Neighbour's house up for sale

[Ponshuspirate]

This is more a WWYD rather than an AIBU.

We've lived next door to some pleasant people for 12 years. We always speak when we see them, they always speak when they see us, sometimes we have a good old chat. They are nice neighbours.

They both go out to work, whereas I work from home. Over the last 12 years I've taken in countless parcels for them, sometimes more than one a day. Certainly coming up to Christmas it was constant. They always thank me and life goes on.

Anyway, their house is up for sale. There's no board up but I've seen it on Right Move. They haven't mentioned it. I know it's none of my business and it's entirely up to them.

However, as we're on friendly terms, if it was us moving I would definitely have told them, just out of courtesy really.

Is it me? In similar circumstances WWYD? i.e. would you tell your neighbours?

We sold our house without telling anyone or a board going up. I thought that was really weird, but guess not! We lived next to a batty old lady and were not retaliating to her behaviour in order to move on and out as quietly as we could.

I'd tell them, just out of politeness and to give them the heads up

Again..I just don't understand.

What do you mean "give them the heads up"? What are they going to do with this information?

I didn't tell mine as I didn't want their opinions on the matter. But I had the kind of neighbours who would have felt they had a right to have a say in how and to whom I sold my property. If I was moving now, I think I would mention it to my neighbours if I happened to meet them at the appropriate time, as they are nice non-busybodies. I still wouldn't go out of my way to tell them.

I would, but we've been here 17 years and the neighbours either side have lived here all their lives and about 30 years the other side.

We didn’t tell any of our neighbours when we were moving out (we were moving out to rent to get away from scumbag neighbours) so they were all out beaking when the removal van turned up.

4 years later and the house is now up for sale (sign in the garden which some fucker has pulled down , sign now attached to house).

When I’ve been to collect post or check house the neighbours come out trying to find out what’s happening but we blank them. They made our lives a misery for years so we’re really hoping that some total antisocial scumbag buys our house and causes them merry hell! Bitter? Me? Absolutely!

I think it’s rude not to tell neighbours you are moving.

Many people worry about who they will end up living next door to them and you would obviously say goodbye to them?

I rent at the moment and will be moving on Fri and I have told my neighbour who is upset we are going and worried about who will next rent the house.

I will of course say goodbye to her.

You are right - you've taken in parcels, they should have consulted you before making a big decision like selling their house. What were they thinking ?

Hopefully their new neighbours will ransack all their Yodel deliveries and have a dog the size of a hippo who enjoys opera singing.

Similar friendliness level with our neighbours and I would absolutely mention it to them if we were selling. I'd feel really rude not to.

We didn’t tell our neighbours we were moving in our last house. The nice older lady who lived on one side noticed when the moving van arrived. She’d had no idea we were selling (DH wanted to keep it secret because he’s a bit odd). The movers arrived and the van was all loaded up while the irritating ones on the other side were out at work. They must have come home to unexpected new neighbours.

formerbabe-by heads up , I mean that I want them to be aware we would be moving, that an estate agent will be showing random people round and not to worry if they saw random people going in and out of our house. We do let each other know if we have workmen in as we do look out for each other's houses in a neighbourly way. Particularly since a burglary a while back.

There is no obligation to let anyone know, I think it's polite, particularly if you have a reasonable relationship, as op seems to have.

I mean that I want them to be aware we would be moving, that an estate agent will be showing random people round and not to worry if they saw random people going in and out of our house

You see I can't stand nosiness like this. Unless the people you see entering your neighbours house are wearing balaclavas and smashing the front door in then why would you even notice or care whose going round there?

Some people just like their privacy, I wouldn't tell my neighbours I was thinking of moving.

It would never occur to me to tell my neighbours that I was planning to sell my house, and no neighbours have ever told me either. I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Neighbours worrying about who might move in would be one of the main reasons I wouldn't do it. Because I think there is a short way from "being worried" to thinking you should get a say in.

I wouldn’t dream of telling my neighbours, it’s none of their business

Mam? Is that you?

I swear I had this conversation with my mother yesterday!

My mums neighbour put her house up for sale and Mum didn't know until the for sale sign went up. She was very hurt. As was I as her bloody neighbour was my MIL 😱 I didn't know either, to make matters worse I'm an estate agent and would've put the house on the market for free, she went with another agent and had to pay. 😂😂

I agree totally with you OP.

These are people you have known for a long time. The right thing would be them to let you know they're moving.

You see I can't stand nosiness like this. Unless the people you see entering your neighbours house are wearing balaclavas and smashing the front door in then why would you even notice or care whose going round there?

In our street we look out for each other. Just before Christmas someone entered another neighbour's house, whilst they were out. A regular looking guy, his balaclava must have been in the wash and the guys over the road saw something and called the police.

Another time, recently, the lady over the road knocked and was in a bit of a panic. Her husband had fallen and caught the back of his head on a low wall. She was all over the place with worry, so I went over and together we called an ambulance. I stayed with them until the ambulance arrived.

I think that being neighbourly and looking out for each other is very good indeed and a million miles away from being nosy.

I think that being neighbourly and looking out for each other is very good indeed and a million miles away from being nosy.

Absolutely! Our neighbours are lovely; they've helped in emergencies, we have drinks and bbq's together from time to time, our security cameras overlook their property and theirs do on ours; they caught footage of a guy breaking into DH's car boot and were straight round with the recording for the police. They're incredible neighbours to have. I think it would be unusual not to mention something like moving since we're on friendly terms with them.

I think that there are very different opinions on what is neighbourly and what is nosy. My mother would say she is neighbourly where she lives. Every time there is a delivery or someone walking around, she is out the door asking if she could help. I would find her insufferable if I lived there, but some of her neighbours think she is great.