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AIBU?

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To want to know why vendors are selling

185 replies

shoebedobedobedobedoo · 20/10/2019 17:39

We are at exchange stage(as in about to). Nothing has come up in survey or searches. When we first looked at the house EA said vendors were moving due to ‘change of circumstances‘. On second viewing we were told vendors had already moved out into rented. They had taken NOTHING with them. No furniture, no kids toys, nothing. It looked like they had walked out one morning and hadn’t come back. We had our offer accepted (had to increase twice). We have subsequently had 2 other nebulous reasons as to why they are selling, and most recently told they wanted to move to a detached house. On our 3rd viewing all the woman’s was gone, but not the mans. All kids stuff still there. Pre exchange visit almost everything gone.We know (via reliable village gossip) that they have moved into a much smaller rented property less than 1/2 mile away. Were they sleeping and sitting on the floor? Neither direct neighbour even knew they were moving or that the house was on the market until we knocked on their doors. They haven’t spoken to the neighbours to tell them they are going/have gone.
The house has had extensive work done by the vendors, all in a diy kind of fashion.
Why would anyone move out of an obviously loved family home into a smaller rented place before they have even had an offer on their house? And why all the odd reasons for moving. Why not at least just give one reason and stick to it. We are worried that there may be something major wrong with the house, not picked up in the survey (there a long list in our last purchase) or the vendors know something about an as yet unpublicised building project (it’s surrounded by farm land). Would you be worried about buying this house or am I over thinking this?

OP posts:
OhTheRoses · 20/10/2019 20:45

How strange some people are.

Bouvht my first flat from a retired deputy bank manager who lived with and looked after his mum. She died, he met a woman and sold the flat. Told me all about it. Was nearly 40 years ago. Was Barclays!

2nd house bought from nice chap who fell in love with his lodgef and they sold up to buy a bigger house and start a family. We still exchange Xmas cards as indeed we do with the couple who bought it.

3rd house - redeveloped by builders who went into liquidation. Receivers became clients of dh. Sold onto to an American cpl - they call occasionally for advice about quirky things.

Current house. Elderly lady died. We are on good terms with her sons. Such nice people, as were the agents. Have a lovely chat every time I bump into them

Perhaps our lives just lack weirdoea.

Takingabreakagain · 20/10/2019 20:49

A local council (planning) search usually only checks the history of the actual site you are purchasing. If you think there may be a chance of nearby/neighbouring work affecting you then you'll need to check the council's planning website yourself.

ElsieMc · 20/10/2019 20:55

Tbh in any village there are always fallings out. If everyone disclosed every neighbourhood dispute, no-one would ever sell any houses. After all, one persons nightmare neighbour is another's lovely one and it is subjective. The closest village to us are currently sending solicitors letters to one another over caravans and disputing the re-opening of a village pub with factions for and against.

I am going to sell my home in the next 12 months because it is far too big for us now. Too much garden and too big to heat. But I have a really vile neighbour in a nearby cul de sac. He is an arrogant, rude pig of a man and we objected to his building plans along with the majority of neighbours. I will disclose that we objected to these plans because I could not cope with the worry of non-disclosure. But it means that the whole village (small place) should do the same. You simply cannot legislate against horrible people who are of course someone's neighbours as they are everywhere. When is a dispute truly "spent" or does it pass to you?

Generally when filling in a Property Information form it is best to follow any declaration with "the buyer must rely upon their own inspection" as in caveat emptor, let the buyer beware.

Op, I think you are getting a bad feeling about this house and your insistence on knowing detailed reasons means your instinct is telling you something isn't right. Stop digging around and make your decision. I wouldn't go with it.

shoebedobedobedobedoo · 20/10/2019 21:00

I never fail to be surprised by MN:

You knocked on their neighbours doors - sorry OP but I work in property and I think most EAs would place you not the seller on the Batshit spectrum.

We pulled out of a purchase because one set of neighbours was planning to turn their Adjacent derelict farm (ie other side of the fence) into an entertainment venue. They hadn’t submitted planning and we would only have known this because we asked the neighbours.

OP posts:
Schuyler · 20/10/2019 21:00

Did I read this correctly, you knocked to ask the neighbours?! You sound very over the top. Blimey.

TheMouldNeverBotheredMeAnyway · 20/10/2019 21:09

I have sold properties in situations where there there has been a repossession and the dad obviously didnt tell his family what was going to happen because they left the house as if they were just all leaving to go to work/ college that day and would return later.
The house had to be sold in that state.
However as applicants knew why it was like that, e.g. make up in a bag strewn across the bed, they understood and it didn't take too long to sell.

Were they not even allowed back in to collect their possessions?

shoebedobedobedobedoo · 20/10/2019 21:23

Did I read this correctly, you knocked to ask the neighbours?! You sound very over the top

I’m genuinely surprised that people are surprised by this. As has already been said several times neighbours can ruin your life. Spending 5 minutes to introduce yourself as the potential NDN could save you years of misery and money. I’m not sure what is so ‘batshit’ about that.

OP posts:
ladybirdsarelovely33 · 20/10/2019 22:28

TheMould Yes they were allowed to go back to get their possessions but for some hold up through the bank, it took a long time - almost until exchange - that they sorted out a date to do it.

BugLadee · 20/10/2019 22:58

Check house for bedbugs.

TildaKauskumholm · 20/10/2019 23:02

I've moved a lot and have always had a suitable made up story ready to answer this question. None of their business but it's usual to ask (as do I).

