Prospective 'letter drop' in area we want to buy
Discussion
Hi guys,
I am looking to do a 'letter drop' in a neighborhood we would like to purchase a house in. Seeing as this letter will be read by a couple dozen random people I am keen to receive feedback and advice on how the letter sounds?
''
Dear Sir/Madam,
My partner and I wish to move to Banbury within the next few months. As such we are looking to purchase a property in this area and have decided to try and approach home owners directly. Whilst this is an unorthodox method, the potential to save on estate agent fees (£4-5000), and the prospect of an easy ‘no hassle’ sale, helped us decide to give it a go and see what happens.
To clarify, we are pure cash buyers, we have no chain or mortgage and are happy to exchange quickly and delay completion allowing you four or five months to house hunt for yourselves. This would put you in an effective ‘cash buyer’ situation. We are also more than happy to provide details of the solicitor we used to sell our house in Sussex to authentic ourselves and prove we are serious about this venture.
If you are interested in selling your property or know of anyone else in the area who may be, then I would be happy to meet and discuss any questions you may have and explain in more detail what we are after and our approach. Again, whilst unorthodox I can assure you we do not want to cause anyone undue hassle or concern.
Thank you for your time.
Name & Name
Mobile Number
Secondary, but still 'professional' e-mail
Any suggestions?
cheers guys
edited wfollowing feedback!
I am looking to do a 'letter drop' in a neighborhood we would like to purchase a house in. Seeing as this letter will be read by a couple dozen random people I am keen to receive feedback and advice on how the letter sounds?
''
Dear Sir/Madam,
My partner and I wish to move to Banbury within the next few months. As such we are looking to purchase a property in this area and have decided to try and approach home owners directly. Whilst this is an unorthodox method, the potential to save on estate agent fees (£4-5000), and the prospect of an easy ‘no hassle’ sale, helped us decide to give it a go and see what happens.
To clarify, we are pure cash buyers, we have no chain or mortgage and are happy to exchange quickly and delay completion allowing you four or five months to house hunt for yourselves. This would put you in an effective ‘cash buyer’ situation. We are also more than happy to provide details of the solicitor we used to sell our house in Sussex to authentic ourselves and prove we are serious about this venture.
If you are interested in selling your property or know of anyone else in the area who may be, then I would be happy to meet and discuss any questions you may have and explain in more detail what we are after and our approach. Again, whilst unorthodox I can assure you we do not want to cause anyone undue hassle or concern.
Thank you for your time.
Name & Name
Mobile Number
Secondary, but still 'professional' e-mail
Any suggestions?
cheers guys
edited wfollowing feedback!
Edited by Andehh on Thursday 28th February 12:14
Edited by Andehh on Thursday 28th February 14:07
As I live 'up narth' I never get this sort of thing....
However, as I'm also middle aged and bitter, I would worry about doing it this way...
Only my observation however is there anyway you could make it a little more legal..?? How about:
We've also registered with estate agents X and Y if you would prefer to contact us through these..????
However, as I'm also middle aged and bitter, I would worry about doing it this way...
Only my observation however is there anyway you could make it a little more legal..?? How about:
We've also registered with estate agents X and Y if you would prefer to contact us through these..????
dundarach said:
As I live 'up narth' I never get this sort of thing....
However, as I'm also middle aged and bitter, I would worry about doing it this way...
Only my observation however is there anyway you could make it a little more legal..?? How about:
We've also registered with estate agents X and Y if you would prefer to contact us through these..????
The point is to not use estate agents.However, as I'm also middle aged and bitter, I would worry about doing it this way...
Only my observation however is there anyway you could make it a little more legal..?? How about:
We've also registered with estate agents X and Y if you would prefer to contact us through these..????
Letter seems ok, first line is too detailed. People are most likely going to read 1 or 2 lines and bin it, some will read on.
May well do, but estate agents would charge an easy £4000 to introduce me to them (thats all they do...), and then we would take it form there. All i am doing is hoping that a few people have thought of/consider moving on. There is nothing illegal/immoral about it. Everything would still be done via solicitors etc, just an Estate Agent hasn't introduced us.
As for scam - hence me leaving mobile, e-mail address etc and option to contact my solicitor to verify who I am & selling of my property!
Updated original post following feedback!
Cheers guys
As for scam - hence me leaving mobile, e-mail address etc and option to contact my solicitor to verify who I am & selling of my property!
Updated original post following feedback!
Cheers guys
illmonkey said:
dundarach said:
As I live 'up narth' I never get this sort of thing....
