The growing shortage of properties for sale in some parts of the capital was driven home with a bang this week when this leaflet (right) arrived through one correspondent’s letterbox. While the concept might seem alien to those living in areas where they could hardly give away their home, let alone sell it, it’s not a new idea for estate agents in popular residential areas to drop handwritten notes into private homes exhorting the owners to consider selling or to at least discuss the option.

But the one that arrived on this Dublin 4 doormat brought a new sense of urgency to the trend. The note from OMD estate agents in Ranelagh stated that not one but three buyers were “desperate” to move into the homeowner’s area. And, even if they couldn’t accommodate their need, the agency wondered whether the owner knew “anyone thinking of selling!!”

Added to this, in block capitals, underlined and written in urgent red ink, were the words “FREE PROBATE AND FAIR DEAL VALUATIONS”. No pressure then.