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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why wouldn't you research an area before you move?

191 replies

GlitterGiraffe13 · 13/04/2021 19:37

This popped up on facebook earlier.. A woman bought a house next to the A446 and is now complaining about the noise from the road..For those who aren't really familiar with the A446 it's a really busy road in Birmingham and is used as an alternative route whenever theres a crash/traffic on both the M42 and M6...

She says;
"Before we moved in we had several viewings that all took place on a Saturday morning which all meant that the road was relatively quiet. We absolutely fell in love with the house,"

There was also another article which says she didn't research the area before she moved?

We're relocating soon and we've spent ages researching the new area, good and bad locations to move to and we're going to go and stay for a few days as soon as we can to get a feel for it? Which I thought was normal behaviour?

Even if that was the only time the estate agent could do (unlikely but how else would they sell the house) why wouldn't you drive past it yourself at different times of day to get a feel for the traffic? She's moved from Kings Heath in Birmingham so it's not exactly far for her to go and scope the place out?

I feel like i've missed something here? Confused

Link:
www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/property/couple-forced-wear-earplugs-bed-20350434

OP posts:
beckycharlie · 13/04/2021 20:43

I live 5 minutes from her house and access to those houses can only be made by driving down the a446! It's incredibly close to 2 industrial estates and close to motorway links! I fail to see how she didn't realise what the road was like! I've no doubt when mire planes are taking off at the airport she will moan about that also.

Noodledoodledoo · 13/04/2021 20:43

We had someone locally complaining that her flat right next to the train line and sidings has too much train noise. The sidings are used a lot at the weekends for rail maintenance works which are 24 hours sometimes, easily obvious by looking at the sidings - lots of maintenance trains etc!

Babygotblueyes · 13/04/2021 20:45

I saw that article and thought the same thing. Even if it was a quieter time, you cant miss the flippin' great road right beside you. It was a strange position she was taking, I thought.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 13/04/2021 20:50

And she's going to have HS2 nearby soon...

Els1e · 13/04/2021 20:51

Totally agree. I’m in a semi rural area. It’s tricky to hold a conversation with someone who has moved in from a city then moans about the lack of public transport and facilities. I try and be sympathetic whilst inwardly yelling “no shit, Sherlock!” Of course, there are those lovely realistic folk who move in from a city and love the area as it is. 👍

cyclingmad · 13/04/2021 20:55

Other than the viewing i did a trip back one weekday evening and one weekend evening just to see what noise levels were like I.e. are their neighbours who have regular parties, playing loud music etc. And did I feel safe walking back from train station on my own.

Worked out well

Mmn654123 · 13/04/2021 20:59

Well clearly there’s nothing to be done. They should close the road. Make it pedestrian only.

NewYearNewTwatName · 13/04/2021 20:59

yeah she really shouldn't have missed the great big road right next to the house.

But I also find it disgusting the council allowed planning for the houses to be so close, with tiny gardens and the lack of any kind of crash barrier. As pp said people who are desperate for a home either bought or rented, will over look or think it won't be that bad. There needs to be proper standards upheld, planning permission should never be passed for a house like that.

Redglitter · 13/04/2021 21:01

I dont really think you need to research noise when there's a ruddy big dual carriageway the other side of your fence. How on earth can she possibly be surprised at the level of noise 🙄

SilverOtter · 13/04/2021 21:03

Utter fool!

NewYearNewTwatName · 13/04/2021 21:04

I think the best one I know of was a family buying a nice house right next to a riding stables, with views over the paddocks with the pretty little horses grazing in them.

Then went nuts because all the could smell was horse manure wafting over Grin

ClarkeGriffin · 13/04/2021 21:04

@AlecTrevelyan006

And she's going to have HS2 nearby soon...
Oh I so hope it's close to her house so she gets the vibrations from it. They would have been told about that by the solicitors too, but no doubt this twit thinks she can stop it happening, like she wants this road to disappear.
Hallyup5 · 13/04/2021 21:06

Presumably she drove along the sodding road to get to the house, seven times, before she bought it. I have zero sympathy.

Heatherjayne1972 · 13/04/2021 21:07

Some people are just stupid
We sold a house once She came round three times before putting in an offer. Each time is was dark outside She refused to look in the garden or the loft and didn’t ask any questions about the house or area just stood in the hallway chatting like it was a social visit

Moving day comes and the estate agent rings to ask us about how the heating works ( no problem it was just an unusual system) and in the course of the conversation it turns out she ‘didn’t like the house and it wasn’t what she wanted or expected’

It was Tough cookie.

peak2021 · 13/04/2021 21:08

It's not such when people move that some don't do research. Allegedly the Duchess of Sussex fell into that trap.

Oblomov21 · 13/04/2021 21:13

"Jackie wants a 800m stretch of the A446 to be dropped to a 40mph zone since moving into the new build in February"

From 70 mph? To 40 mph?
Ha ha ha. She's in cloud cuckoo land. Never gonna happen. Hmm

cardibach · 13/04/2021 21:14

This horror grabbed my attention: ‘I'm going to fight to the nail’...I mean, what? Is this her horror or the journalist’s? And why didn’t the sub editor correct it?
I hate when idioms are mangled.

williowrosenburg · 13/04/2021 21:16

I saw this article earlier and thought what an idiot.... how could you not know it would be noisey!

Also your garden fence is practically a crash barrier! Any accident and she's going to have cars for garden ornaments! I can't believe they were even allowed to be built let alone sold!!!

tortoiselover100 · 13/04/2021 21:25

Some people are impulsive. They let their heart rule their head.

thevassal · 13/04/2021 21:28

I mean I agree that it's pretty awful but she said she visited 6-7 times. If you bothered to go that many times then you think you'd bother to vary the time of day you went? I bet the sellers are pretty glad they got rid of that one!

SisterAgatha · 13/04/2021 21:36

We did actually only view our house once. For 30 mins. But I knew the area well, knew the houses and their layouts, had a good look at specific common problem areas and was satisfied. Aside from the compromises we knew we were making, I love our house. Some people do just know.

And obviously some people just have no fucking idea. She can’t open the windows... erm obviously? Did she never go in the garden? Didn’t she feel any vibrations? What does she want exactly Confused

Etinox · 13/04/2021 21:38

@User5747384

Even so it's shocking it got planning permission. Not even a crash barrier.
That’s the point. Crazy that pp was granted.
torquewench · 13/04/2021 21:40

How does someone that stupid afford a £350k house?

maddiemookins16mum · 13/04/2021 21:41

She’s as thick as school custard. One of those ‘it’s not my fault’ people.
Idiot.

Yay4spring · 13/04/2021 21:41

We moved somewhere completely new to us - we felt we had scoped it out well even though we hadn’t lived in the area! Never again. When we moved to this location, we rented our house out there and rented up here for a couple years, until we felt we knew what it was like to live here and could choose a location spot-on for us.