Question for the EAs: your views on leafleting?

pie81

Hi all

We're looking to buy a house and there is one road we are particularly keen on ... but nothing has come on the market there since early this year, even though there have been plenty of recent sales (with rising prices) in the neighbouring streets.

I'm considering dropping notes in the doors on that road to see whether anyone is considering selling (I'm guessing there might be some who are but are holding off till Jan).

However a couple of friends have said this would be a bad idea as it would annoy the local EAs, who would then not keep us informed of new properties, be cooperative about viewings etc. Personally I think this is rubbish, but then I am not an EA.

So the question is, if you found one of your registered buyers was leafleting properties in "your patch", would this annoy you? And if so would you treat the buyer any differently?

thank you

(Any other views on leafleting also very welcome!)

princessamy86

I would say go for it...it's very very unlikely an EA would ever get to find out about it, unless they already had the property on the market, in which case you would surely just view it through them. Make sure it doesn't look anything like an EAs leaflet, in my experience these get crumpled up and thrown in the bin.

I wouldn't treat a buyer differently if I found out they'd been leafleting, it would show me they were committed to buying so I would probably pop you in my hot buyers box!

pie81

thanks princessamy!

If the property was already on the market with an EA we would of course view it through them and not try to cut the EA out.

We would be aiming at people not yet on the market - really we were hoping the note would prompt someone into selling earlier than they might otherwise have done (i.e. this winter rather than waiting till spring) either because they know they have a keen buyer or because they can avoid EA fees that way.

Will def make sure it doesn't look like an EA flyer... must confess I always have binned these (even when I was actually considering selling my place..!)

I think (hopefully) we are already in the local agents' hot buyers box, certainly seem to get called about new stuff a lot, though they may be despairing of us by now as we are looking for something v specific so keep saying no to what they send us! but glad you don't think we'd be "demoted" by EAs for leafleting.

googler

pie81 wrote: »

Will def make sure it doesn't look like an EA flyer... must confess I always have binned these (even when I was actually considering selling my place..!)

Why would you do this?

If you were considering changing your bathroom, would you discard a plumber's flyer?

If you had neighbour's trees overgrowing your property, would you discard the tree surgeon's flyer?

Are there different rules for EAs?

princessamy86

It's good that they're ringing you with new stuff anyway, shows that you're at the front of their minds so they know you're seriously looking. Good luck! Let us know how you get on.

princessamy86

googler, I know you have something to do with Estate Agency (or at least I think so), do you not think people just bin flyers? We've stopped doing it because we just don't get any results from it, so I assume most people do just put them in the bin.

pie81

Yes googler I would bin all of those flyers (I am not victimising EAs). If I want an EA, or a plumber, or a tree surgeon I would rather use research and recommendations to find one instead of who happened to post through my door.

I do realise that the people who I'm considering flyering may just bin my note, but hopefully a note from a potential buyer might get treated differently from a business touting for work.

ILW

pie81 wrote: »

Yes googler I would bin all of those flyers (I am not victimising EAs). If I want an EA, or a plumber, or a tree surgeon I would rather use research and recommendations to find one instead of who happened to post through my door.

I do realise that the people who I'm considering flyering may just bin my note, but hopefully a note from a potential buyer might get treated differently from a business touting for work.

Are you planning on offering more money than an EA would value at?

pie81

ILW wrote: »

Are you planning on offering more money than an EA would value at?

No, but I'm not hoping to get a "bargain" either - I'm willing to pay the going price.

Do you think I would have to pay more than an EA valuation? if so, why?

felix-b

We bought our house this way. I don't think the estate agents like it when it succeeds - I think they like to maintain all sales require their 'magic'. But if it doesn't work, that proves their point - so I don't think you can loose either way.

One thing we did was post the letters with a 1st class stamp. Not very money-saving I know, but I think it makes it far more likely the contents will be taken seriously.

pie81

thanks felix, will consider that. glad to hear it worked for someone.