Would anyone else find this a bit disturbing?

[pollyglot]

We bought a house about 4 months ago from a 70-something couple who had built it. We never met them nor had anything to do with them, but did see them once driving out of the gate, so recognised them. We're down a long drive with trees, and from time to time we see them standing at the gate just staring. I have waved but they just scuttle off. On other occasions, they sit in their car on the road at the gate and look. I have no idea where they live, though I gather they are in a retirement home. I'm imagining that they are annoyed that the garden isn't as tidy as it was when they were here! I'm starting to feel a bit...paranoid!

The now owner bought the place 4 months ago,the old couple built it.where the fuck does it read, the old couple only lived there for 4 years??and even if they only lived there for 1 year,they could still miss the house.feeling paranoid about a 70 year old couple,whatever next....

Creepy.

The guy who owned mine did come and peer into my window once. I was sprawled on the sofa and just stared at him in shock. He saw me and scuttled off.

They’re sad to’ve has to sell up, and want to go have a look at it, probably whilst reminiscing about happy times there.
They’re elderly so unlikely to be any sort of real physical risk to you, but at least one is able enough to drive so unlikely to be too confused as to who lives there now.
They’re on a public road so you can’t actually stop them.
I’d hate to see my parents’ old house (either it would be different or the new owners wouldn’t have cared enough for it to update anything ...!).

Whenever I pass any of our previous homes I always stop for a look over the gate/fence/hedge/ . Doesn't everybody?

I loved those places; most have some of my blood sweat and tears soaked into their fabric and they all have trees in the garden planted by me.

@ICantFindTheBuffet

This sounds like the opening of an ITV drama. You track down the retirement home, call and find out they died in a car accident 3 months ago

Ok, time for bed

What happens next

When I am old, I probably walk in my slippers and pijamas to the housing coop where I lived in my 30's.And to be honest I would not give a shit about ageist mumsnet comments.

Has anyone on this thread ever met anyone in their 70s

There is a lot of suggestion of them being frail, confused, “at least one of them can drive” etc.

The guy built the house three years ago. The fact that they are in their 70s really doesn’t seem to have much relevance.

@Sommernacht89

The now owner bought the place 4 months ago,the old couple built it.where the fuck does it read, the old couple only lived there for 4 years??and even if they only lived there for 1 year,they could still miss the house.feeling paranoid about a 70 year old couple,whatever next....

In the OPs update. 3 years they lived in it, actually. Worth reading all the OPs posts at least

A man once knocked on my parents front door and said his grandparents had lived in their home many years before, and as he was driving in the area and driving past he thought he’d knock on the off chance. He now lives hundreds of miles away and doesn’t come back very often. My parents invited it him and they had a chat. I don’t think this couple sound creepy at all.

They're probably just feeling nostalgic.

Honestly, I sometimes think MN is a parallel universe! So many comments from posters like Sommernacht89 telling the OP they are just genteel little old people....like I said before, they clearly have time on their hands. Does the OP have time to entertain them every time they fancy a trip down memory lane (about the investment property they built 3 years ago)
No wonder there are so many posts on here about people walking all over posters boundaries if the default in this situation is to 'invite them in for a cuppa'
Sod that, OP bought the house and she doesn't owe anyone her time.

OP where do you live that's still in lockdown (or have I missed something? apologies if I have, but at least I know the property is fairly new built and not their family home full of memories!)

My grandma moved in with dm as she was lonely and struggling living I her own. She sold her house but in reality didn't want to move so whenever we went to a hospital appointment she would ask to drive past the house and would have loved to knock on and see if the new owner had changed anything. I find it quite sad tbh as all her memories from the last 35 years were there and she loved her home.

The house is only three years old.

Hmm. I'd find this odd in that case.

What are they watching for/waiting for?

It's obvious that they put a lot of themselves into the house, as it's beautifully designed and built, and they added all sorts of details...so I can understand that even if it was a leg-up towards retirement, it has significance. They did live here for 3 years, planned and built, and planted all the fruit trees. And yes, you leave behind a bit of yourself in every home where you were happy. I deliberately avoid going past houses where I've lived. It's just a little disconcerting to see people just staring...

@ICantFindTheBuffet

This sounds like the opening of an ITV drama. You track down the retirement home, call and find out they died in a car accident 3 months ago

Ok, time for bed

😂😱😂😱😂😱

This comment wins the most amusing comment of the day award - thanks for the laugh!!

People are only feeling sorry for them based on their age… if a couple in their 30s were doing this you’d have a very different cache of responses I’m sure.

I would find it very weird! Particularly as they only have had it for three years. Completely not normal and quite disconcerting. I certainly wouldn’t invite them in, you know nothing about them!