Kolek planning to go pro
TAMUI do know, Newsie is right on you knowing ball.
We went through the ringer of homebuying a threeish years ago. Bid more than asking and got outbid on so many houses that I lost count (high teens minimum). We got this whole "write a letter" advice too and while we did it, it makes no dang sense to me. When I'm selling my house I'm taking the highest $, I don't care about you wanting a yard for your puppy to run around in. Do sellers actually take these things into account?
Have you looked at "private sales"? There are folks that need to sell quickly so they go through an "agent" that looks for customers that want to buy quickly as well. These homes are not usually listed and the seller just wants an honest price for their home and some don't want the hassle of a bidding war. I would say just google private sales in your area and you might strike gold; just a thought.
We had letter writing recommended to us by more than one person. We asked our agent about it and she actually said while it's not illegal, it's kind of unethical and can create some bias in the selling process.
Interesting. Of course it can create some bias in the selling process...that's the point. I'm having a really hard time understanding why that could possibly be unethical. I've never done it and, like jficke13, wonder why it would work, but it doesn't seem like an ethics situation to me at all. Unless, of course, you think that the ethical position is to ensure the highest price (and fee) possible.
If I got a sappy letter about my goddammed house, that jackass is going to the bottom of the pile of offers.
lol, cross posted with my last one. I guess there are some people where the letter would do harm.
What if it's from Joey?
I might be misunderstanding your point. They are actually hoping for a bidding war and that a lot of people will be interested and will drive the price up. Can't the seller always end the "hassle of a bidding war" at any point by accepting an offer?Honestly, it's a very simple, humble house. It's appreciated quite a lot since they purchased it 25 years ago, but even in this market it's probably not even a $500k home. But it's a nice house and I hope they find some people who love it and will pay them for it. They're planning to list within a week or so.
Understood about creating bias when writing a letter to the sellers .. that is indeed the point.Speaking for myself, (but likely 90% of all others) .. I am more emotionally attached to my home than any other item I possess. I've poured so much sweat and tears into it, the windows, the doors, the roof, the trees, the neighborhood. I want to know who I am entrusting my home to for the future, and only looking at the dollars someone is giving me for it isn't nearly enough information. Example: If the highest bidder wanted to cut down my trees, I would tell them to fock right off.If they wanted to bulldoze it and turn it into an Arby's, I'd uh, well, hmm. Ok, that's a bad example.
I am more emotionally attached to my home than any other item I possess.
Joey is lookin at buying Nads' house.
I've lived in my house, my first, for 24 years now. Brought a wife home, brought two infants, two pets home. It's not an investment, it's my home.I have no problem having a 2nd home, but we have zero plan for moving ever.
Who knows, I guess it's hard to imagine that letter writing could possibly hurt you. Good luck.