Was what estate agent said justified?

[SnickettyLemon]

House across the road is for sale. I was parking my car this morning and estate agent was outside the house with a couple who were viewing it. They all had face masks on as per rules , so I could not really see their faces. As I walked up my path the lady shouted "hello Lemon." I did not recognise her immediately until she said It's 'Julie' from work. I said hello and she said she didn't know I lived here and asked if I liked the area. I replied something like '" Well we are still here after 16 years , so Yeah!". The estate agent then re-engaged her in his conversation and I went inside. My neighbour just told me that when he rung the estate agent for feedback he was told that I had spoken to the viewers and I should not be having any interaction with them. I only spoke because she engaged with me first.
Also I hardly said anything detrimental to a sale. Is this a thing that everyone knows you shouldn't talk to viewers (even if they speak to you first)

That's ridiculous - were you supposed to just give her a glare and go inside?!
Most (sensible) buyers will talk to neighbours. Why wouldn't you?

How very odd Was the neighbour upset with you, or just bemused? Don't give it another thought, estate agent is daft and if your neighbour is upset with you, be glad such an odd ball will be moving away.

What a load of old rubbish from the estate agent and your neighbour. If you know someone, you know someone!

I can’t believe the neighbour said that too you. I would have had a word with the agent and not passed any of it on to you.

It’s very obvious that if you find out you know someone in the road where you’re considering buying, you’ll want to speak to them.

Gosh, thank goodness Uptight Neighbour is on their way out

I think you say to your neighbours it was a friend from work and she actually shouted hi and that you were complimentary of the area so if they don’t like something now then it’s nothing to do with your interaction with them and maybe the Estate Agent doesn’t understand social etiquette.

No. It's not a thing. You didn't say or do anything wrong. I presume you told your neighbour what the conversation was and how it came about? Don't waste another second of your thought processes on it.

What an odd estate agent. YWNBU to reply, and it's not like it hurt the sale. "Julie from work" could have easily asked you at work and then you could have slated the neighbourhood and neighbour without them knowing. Plus, when buying a house, people want to speak to the neighbours some times. Even though we rent, there was one place we chatted with the neighbours for about five minutes after being shown the place.

What were you supposed to do? Ignore?

Sounds totally ridiculous.

Even if you had said something awful about the place, it's not the estate agents job to police your behaviour - you don't have any sort of contract with him or obligation to him.

But in reality, you said something that you'd think would actually enhance the chances of the viewers buying the house, so he's being incredibly strange.

I’m laughing at the idea that the EA thinks he gets to control the actions of everyone on the street. Like you’re part of the staging or something.

What way did the neighbour sounds when he said it to you? Is he expecting that you comply with the EA and keep your mouth shut? Will you be provided with a red cape and white headdress or will you have to supply your own?

Well, you know who not to sell your own home with now!
You did nothing wrong.

Sounds like the estate agent is a wanker. I doubt most EA's would come out with that drivel.

I’d be ringing him and setting him absolutely straight. Actually I’d be ringing his manager. How fucking dare he. He doesn’t get any say at all in who anyone in the street talks to. He doesn’t own his clients. They aren’t his employees.

When we came to look at our current house, a couple of the neighbours happened to be out so we chatted with them. Not a lot more info than you gave!

How bizarre! I’d definitely be calling the EAs and asking for an explanation. They’re nothing to do with you for a start.

I'd double check.
"So just to be clear, if I meet someone I know and they speak to me I should rudely ignore them and when I next see them explain you told me to?'

I'd like to hear their reply 🤣🤣

I’d say this wasn’t the agent but is your neighbour, she clearly doesn’t want you talking to viewers in case you say something she would prefer you didn’t. In my experience the agent would t give a shit unless you said something bad.

"Oh no am sorry neighbour! Next time anyone interested in buying your house wants to speak to me I shall make sure to merely glare and ignore them. No better selling point than shitty rude neighbours eh?"

OP, phone the EA's manager tomorrow and tell them what was said. Most homebuyers or renters with any sense would speak to the neighbour's first. It's not up to the EA to stop that contact!

The house next door to us has been on the market for just over a year. I have never spoken to any of the viewers (and there have been many, I’d say at least 25+). With the nicer weather, I was in the garden when two separate viewers have been round and said a polite hello/brief conversation With them both. Within 24 hours, both had put in offers! I’m guessing the buyers had no problem with a friendly chat with the potential new neighbours!

Bonkers imo!!

Perhaps if it happens again you should say ‘I’ve been asked not to answer that question’, and watch as the prospective purchasers run....

Has the EA ducked up the viewing somehow and decided to scape goat you?

I’d love potential buyers to chat to our lovely neighbours, it would probably swing the sale.