Writing a letter to prospective sellers aka, "are you selling your house soon?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you are hearing naysayers from the burbs, where I guess this isn't as common. In desirable neighborhoods in DC, we get at least one of those letters a quarter. As a PP said, I find it flattering, show it to my husband, and then it immediately goes into recycling because we're not planning on moving. I don't actually think there is an harm in it if it's a neighborhood norm. That said, I pay slightly more attention to letters from the known handful of realtors who handle much of the traffic in our neighborhood. Random realtor who is sending a bad form letter is less interesting and seems scam-like. Along those lines, I'd definitely only use a realtor who specialized in the particular neighborhood. They are the ones who know the scuttlebutt and who might be moving and who is aging and who was tempted last year but didn't sell but might be ready this year.

OP's looking outside the Beltway, so even if you are right, she's hearing from her target audience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are hearing naysayers from the burbs, where I guess this isn't as common. In desirable neighborhoods in DC, we get at least one of those letters a quarter. As a PP said, I find it flattering, show it to my husband, and then it immediately goes into recycling because we're not planning on moving. I don't actually think there is an harm in it if it's a neighborhood norm. That said, I pay slightly more attention to letters from the known handful of realtors who handle much of the traffic in our neighborhood. Random realtor who is sending a bad form letter is less interesting and seems scam-like. Along those lines, I'd definitely only use a realtor who specialized in the particular neighborhood. They are the ones who know the scuttlebutt and who might be moving and who is aging and who was tempted last year but didn't sell but might be ready this year.

OP's looking outside the Beltway, so even if you are right, she's hearing from her target audience.

Our agent specializes in this town, has for 25 years, and she suggested it. Who knows.

[Anonymous]

I will be putting my house up on the market in the spring. If you sent me a letter, I'd take it seriously because of my mindset. My folks are also selling in the spring. If it meant I didn't have to completely rearrange my life to get the painters in, the floors sanded and keeping my kids neat while the house was on the market, if you had a reasonable offer, I'd respond to your letter.

My brother bought a house this way in another city a few year ago.

I wouldn't worry about those people who would throw it in the circular file. They aren't the ones you are trying to reach anyway.

I also would not want a letter from a realtor. I'd want it from a family who would love and care for my home. A realtor means more money out of pocket for someone and might be a front for a builder. I wouldn't want to sell to a builder. I like my neighbors too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These responses are so interesting. I don't know that we need a miracle, just good timing. People do downsize, and some in the neighborhoods already have (there are a number of homes we'd love but were sold within the last 15 years, and we wouldn't send letters to them).

We're looking at 4-5 bedrooms homes, and many people don't want those once their kids are in their 20's/30's.

I hear you guys on the list serve suggestion. My only concern is that more than 50% of the homes are smaller than we want. I'd hate to offend anyone who contacted us.

Also, these areas are desirable to me, but they aren't "super hot". We're not looking in Chevy Chase or Old Town or anything. It's a family-friendly area outside of the beltway. I happen to like these neighborhoods because of the elementary school/walkable to an upscale (relatively speaking) shopping center combination. Target price is $800-900K. Many of these homes will go for $650K because they are so much smaller, and we are flat out not interested (would never want to say that to a potential neighbor!).

I'm not ignoring all those who are super, super offended. I just don't want to miss out on a dream home because they waited until June to put in on the market and we really wanted to make a decision before that. Because of our kids' ages, we want to get them settled before the next school year starts.

Can you give us a zip code? I'm the pp who will be selling in the spring. I want you to send me a letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These responses are so interesting. I don't know that we need a miracle, just good timing. People do downsize, and some in the neighborhoods already have (there are a number of homes we'd love but were sold within the last 15 years, and we wouldn't send letters to them).

We're looking at 4-5 bedrooms homes, and many people don't want those once their kids are in their 20's/30's.

I hear you guys on the list serve suggestion. My only concern is that more than 50% of the homes are smaller than we want. I'd hate to offend anyone who contacted us.

Also, these areas are desirable to me, but they aren't "super hot". We're not looking in Chevy Chase or Old Town or anything. It's a family-friendly area outside of the beltway. I happen to like these neighborhoods because of the elementary school/walkable to an upscale (relatively speaking) shopping center combination. Target price is $800-900K. Many of these homes will go for $650K because they are so much smaller, and we are flat out not interested (would never want to say that to a potential neighbor!).

I'm not ignoring all those who are super, super offended. I just don't want to miss out on a dream home because they waited until June to put in on the market and we really wanted to make a decision before that. Because of our kids' ages, we want to get them settled before the next school year starts.

Can you give us a zip code? I'm the pp who will be selling in the spring. I want you to send me a letter.

20191. I'm probably out of luck here. For the record, we take great care of our lawn/like to plant flowers, we're the go-to people for a couple of elderly neighbors, and like to decorate (but not go overboard) for the holidays. I would write you a kick-ass letter. We're looking for 2800-3000 sq ft above ground, with a basement. Smaller homes can be lovely, but I'd like a generously sized kitchen with plenty of counter space, because we like to all cook together.

