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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to knock on their door with photos?

49 replies

RainbowAura · 27/08/2017 02:29

I have just moved back to the village I lived in as a child 30+ years ago. I noticed my old house has been sold. My Dad built this house with three of his acquaintances (they bought a plot big enough for four houses, helped each other and had one each). I have a few photos of the house being built and shortly after we moved in. WIBU to knock on the door when the new owners have settled in, introduce myself and offer to show them. I am aware they could think this is either sweet or totally nuts. What do you all think? I will go with the consensus!

OP posts:

TattyCat · 27/08/2017 08:18

Another one here who would love it! And I've often thought the same about our childhood home and whether the current owners would be interested in photos. I know where things are buried in the garden, for instance!! (not bodies )

I'd love someone to give me photos of our current house - we've just bought it and are renovating, but it's fairly crumbling. Apparently the previous owners were evacuated from London during the war, so spent their entire childhood and adult lives here.

silkpyjamasallday · 27/08/2017 08:19

My parents house was next door to one that was completely destroyed by bombs in ww2, and our porch was also destroyed. A former owner rebuilt it himself, his adult children came over when he was in a hospice asking if they could have the handwritten plaque he had put up when he built it. We thought it was lovely and were happy to hand over the plaque, I hope it gave him some happiness in his final days. I'd go for it if I were you OP, they will probably love having some extra information about their new home.

Moreisnnogedag · 27/08/2017 08:29

I'd love it - definitely go with copies. Our neighbour popped round on his horse (rural area) and chatted to my husband about our barn. His dad built it with a load of mates when he was a teenager. Considering our neighbour is in his late 80s it makes the barn near 100 years old. I've stopped stressing about it falling down as its lasted a century already!

Itsjustaphase84 · 27/08/2017 08:33

Oooh yes go for it.i live across the road from the house I lived in 30 years ago as a child. New owners moved in a few months back and I'm tempted to dig out and copy some photos and post through. I'd love to know what my house looked like decades ago.

Northernparent68 · 27/08/2017 08:34

It could go either way, as you live in a village can't you wait and see if you get to meet them and then bring it up

Belleende · 27/08/2017 08:35

I would LOVE it. You would be plied first with tea and then with the booze of your choosing and you would have to tell me all the stories.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 27/08/2017 08:40

I think that would be amazing! Especially if you offer to give them copies if they're interested.

Of course, they might be completely uninterested, but I'd be surprised.

treaclesoda · 27/08/2017 08:44

I think it's a lovely idea, but copies are the way to go.

But be prepared, if the new owner is a mumsnetter, she probably won't open the door

MrsFezziwig · 27/08/2017 08:48

I would love it!

DarklyDreamingDexter · 27/08/2017 08:51

I would love to see old pics too and copies would be even better.

Kokapetl · 27/08/2017 08:54

Yes, do it! I don't know anyone who wouldn't be pleased at seeing old pictures of their house being built. Also, as it is a village, people expect other people to be friendlier and more nosy than in a city.

RhiWrites · 27/08/2017 08:56

I would love it if you did this at my house. I'd invite you in for and to have a look round.

GeorgeTheHamster · 27/08/2017 08:59

Someone with a connection to this house knocked on the door (it's an ordinary turn of the century semi). He wanted to look round and he told us his memories and then posted some photos. I loved it and still have the photos.

MsHarry · 27/08/2017 09:02

I'd like it. Pick your time carefully though. Maybe try to casually mention it and gauge their interest before turning up on the doorstep with albums!

Liiinoo · 27/08/2017 09:12

I think it would be a very nice gesture and it's not that unusual I don't think. I did a door to door charity collection and knocked on the door of our first family home. I got chatting to the owner and he invited me in to show me around. He was interested in what the area had been like back then and it was interesting to me and him to discuss the changes in the house and the history of previous owners (like the man we bought from having to sell because he had a jail sentence pending!).

ImNotWhoYouThinkIAmOhNo · 27/08/2017 09:26

My childhood home is currently up for sale. DH suggested going to view it but I couldn't impose on someone, and falsely raise their expectations, just to satisfy my own curiosity. I don't even have good photos to share!

I like the idea of writing to them to let them know and ask if they'd be interested in the photos. They might be a bit busy for random visitors when they've just moved in.

Sharl2017 · 27/08/2017 09:34

This is such a good idea and I'd be thrilled if someone came round with photos but it would much prefer copies of the photos so I can look at them in my own time and show other people

orangeowls · 27/08/2017 09:37

Someone did similar with my parents house and they were really pleased with the photos. Found them really interesting 😁

chickenowner · 27/08/2017 09:44

I think it's a lovely idea.

I live in a very old house and I love seeing photos of it from different eras.

VioletCharlotte · 27/08/2017 09:44

I would love it if someone did this, I guess it depends what type of people they are though. I'd knock and see, you've got nothing to lose!

otterlynutty · 27/08/2017 09:48

I would love that if I'd bought the house, not sure I'd invite you in because it would probably be a tip I wouldn't be comfortable with a stranger wandering around.

gingerbeerd · 27/08/2017 10:30

I'd love it

imjessie · 27/08/2017 14:26

I would pop a note through the door asking if they are interested with your mobile number on . They could call it text with a good time f they wanted you to come round . Otherwise you risk turning up at a bad time and it going wrong .

NewDaddie · 27/08/2017 14:29

Sounds crazy but in a good way

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