Posting notes through houses you like 'want to sell your house?'

ellie27

We are in Scotland.

We have accepted a written offer on our house.

We are still looking....not much seems to be out there. that suits us.

Would you ever consider popping some notes through doors of houses in the areas you are interested in?

If so, what would you recommend I say on the note?

Why would anyone respond? Saving of estate agent fees? Quicker sale? However limits the price a seller may get?

Any thoughts?

davidmcn

I've heard of people trying it, but can't remember anybody saying it worked. Presumably you want someone able to move fairly quickly to tie in with your sale - is that likely to be someone who hasn't even put their house on the market yet?

davisc02

Hi Ellie,

It worked for us. We signed a contract with estate agents to put ours on the market, we then posted about 30 letters through the letterboxes of houses we liked locally and a lady came running out wanting to downsize and move and we bought it. Its worth a try, if you cast your hook out far enough you may get a little nibble.

Good luck

SailorSam

I'd write something making it clear that you were a private buyer, not some sort of dealer. And put something to the effect that you're looking to move and you like this area, And then put if them or any of their neighbours had plans of moving soon could they ring or email you.
When my Mum moved she just casually mebtioned to someone and the woman said ........Oh my Sister is moving soon they;re ready to put their house on the market.

smileypigface

Yes, it worked for us.


We picked a particular road as we wanted our son to go to the school at the end of it.


We put a note through the doors of the houses we liked the look of - we preferred a particular style. We must have posted about 30 notes and got 3 responses - 1 from a lady who had been about to advertise her house on a noticeboard where she worked (she reckoned she'd moved 4 times and never used an estate agent for her sale); the second reply was from a couple who had a sale agreed but their buyer was trying to knock them down on price at the 11th hour before exchange and the third reply was from a couple who had been considering moving and saw this as a nudge to get on with it.


We went ahead with the first lady and moved in about 12 weeks later - and my son got into the school - very good outcome all round.


We wrote a note that said something along the lines of us being serious buyers on a relocation package from my employer so no chain; that we wanted to get my son into the school and would be keen to complete as soon as possible. I printed it on the computer but signed it in handwriting "Thanks for reading, Smileypigface and family".


My parents did something similar - but by word of mouth in the local church and pub in the village next to theirs - word got round and they were approached by a lady who wanted to move closer to family.


Hope that helps - you make your own luck I reckon - nothing ventured, nothing gained! xx

silvercar

We found our buyers this way. We were on the market but our first set of buyers were found within a day, so no sign had gone up, no advertising on rightmove etc They dropped out and I phoned someone who had put a note through the door a few weeks earlier.

*Robin*

I get three or four of these notes every year. Around half from families who want to get their kids into the excellent local school, the other half from downsizers looking for a bungalow.

Thus far they've all been disappointed - but if I wanted to move I would definitely follow up such an approach.

Good luck OP - go for it!

ellie27

Thanks, will get to it!

cloo

It worked for a friend on mine in London, when the market was slow. Not sure how much luck you'll have if things are livlier, but it's probably worth a try!

ellie27

So on these notes, there is no need to state the fact that it would save on estate agent fees? I guess that would be obvious to anyone considering selling their house?

verulamium

We've done that, on a house that already had an offer. But our letter wasn't an attempt to gazump (we did not put an offer). It was merely a note to express our interest in case the sale fell through and included our contact details. 2-3 weeks later the sale did in fact fell through and thanks to the note we had first dibs and succeeded in getting the house we wanted.

And now since moving in a year ago, we've received 3 notes ourselves!