We can totally deal with old carpet, old wallpaper, dated appliances. No worries there. I'm in the same boat where putting our current house on the market with kids (and a couple of indoor-only cats) sounds like a nightmare. A family we know has already expressed interest in our house - they want to stay in our neighborhood, but buy a bigger house. I would LOVE to sell it to them. It would save us massive headaches!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are hearing naysayers from the burbs, where I guess this isn't as common. In desirable neighborhoods in DC, we get at least one of those letters a quarter. As a PP said, I find it flattering, show it to my husband, and then it immediately goes into recycling because we're not planning on moving. I don't actually think there is an harm in it if it's a neighborhood norm. That said, I pay slightly more attention to letters from the known handful of realtors who handle much of the traffic in our neighborhood. Random realtor who is sending a bad form letter is less interesting and seems scam-like. Along those lines, I'd definitely only use a realtor who specialized in the particular neighborhood. They are the ones who know the scuttlebutt and who might be moving and who is aging and who was tempted last year but didn't sell but might be ready this year.

OP's looking outside the Beltway, so even if you are right, she's hearing from her target audience.

Our agent specializes in this town, has for 25 years, and she suggested it. Who knows.

+1

You need someone with many decades in the same town.

[Steve]

I started a company to do exactly what you're asking about. We're tweaking a few things but our last trial was met with really good results. 160 letters sent out, 10 pre-market homes responded and showed.

(I actually did this because I was looking for a home in 20191 as well)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are hearing naysayers from the burbs, where I guess this isn't as common. In desirable neighborhoods in DC, we get at least one of those letters a quarter. As a PP said, I find it flattering, show it to my husband, and then it immediately goes into recycling because we're not planning on moving. I don't actually think there is an harm in it if it's a neighborhood norm. That said, I pay slightly more attention to letters from the known handful of realtors who handle much of the traffic in our neighborhood. Random realtor who is sending a bad form letter is less interesting and seems scam-like. Along those lines, I'd definitely only use a realtor who specialized in the particular neighborhood. They are the ones who know the scuttlebutt and who might be moving and who is aging and who was tempted last year but didn't sell but might be ready this year.

I'm 13:41 and I live in the suburbs.

13:41, how many letters did your realtor send?

Honestly, I'm not really sure. I want to say around 70-80? And 2-3 responses (one was not a house we would want but we looked at the other two and bought one of them). At first I was impressed that my realtor was willing to put in so much work for us but in the end, I realized that it's a way for her to promote herself in the neighborhood and she ended up representing both sides on the transaction so she collected double commission (plus the commission on the house we sold). So, smart business move for her, only one realtor to deal with and worked out for both seller and buyer.

[Anonymous]

I live in a "hot" upper NWDC neighborhood and have received several of these letters. I do find them both flattering and slightly bothersome ("hovering over the table" is not bad analogy). I have to wonder what the people who write them are thinking - my neighborhood regularly draws bidding wars and over-asking sale prices, so if I were to sell, I'd definitely put my house on the market and see how high the bids go.

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't bother me. Now that we are considering moving, it might be enough to push us to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a "hot" upper NWDC neighborhood and have received several of these letters. I do find them both flattering and slightly bothersome ("hovering over the table" is not bad analogy). I have to wonder what the people who write them are thinking - my neighborhood regularly draws bidding wars and over-asking sale prices, so if I were to sell, I'd definitely put my house on the market and see how high the bids go.

As someone who also receives these letters every few months, I have wondered too. When there are no listings it makes sense. But sometimes I get these letters are there are several listings on the market in our neighborhood. So what the letter tells me is that they want my house but don't want to pay market price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a "hot" upper NWDC neighborhood and have received several of these letters. I do find them both flattering and slightly bothersome ("hovering over the table" is not bad analogy). I have to wonder what the people who write them are thinking - my neighborhood regularly draws bidding wars and over-asking sale prices, so if I were to sell, I'd definitely put my house on the market and see how high the bids go.

As someone who also receives these letters every few months, I have wondered too. When there are no listings it makes sense. But sometimes I get these letters are there are several listings on the market in our neighborhood. So what the letter tells me is that they want my house but don't want to pay market price.

Every house is different.

[Anonymous]

I think most sellers in this area are educated enough to want to utilize the free market system that having an MLS# offers. The chances of lucking out and finding the right buyer for the right seller, timeline etc and knowing the price is right is not as high. I'd rather list than deal with one buyer... also, you are getting fsbo prices at that point, which are always higher. You will PAY for the convenience of no competition.

If you have the money, as you say, just find a well connected realtor in your area who knows what is coming on market, and do it that way.

[Anonymous]

I did it in Bethesda and it worked, I wanted a home on a particular block and had two responses and one worked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a "hot" upper NWDC neighborhood and have received several of these letters. I do find them both flattering and slightly bothersome ("hovering over the table" is not bad analogy). I have to wonder what the people who write them are thinking - my neighborhood regularly draws bidding wars and over-asking sale prices, so if I were to sell, I'd definitely put my house on the market and see how high the bids go.

As someone who also receives these letters every few months, I have wondered too. When there are no listings it makes sense. But sometimes I get these letters are there are several listings on the market in our neighborhood. So what the letter tells me is that they want my house but don't want to pay market price.

Exactly my point.