Leafleting to buy a house? UPDATED: SUCCESS!!!

azkaban420

Hi all,

I know this has been mentioned on this forum before but I wanted to know people's thoughts and if anyone's recently had any success leafleting areas they'd like to buy in?

We're still no closer to buying a house than we were over a year ago despite being chain-free (renting) and having an AIP/sol etc in place, ready to go.

The trouble is there is nothing available to buy in the area we want in that is suitable, and what is out there (probably just 4 houses) are just not right for various reasons. We've tried increasing our budget, trying to find a smaller house that we could extend, widening the area slightly but nothing has worked so far.

I've heard some people have had luck leafleting in the area they wanted and wondered if it's worth trying this? If so what would you suggest we put in the letter?

Am prepared to try anything at the moment. Thought selling was bad enough and buying seems to be just as awful at the moment

Thanks for your comments in advance,

Az

Grimbal

I sympathise Az, I'm in the same situation. We complete mid-March & will be moving to rented in the hope that we'll be first in line when the house turns up. I occasionally get nervous, thinking about the "what ifs": "what if the right place never turns up", "what if we can't afford what we actually want" etc, but I keep having to remind myself that we're chain free at the time of year that is traditionally the better part for selling. The market might still be slow, but I do see more and more houses coming on RM every day.

I can't answer your question (it's something I've considered too) but just wanted to offer a bit of moral support and the hope that we've both done the "right" thing by moving into rental in order to be ready for when the right home appears

silvercar

Our last buyers found us by putting a note through the door.

Do it. You've nothing to lose.

Just write that you are looking to buy in the area but haven't seen anything suitable on the market, you have your funds in place, able to move quickly and a brief description of what you are looking for eg 4 semi bed house with big garden. Give mobile number and email if possible, so anyone has options on how to contact you.

ILW

Just put that you are prepared to pay 2 to 3 times the market value and you will find plenty of people prepared to sell.

tyllwyd

I went to a talk by Jacqueline Wilson (the children's author) and she told a sweet story about how as a child she used to walk past one particular house with her grandmother and they would always talk about how lovely the house was - and when she became sucessful she went back to the house and put a note though the door asking if they might consider selling it - and they did so, she moved into her childhood dream home.

azkaban420

tyllwyd wrote: »

I went to a talk by Jacqueline Wilson (the children's author) and she told a sweet story about how as a child she used to walk past one particular house with her grandmother and they would always talk about how lovely the house was - and when she became sucessful she went back to the house and put a note though the door asking if they might consider selling it - and they did so, she moved into her childhood dream home.

Thanks Tyllwyd, it helps that she's so successful and loaded, but yes, if she didn't ask she wouldn't have got, so fingers crossed it works for me

Grimbal wrote: »

I sympathise Az, I'm in the same situation. We complete mid-March & will be moving to rented in the hope that we'll be first in line when the house turns up. I occasionally get nervous, thinking about the "what ifs": "what if the right place never turns up", "what if we can't afford what we actually want" etc, but I keep having to remind myself that we're chain free at the time of year that is traditionally the better part for selling. The market might still be slow, but I do see more and more houses coming on RM every day.

I can't answer your question (it's something I've considered too) but just wanted to offer a bit of moral support and the hope that we've both done the "right" thing by moving into rental in order to be ready for when the right home appears

Thanks Grimbal, I try not to get frustrated about it all, but it's not easy when I'm trying to convince a DH and 3 kids that it 'will' happen for months on end when deep down I'm despairing!

silvercar wrote: »

Our last buyers found us by putting a note through the door.

Do it. You've nothing to lose.

Just write that you are looking to buy in the area but haven't seen anything suitable on the market, you have your funds in place, able to move quickly and a brief description of what you are looking for eg 4 semi bed house with big garden. Give mobile number and email if possible, so anyone has options on how to contact you.

Thanks for the vote of confidence silvercar. I've bought a payg sim so that I can use a specific number in the letter, and will add my email. Going to do the letters tonight and post them out over the weekend. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome!

Az

azkaban420

ILW wrote: »

Just put that you are prepared to pay 2 to 3 times the market value and you will find plenty of people prepared to sell.

You obviously got out of the bed the wrong side and far too early this morning ILW

Az

Grimbal

I wouldn't use your current email TBH - set up another one in a catchy name to use just for that

azkaban420

Yes, will do Grimbal, thanks.

Az

azkaban420

Ok, letter done - to put in envelopes or not..that is the question!

Az

arrizel

I leaflet on a regular occasion to buy properties. You can expect on average a 1% return of the number of leaflets delivered. If you're looking for a specific type of house, I'd suggest selecting the streets that have these houses, in an area you want to live in and deliver them there.
Leaflets need to be catchy, although if you're thinking of placing them in envelopes I'd hand write the envelopes and address them 'the owner'
Hope this helps. Good luck