Canvassing owners

loanranger_4

We're looking to buy a property and have found that the estate agents have such only a few properties on in our price bracket. We've checked the property sites too.

So I was thinking about doing a hand delivered mail shot to all the people with the nice houses and asking them whether they want to sell. Has anyone tried this ?

Z

nearlyrich

I have heard of people doing this, you have nothing to lose but a bit of time and effort, potential vendor could save cost of an estate agent. Go for it and let us know what happens.

aliasojo

I remember Kirsty on 'Location Location' advising this once.

If it's good enough for her.........:)

Good luck!

divadee

I would ditto the above advice, nothing to lose i have had a few flyers like this through my door over time. have always read them but never chased it up as i dont want to sell yet.

bridiej

aliasojo wrote:

I remember Kirsty on 'Location Location' advising this once.

If it's good enough for her.........:)

Good luck!

Yes, I seem to remember her saying that too...

loanranger_4

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like it's more than worth a shot.

(And in the interests of creating even yet more work for myself ...)

There is limited type of houses that we want to 'target', is there a (free?) site for doing electoral roll lookups to personalise the letter as anonymous leaflets will probably get ignored. i.e. the potential buyer has gone to the effort of finding out your name so is probably serious ?

Z

rizla01

Hi Loanranger.

Ont know how long you've been around this site but recently someone posted the site that you can visit that will enable you to put in details of an addres and find out what the owners paid for their property.

Might be of some use.

Forward thinking, pro-active Estate agents do what you are suggesting. I have done it myself and secured a property well below the market value because the owner wanted to avoid all of the hassle.

SOMEONE could make a good living from this as a 'property Finder' for others that don't have the time.

PLEASE HEED ONE PIECE OF ADVICE THOUGH.



Get yourself a comfortable pair of shoes.

Good luck.

Riz

Edinburghlass_2

When my aunt died, the next day I went out to the house just to check everything was okay and have a walk round, she had died in hospital but I just wanted to be at the house.

The most upsetting thing was through the door had come a letter from friends of neighbours who wanted to buy the house. My aunt hadn't even been buried at this stage :mad: so if you are putting a flyer out, don't be too specific as had I decided to sell the house, these people would have had no chance!!

theGrinch

sounds like a bit of intiative. you have nothing to leave but a bit of paper, ink and time.

another option is using the services of a finder for around 1 to 2%. I know a firm in london that do this and on asking them why? I was told people can save time and money in negotiation.

I suggest you try the flyers first.

loanranger_4

Thanks all soooooo much for your suggestions.

I've heard of the finder service, very useful, like a reverse estate agent but with fees to compare!

The (anonymous) flyers need to be done following the incredulous looks from the estate agents as they tell you about another house that doesn't match your requirements, I don't think we're asking for much!

Better get the photoshop out and make use of the design skills (that I don't have), and get some well needed exercise.

Z

SnowyOwl_2

Hi LoanRanger

Like you I found estate agents ignored my budget and seemed to think if they gave me details of a nice enough house I could somehow magic up an extra £20k or so.

So, I just wanted to let you know that this leaflet/flyer idea is exactly how I found my last abode. Basically, I explained that I was a private person looking for my next home, and gave my name and phone number. I got a reply from the second lot of leaflets I put through letter boxes, and bought that house. I think in all I only put out about 100 leaflets though I was prepared to do more.

This really is being proactive and taking control.

Word of advice...be careful with letterbox flaps - some of them are spring loaded and it v.dangerous to get your fingers trapped.

Best of luck to you.

SnowyOwl