However, as I'm also middle aged and bitter, I would worry about doing it this way...
Only my observation however is there anyway you could make it a little more legal..?? How about:
We've also registered with estate agents X and Y if you would prefer to contact us through these..????
The point is to not use estate agents.However, as I'm also middle aged and bitter, I would worry about doing it this way...
Only my observation however is there anyway you could make it a little more legal..?? How about:
We've also registered with estate agents X and Y if you would prefer to contact us through these..????
Letter seems ok, first line is too detailed. People are most likely going to read 1 or 2 lines and bin it, some will read on.
dundarach said:
illmonkey said:
dundarach said:
As I live 'up narth' I never get this sort of thing....
However, as I'm also middle aged and bitter, I would worry about doing it this way...
Only my observation however is there anyway you could make it a little more legal..?? How about:
We've also registered with estate agents X and Y if you would prefer to contact us through these..????
The point is to not use estate agents.However, as I'm also middle aged and bitter, I would worry about doing it this way...
Only my observation however is there anyway you could make it a little more legal..?? How about:
We've also registered with estate agents X and Y if you would prefer to contact us through these..????
Letter seems ok, first line is too detailed. People are most likely going to read 1 or 2 lines and bin it, some will read on.
Yep, we are in the very fortunate position to have sold our last place and we owned it outright. Money is due in my bank account within the next 48 hours (touch wood). Only ''mortgage'' is within the family so will not effect any of this.
And yes, Estate Agents are just an expensive errand boy which just slows down communication and sticks a page on the internet.... then charges you a fortunate and go home feeling like they have completed a hard days work!
And yes, Estate Agents are just an expensive errand boy which just slows down communication and sticks a page on the internet.... then charges you a fortunate and go home feeling like they have completed a hard days work!
Andehh said:
And yes, Estate Agents are just an expensive errand boy which just slows down communication and sticks a page on the internet.... then charges you a fortunate and go home feeling like they have completed a hard days work!
You could carry on tweeking the letter for every but you'll never know what the outcome will be untill you post it.I bought a house last year. The sellers showed us round the house themselves and said don't use the estate agents simply dealt with us directly - so we did and it all went well. Odd in a way since both parties had to keep the estate agents up to date from time to time and the agents got their full fees. As we say up here "there's nowt so queer as folk."
My parents often receive notes through the door asking for them to be informed once they are looking to sell the house.
Its been going on for about 10 years now.
Never anything formal though.
They don't keep the notes and won't be looking to sell for a while yet.
My opinion is that if people want to sell their house, they will market it, either through estate agents or other.
Its been going on for about 10 years now.
Never anything formal though.
They don't keep the notes and won't be looking to sell for a while yet.
My opinion is that if people want to sell their house, they will market it, either through estate agents or other.
Will be putting some letters out tomorrow! Thanks for the suggestions guys
...and yes if people want to sell they can go through the traditional channels, but a lot of people will just 'make do' with current place to avoid the hassle, stress and cost. What I effectively offer is no hassle and the very best position to be in for someone wanting to upgrade/move on.
They 'sell' the house to me on paper, contracts signed and exchanged. Set a 'completion date' for 5 months away...they now have 5 months where all they need to do is find a house they like and buy it with my money, via a completion date earlier then originally agreed.
I am aiming for the people who have ummed & arred in the passed about moving on, but avoided it due to the worry of being stuck in a chain and not wanting the stress.
...and yes if people want to sell they can go through the traditional channels, but a lot of people will just 'make do' with current place to avoid the hassle, stress and cost. What I effectively offer is no hassle and the very best position to be in for someone wanting to upgrade/move on.
They 'sell' the house to me on paper, contracts signed and exchanged. Set a 'completion date' for 5 months away...they now have 5 months where all they need to do is find a house they like and buy it with my money, via a completion date earlier then originally agreed.
I am aiming for the people who have ummed & arred in the passed about moving on, but avoided it due to the worry of being stuck in a chain and not wanting the stress.
We bought our current house by putting letters through the houses we liked the look of and luckily an elderly chap was looking to sell to move near his daughters.
I would agree with other posters that the letter may be a little 'wordy' but if someone is looking to sell and receives a letter then they are likely to get in touch as the appeal of having no estate agents fees is too good to miss. They will soon find out if the sender of the letter is genuine or not.
Is it worth putting in the letter how much you like the area/street/house in order to butter up the owner?
Good luck!!
I would agree with other posters that the letter may be a little 'wordy' but if someone is looking to sell and receives a letter then they are likely to get in touch as the appeal of having no estate agents fees is too good to miss. They will soon find out if the sender of the letter is genuine or not.
