How to approach the owner of a house which is not on the market

Tomato

Hi all

We have viewed a house last weekend and made an offer which was turned down (vendor would like £5K more).

In the meanwhile I noticed another house 2 doors away, which I really liked, though it is a bit run down. I got an online office copy from Land Registry for the property and now have a name of the registered owner. I noticed that there is no mortgage on the house. I am very tempted to knock on the door and see if the owner would consider selling the house.

Has anyone done this before? Any advice is very welcome.

Thank you.

T

Tixy

I would send a letter rather than knock on the door.

It gives the owner time to think through the idea and I think you'd appear to be more serious from taking the time to write a letter than just knocking unexpectedly.

Mr_Moo_2

What Tixy says - pop a note through the door. Explain whay makes their property desirable, what makes you an attractive purchaser and give them an email address and a mobile number to reply to. There's a couple of good threads on here about people canvassing streets / specific properties which will give you a flavour. Good luck !

DKLS

I sold to a buyer like you, he kept putting cards through the door stating he loved my house and If I ever wanted to sell to ring him. I igonored the first 5 or 6 cards.

Until one day he wrote a number on the card and I rang him back and we struck a deal.

Tomato

Thank you for your comments, Tixy, DKLS and Mr Moo.

I was going to write a letter and knock on the door to hand deliver it and have a little chat to test the waters. But perhaps it would be more sensible just to push a note through letter box.

I will also look for threads on here as Mr Moo suggested.

T

Slinky

My friend has just bought a house by sticking a note through the door.

EDIT, it's the second time she's done this!

RAS

Tomato wrote: »

I was going to write a letter and knock on the door to hand deliver it and have a little chat to test the waters. But perhaps it would be more sensible just to push a note through letter box.T

You are not listening.

The only answer to someone knocking on the door will be NO.

Pop the letter through the door and maybe in a week or two they will come back after thinking it over and and talking to family and friends.

They may also want to see what they could buy as an alternative.

Marshflower

Knocking on the door is rather intrusive and could put someone's back up (it would mine). A home is a very personal thing. A friendly note leaving the ball in their court is a far better approach. And then follow it up with another note in a few weeks if you've not heard anything.