the idea of avioding agents fees but unfortunately his property had an extra bedroom and was out of my price range - but I guess I am saying it could work.

NastyMatt

Market forces dictate house prices.

If you are unable to find a property that will accept your asking price in a particular area then you will have to look elsewhere.

Leafletting may throw up a house that hasn't been thinking about moving but what is the first thing they will do? Get a local EA in and get it valued. No prize for guessing the value the EA will come to and as they weren't thinking of moving they'll want full price.

I honestly think that the only time worth approaching a house that are not up for sale is if it's knackered. The owner is probably struggling with the property and may well be happy to get rid of it.

Leaflet? Nope.. ring on the door bell.. offer to buy the house there and then!!

Good luck..

Meeten

i think that leafletting is a great idea.

the cost is minimal, and if it does make someone think that they are interested in selling, there is easily a benefit.

you hear about this in some 'home programmes' to mixed responses.

Give it a go, there is v little to lose (time, papre, ink).

Let us kow how u get on ....

Joannaclaire

We're toying with the idea of trying leafleting too, as we just got gazumped, and houses that size in that particular street don't come up too often. Only snag is most of the rest of the street has that nasty stone cladding stuff on the front of the lovely Victorian terraces - blurgh....

Debt_Free_Chick

NervousYetFeisty wrote:

I was thinking about leafletting houses in the area, asking anyone if they're interested in selling to us. Has anyone tried this, and did it work?

A friend of mine is originally from New York and the three houses she has bought in London have all been bought in this way. Remember that the seller would save on Estate Agent fees!

Definitely worth a try, but you have to make your leaflet look personal otherwise homeowners will assume it's an EA looking for business.

Good luck