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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that houses do not come with an after sales service??

240 replies

TiaMariaandDietCoke · 13/10/2011 13:42

I'll try to keep this short. We sold our old house and the buyer moved in at the end of June. He's a single guy, just a couple of years younger than us. During the run up to the sale he was a bit of a PITA, we had to do lots of hand holding etc and his parents kept coming to the house to 'measure up' (never measured a damn thing) and would spend HOURS chatting with me and not showing any interest in the house at all.

We put up with it because he was willing to wait for our new build to be ready before he moved in, so that saved us the cost and hassle of renting. We also felt a bit sorry for him as he's just starting out for the first time, so left him quite a lot of extras not included in the sale of the house to help him out, chased up his solicitor for him when things stalled because he 'didn't know how to', left him loads of info about the area, who his neighbours are, when the bins are collected, left him food and a welcome to your new home present and card - basically anything we thought would help him settle in - he was very pleased!

Now I'm begining to wonder if being so nice was a mistake. He has my mobile number and has sent texts on and off all summer asking daft questions about the house, all of which I've answered and have even called him to talk explain stuff in more detail when he's been confused. He's also turned up unannounced at our new home which we didnt give him the address of and we dont know how he knows where it is for no particular reason, dropping off junk mail that he 'thinks is for us' Confused so far, irritating, but no big deal really.

until monday night, when his mother turned up at our house unannounced and barged in asking me to come and sort out his bloody heating! Shock There's nothing wrong with the heating, just he's not sure how to programme it to suit his working shifts.

me: "didn't he read the manual?"
her: "there is no manual"
me "err, yes there is - we handed it to you along with everything else - and I left written instructions because you asked for them - and there are instructions on the control unit itself"
her "oh, yes, so there is - well, can you come and do it anyway?"

now, this woman was not taking no for an answer so I stupidly agreed that DH and I would nip down for 10 MINUTES tonight to sort it. This was after me offering several days that I could come down and her saying that no, that time/day wouldn't suit. He wanted me to come then and there, or preferably on saturday evening, because that would suit her best. When I told her I had plans this weekend and couldnt come, her response was "well, that's not very convenient for poor DS" Confused ffs!!

The house, by the way is in great condition, heating system is only a few years old as as simple as they come - its not like he's struggling in some old run down house with quirky appliances!

AIBU to think they are extracting the urine, or am I just being a bit of a Caah? I'm of a mind to set the damn timer for him and then make it crystal clear that we will not be coming back and he needs to sort things out himself from here on in - what do the MN jury think?

OP posts:
Original poster
TiaMariaandDietCoke · 13/10/2011 20:02

haha Ninky - don't worry, I thought you were right anyway, even if you didn't mean it like that! I'll takebeing a bit bonkers over being a loon any day Wink

OP posts:
amistillsexy · 13/10/2011 20:03

piglet yes, it's a nice enough kitchen, but the previous owner was telling the new owner that her new one wasn't as 'Light and spacious' as this one...Just how dark and cramped must it be??? (was the point of the post, I think).
Tia to repeat what one of my friends texted to me yesterday- 'You are mad in the nicest way' ( Hmm ) Grin .

plupervert · 13/10/2011 20:06

Brilliant.

But just one more suggestion: could we co-ordinate a sabotage flashmob for the house?

Please?

Original poster
TiaMariaandDietCoke · 13/10/2011 20:09

stillsexy Grin

OP posts:
nbee84 · 13/10/2011 20:11

You have to keep us updated of any developments Grin

KatieMortician · 13/10/2011 20:11

Yes amistillsexy gets the point. My corridor kitchen is big enough for a fridge, cooker, small sink (no room for dishwasher, freezer or even a draining board) and half a worktop. The worktop on the right is literally an inch larger than the width of a Le Cruset 24" casserole dish. You can just about catch a glimpse of it on one of the shelves - it's light blue.

It has been specially designed to knock yourself out when you try to use the work surface on the right because the units on the wall are the same width as the worktop.

