Mumsnet Talk

We are hopefully moving house this year and I have been looking on estate agent's websites for houses in the area that we want to move to. I have seen one that looks nice and DH likes too but when reading all the blurb on zoopla about this house it says that it was last sold just a few months ago in summer 2011. If I was to go ahead and arrange a viewing of this house would I be unreasonable to ask the sellers what the reason for this is, obviously it would affect my decision if the reason was problem neighbours or similar but I wouldn't like to embarrass them if the answer is financial difficulties, if you were selling your house would it offend you if someone were to ask this?

Not at all, it's a very obvious thing to ask.

How much are they adding to their purchase price and what have they done to it since they bought it?

Definitely ask - it's your right. But ask via the agent, in case of embarrassment. Just don't count on getting the 100% truth though.

Of course you wouldn't - you would be mad not to ask why the people are selling, and even more specifically you should ask if there are any particular problems with the property, neighbours, area, etc. that make the property less than perfect. Of course they may not want to tell you - but if they don't tell you, you should probably assume the worst.

They haven't chopped a piece of land off the garden or split the house or taken an outbuilding or barn for redevelopment and then put the remainder of the property back on the market at the old price have they?

A lot of that going on in our area.

We asked the vendor of every house we viewed why they were moving. People seemed to expect it and didn't appear offended - answers ranged from 'divorce' to 'downsizing'.

I'd ask, my parents bought a house off people who'd only owned it for 3 months, they were selling because it actually didn't suit due to being on the top of a steep hill with a steep garden but they hadn't realised how much it would affect them til they tried living there. It might not necessarily be for a bad reason!

I do the same as emsyj

My friend moved into her new house the other year in March. It was on the market by the begining of April. She caught her DH shagging her best mate at the house warming party.

Thanks, I will ask the agents first then and then if we do proceed to viewing try to strike up a conversation with the sellers and work it in tactfully, I just didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with them as if we make an offer it may have to be slightly below the offers over price as we need to leave a bit of room for negotiation as their offers over is the maximum we could pay and I don't want them to already be pissed off with us when we do this as I suspect this would not make for good negotiations.

No there is no land that could have been taken from it before reselling, it's not a big property just a standard 3 bed semi with enclosed back garden.

Have you checked the price they paid? Have they added a substantial amount to it?

Frankly, it is likely to have dropped in value since they bought it unless they have done a lot of refurbishing.

Maybe have a good look on Google earth, there may be something close by that can't been seen easily otherwise.

Pretty much the same price as they paid for it is what it's up for now. I do and don't hope it is down to marriage breakup or something, it's horrible to wish that on someone but at least it would mean there was nothing wrong with the property.

You can also usually go online and check planning applications on the website of the local council to see if anything has been applied for nearby.

I know the area quite well, it's near where I grew up and has always struck me as a nice street, one of my first boyfriends lived there but he doesn't anymore but I have been to the area a couple of times, admittedly a good few years ago now, would definitely go and have a better look before committing to anything. My worst fear is nuisance neighbours as I have had these before and it was hell.

Of course you should ask!

Owners before us were only there for 11 months - because they did the house up and sold it on for a HUGE profit <muggins>

Ask the agent and the vendors about any issues with neighbours, in fact I would ask via email and ask for a reply by email. Your solicitor should ask these questions as part of the conveyancing, but just on case. Also, I would go for a full structural survey.
Questions - ask away.

I'm sure I've seen it written somewhere that they have to tell you (if you ask) if there's nuisance neighbours and the like.

Mind, it's a while since I've bought a house, and even longer since I've bought a house in England so not 100% sure.

We had a similar situation a couple of quick sales in a relatively short space of time. Turns out a developer bought our house with a view to doing extensive work then ran out of money. I met both sets of neighbours and knocked on the neighbours doors of any house we were seriously considering. To an extent it backfired as one set became a right pain in the backside with their claustrophic interest in our lives so be aware.

There are questions on the Seller's Property Information Form about neighbours I think, aren't there? You can sue if they give you false information about neighbour disputes, and there is a question on the documents about it somewhere.

In terms of negotiating, when we bought this house I told the vendor that the asking price was more than we could afford, and that if we made an offer then it would not be at that price. I said this at the second viewing to her face - I said we really love the house, we like where it is etc but if you are looking for the asking price then we can't pay it. She said she was open to offers.

I think there's a lot to be said for being upfront.

Where neighbours are concerned, go and look at the houses of the neighbours: opposite, a couple each side and round the back. Often, the look of a property can tell you something about the neighbours. Unkempt, too brightly decorated big, artificial butterflies applied to the front of the house and other aspects like that

Definitely ask, we sold a house we'd only bought 6 months before because DH got a new job somewhere else. Nothing wrong with the house at all, we'd have stayed if not for his job.

Upahill - for your friend!

Thank you everyone, had some great advice here, really helpful . Fingers crossed for a quick sale for my house.