PandaTurtle · 20/10/2019 23:12

Do you know how long they have lived there? Are you buying it for a similar price to what they paid? A bank if repossessing is normally only concerned with covering their debt - they would be unlikely to push price up twice if debt already covered.

TwiddleMuff · 20/10/2019 23:24

"Did I read this correctly, you knocked to ask the neighbours?! You sound very over the top"

I had a woman knock last month about one of the houses on the street! I was more than happy to chat with her. I hope they buy as she seemed lovely, even if she didn't know the MN rule about never, ever knocking on someone's door EVER.

AlrightTreacle · 20/10/2019 23:42

Why would anyone move out of an obviously loved family home into a smaller rented place before they have even had an offer on their house?

Maybe they are minted and just want to make the whole selling and moving process easier? An unlived in house is easier to keep ready for viewings at any time, and if they have the money to burn on renting somewhere else in the meantime then why not. Maybe all their stuff has slowly been put into storage somewhere and they are renting a furnished place?

pyramidbutterflyfish · 20/10/2019 23:42

This is 100% your business. As others have said, if they are selling because of a psycho neighbour, you need to know. More prosaically, if it's not clear why someone's selling, it's a risk they will pull out pre exchange, leaving you out of pocket. Obviously you can't force them to be candid, but I'd have serious reservations going forward if I couldn't get a straight answer.

MoonlightBonnet · 20/10/2019 23:49

You won’t get them to tell the truth. But you could write a list of things you’re concerned it might be (eg rodents, neighbour disputes, whatever) and ask your solicitor to ask theirs to confirm in writing that there are no issues with each thing.

ScotsinOz · 21/10/2019 01:26

@FreshwaterBay “Vendors normally want to transfer a pile of bricks and tiles, plus a area immediately round those, in exchange for some money. I could be wrong though.

You job is not to wonder why, just how much money.”

😂😂😂😂 - I love this!

You can ask, but they don’t have to legally tell you anything. A smart vendor won’t tell you or will say moving for work (then when you bump into them at the local supermarket, casually mention how the “new” job fell through and they’re staying in the village after all 😁).

As soon as you mention financial issues, repossession, divorce etc, my offer drops significantly- you want a quick sale, here’s my (very low) cash offer. We managed to secure two properties cheaply and quickly because we were told they were divorcing. Morgagee sales (repossession) are even better as the bank will only sell for the debt owing (quite often much less than the value of the property), however I doubt anyone would want people knowing this has happened to them.

VenusTiger · 21/10/2019 01:47

They’ve probably won the lottery.

shoebedobedobedobedoo · 21/10/2019 07:18

even if she didn't know the MN rule about never, ever knocking on someone's door EVER.

I didn’t know this was a mn rule.

An unlived in house is easier to keep ready for viewings at any time
I’m not sure this bothers them.....the place hasn’t been cleaned. It’s filthy, and I’m not expecting it to be clean if we do go through with the purchase.

OP posts:
Cornettoninja · 21/10/2019 08:59

Maybe they hate packing, just took what they needed and are hiring one of those packing companies?

I’ve moved a lot (terminal renter) and covert one of these companies that just come in and do it all for you.

DreamingofSunshine · 21/10/2019 09:29

I can see it from both sides. We bought recently and the vendors were definitely not telling the truth about why they were selling, and it kept changing. Plus, for a family of 5 including 3 under 3 they didn't have much stuff at all. However, the survey was OK, we visited at different times, met the neighbours and we've been happy there.

Our last house we sold simply because we found out that I couldn't have more children after a traumatic time medically post DS, and we didn't want to stare at the empty rooms we'd planned for DS' siblings. Didn't need to tell them that detail, but a more vague but still truthful version which was the house was too big for the three of us.

I don't think people are entitled to the details but it's not unreasonable to want some sort of reason, and for them to stick to it.

YorkshireIndie · 21/10/2019 09:35

I don't think you would have liked me then. We moved partly because the people living in the house opposite had a problem with me using the 'good council grit' to grit the road 🤦🏻‍♀️
It was then I decided to sell.

I mean I also got pregnant and the house next door sold but that was the main motivation for me moving. I could not imagine having to live near these people for another winter. Obviously our buyer only knew about the baby and not the gritting saga

YorkshireIndie · 21/10/2019 10:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

batvixen123 · 21/10/2019 10:42

I thought of this thread last night - I had someone who was viewing a neighbour's house knock on my door to ask about the neighborhood and how we all got on.

I think I might have scared her off - I've not been very well so was in PJs at 7 pm, looking a total flu ridden state, and thought she was my take out being delivered, otherwise I'd have ignored the knock. So I sort of stared at her blankly while she talked until she ran out of steam.

PandaTurtle · 21/10/2019 11:10

It could be one of them isn't well enough to deal with viewings / packing / cleaning and they haven't told people as they don't want the entire village to know.

MintyMabel · 21/10/2019 12:01

We have said that we aren’t interested in details, more than ‘personal’, but it’s the fact that the reason keeps changing that bothers us
Does it keep changing, or are you just going on gossip or rumour.

It IS none of your business. The risks you note about spending on a house are there whether they moved out in a hurry or not. Do your surveys, do your research and make your decision. They have no reason to tell you anything.

In any event, if the reasons they are moving is because of something inherently wrong with the property, they aren't going to tell you anyway.

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