I HATE it. It is not light and spacious. At best it is adequate.

nomoreheels · 13/10/2011 20:13

Why on earth didn't you firmly tell them to feck off from now on when you went round? I really don't get it. I wouldn't have helped at all - I would have turned up in person only to firmly say "byyyyye!", left, then followed up with the email or letter.

thederkinsdame · 13/10/2011 20:14

On a practical level I'm cross you went round but it was worth it for the sheer entertainment you've provided for us tonight Grin

It's time to stop the niceties now. Send them kungfu's letter or just tell them to fuck off to the far side of fuck etc etc

If you did I bet they'd ask for directions Wink

SewWhat · 13/10/2011 20:29

PMSL at the 'need to order some oil' part of tonights update!!

WitchesBrewIsMyFriend · 13/10/2011 20:42

oh maaaan this gets better and better. I am betting mid week next week - Wednesday - they will be in touch re Oil.

Is there a prize for whoever guesses correctly? Wink

caramelwaffle · 13/10/2011 20:43

Two days. I give it two days.

Original poster
TiaMariaandDietCoke · 13/10/2011 20:49

ohh, prizes! yes, we should have a prize for the winner. How about an hour of mine and Dhs time as heating consultants? Wink

OP posts:
exorbitclamp · 13/10/2011 20:50

We bought and sold quite a few times over the years and have always erred on the side of caution before accepting an offer from anybody who felt the need to bring their parents around on second viewing.

We particularly hated it when the dads would start tapping walls experimentally and listening, I mean what the jeff were they thinking they would hear.

PrivateBenjamin · 13/10/2011 20:51

Oooh! The prize could be a signed copy of the heating manual.

PigletJohn · 13/10/2011 20:53

blown plaster.

Original poster
TiaMariaandDietCoke · 13/10/2011 20:59

private - it'll have to be a downloaded copy - if I took the real one I'd get another call for sure! - has it to me signed by me and Dh, or man-child, helicopter mum and overbearing daddy??

OP posts:
microserf · 13/10/2011 21:09

dear god! our vendors practically wiped their arses on the doormat the day they left us with lots of undisclosed problems and moved to NZ. still, all the neighbours tell me they were cunts, and we're much nicer Grin. this would be consistent with our experience of them.

but this beggars belief! i would be ashamed to raise such a miserable specimen to adulthood. loons, utter loons.

i second kfp's letter. although i seriously suggest your solicitor writes something all legally along the same lines, so they really do leave you alone.

PrivateBenjamin · 13/10/2011 21:09

By you and your DH of course, since you are heroes of the hour Wink

Manchild would probably need you to support his pen hand to write his own name.

I bet you get a phone call at 7.30pm on Sunday.

GreenBlueRed · 13/10/2011 21:18

Soandsosmummy - great letter, I'd so use that in this position!

Original poster
TiaMariaandDietCoke · 13/10/2011 21:39

Heroes? Hmm Grin I'll have to start a proper book on this now, so i know who to send the prize to! Wink

OP posts:
TandB · 13/10/2011 21:47

You are welcome to use the letter for a modest fee, OP. If I charge you what the justice minister thinks my time is worth it will cost you the exorbitant price of something in the region of 3p. Maybe 4p if I add VAT.

I like the idea of the flashmob but can I make an alternative suggestion? Instead of a flashmob, how about a drip-feed mob? Where at suitable intervals (maybe every 36 hours or so) a random MNetter knocks on man-child's door and proffers some entirely random bit of information about the house.

Man-child: Hello, can I help you?
Random Mnetter: The switch in the airing cupboard needs to be in the upright position or you won't have any hot water. Bye.

Man-child: Yes? What do you want?
Random Mnetter #2: The little silver key on top of the fridge is for the garden shed. Make sure you don't lose it as it is the only one.

Come on! It will be fun!

Ghoulwithadragontattoo · 13/10/2011 21:50

I'm going to say next Tuesday morning.

plupervert · 13/10/2011 21:51

Only if the drip-feed mob has no contact with the parents. Tenant Boy might think his parents are sending these "contractors", and finally get fed up with them (his parents). Worth a try?

I still think sabotage would be more fun. I've got a family of foxes outside, who need rehoming.

hester · 13/10/2011 21:55

I have to admit that I did call our vendor a couple of times after we moved in Blush. BUT BUT BUT only about a couple of things that had been left broken (and we were not told about). However, I did stop within a couple of weeks, reckoning after that it was clearly my problem. I hope the MN jury will forgive me.

KatieMorticiaton · 13/10/2011 22:07

hahaha! At the drip feed mob.