Is it worth putting in the letter how much you like the area/street/house in order to butter up the owner?
Good luck!!
Andehh said:
Hi guys,
I am looking to do a 'letter drop' in a neighborhood we would like to purchase a house in. Seeing as this letter will be read by a couple dozen random people I am keen to receive feedback and advice on how the letter sounds?
This approach generates unacceptable exposure to professional thieves and generates huge personal risks IMO. Distributing hundreds of leaflets with "we are pure cash buyers" (with enough of it to buy a house) to random strangers wakes up every rogue and villain in the neighbourhood.I am looking to do a 'letter drop' in a neighborhood we would like to purchase a house in. Seeing as this letter will be read by a couple dozen random people I am keen to receive feedback and advice on how the letter sounds?
We are in a recession, there are a lot more opportunists doing nothing these days.. you also plan in putting your address on it? How long would it take a pro burglar to find your cash, bank cards, cheques etc? Have you really thought this through? At least with a bonafide estate agent you will have tracability of your enquires. With this you simply have no idea who reads it or throws the leaflet on the street for anyone to read.
I've been in and out of the security industry for over 20 years.. and this makes my sheckles go up! Sounds like a horrendous risk to try and save a few £k IMO
Edited as requested
Edited by LordFlathead on Friday 1st March 00:44
Very fair comments! I will adjust the letter accordingly.
I am happy to for e-mail address to be there, and the address I have given is the Landlord's address of where we are atm. We actually live in his garden in a garden annex, so no way of people actually 'finding' our front door.
All bank details and important documents are with a family member atm, since we moved out of our main house and landlord has keys to our flat I don't trust any of them to be stored with us.
Thanks for the advice though!
I am happy to for e-mail address to be there, and the address I have given is the Landlord's address of where we are atm. We actually live in his garden in a garden annex, so no way of people actually 'finding' our front door.
All bank details and important documents are with a family member atm, since we moved out of our main house and landlord has keys to our flat I don't trust any of them to be stored with us.
Thanks for the advice though!
Best of luck with it. I come across private sales that were instigated this way every now and again and while not wishing to poo in anyone's pool it's rarely that much less stressful than a sale through an agency (for the party whose home you intend to buy, that it).
They will be in a chain, of course, just one with only one link below them. Mostly those people selling walk straight into agents and look for property themselves in the normal manner and get quite uppity about signing any contract for exchange on their sale prior to signing for exchange on a purchase above. Solicitors tend not to advise their clients to exchange prior to having secured a purchase that is at least very very close to the point of exchange itself.
Still, those sellers may well be happy with the arrangement, potential security of sale with little up front hassle from themselves and with the potential of having saved some money by not having employed an agent - so that should bundle up into some good will towards you as a buyer.
Agreeing a price might prove tricky but not insurmountable. Also, the return on those letters tends to be very low (for homes you'd actually wnat to buy, from owners you'd actually like to buy from) so you might need a job lot of envelopes and some new leather shoes. You might be surprised how few properties in any road are actually that nice - even on what you might consider to be "good" roads - so don't lose heart if you don't get immediate positive news.
Don't worry too much about the specifics of the wording. Nice and short, clear and to the point and addressed suitably for the sort of owner you anticipate reading it.
All in all, like I mentioned above it happens every now and then so best of luck to you. Keep us updated!
They will be in a chain, of course, just one with only one link below them. Mostly those people selling walk straight into agents and look for property themselves in the normal manner and get quite uppity about signing any contract for exchange on their sale prior to signing for exchange on a purchase above. Solicitors tend not to advise their clients to exchange prior to having secured a purchase that is at least very very close to the point of exchange itself.
Still, those sellers may well be happy with the arrangement, potential security of sale with little up front hassle from themselves and with the potential of having saved some money by not having employed an agent - so that should bundle up into some good will towards you as a buyer.
Agreeing a price might prove tricky but not insurmountable. Also, the return on those letters tends to be very low (for homes you'd actually wnat to buy, from owners you'd actually like to buy from) so you might need a job lot of envelopes and some new leather shoes. You might be surprised how few properties in any road are actually that nice - even on what you might consider to be "good" roads - so don't lose heart if you don't get immediate positive news.
Don't worry too much about the specifics of the wording. Nice and short, clear and to the point and addressed suitably for the sort of owner you anticipate reading it.
All in all, like I mentioned above it happens every now and then so best of luck to you. Keep us updated!
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