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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

“If you are ever in the market we would be interested in your house”

247 replies

Foodfoodfoodie · 20/01/2022 21:48

We live in a desirable village in an expensive area. Today we had a letter through our door, summarised it read something like:

we are looking to move in the area and have flagged your home as one we would be interested in of you were in the market to move. If you consider selling in the near future we would love to hear from you and would be willing to negotiate a price around the X mark, which we believe to be higher than the asking price you would be recommended by an agent

AIBU to think this is really cheeky and intrusive? They are being very upfront about essentially eyeing up my home.

I’m not in the market to move but if I was they would be bottom of the list, regardless of money.

OP posts:
RainbowBridge21 · 20/01/2022 22:59

I find it weird. It's one thing eyeing up a house and wishing it was on the market, it's entirely another contacting random strangers. It's not much different from junk mail really or an unsolicited phonecall. I also dont think it's nice to feel that someone is watching your house.

Original poster
Foodfoodfoodie · 20/01/2022 22:59

We live somewhere that has only recently started being bought up like crazy (albeit the bit that’s always been the desirable part of the city) so yes it is unusual where we are.

OP posts:
darklady64 · 20/01/2022 23:01

Lots of people do this and someone I know got a house in the street they wanted by this method.

But I know what you mean, OP. I think it's their wording. The "we've flagged your house" bit makes it sound like you're some sort of lucky winner and the bit about the price they expect I find a bit pushy and I would maybe worry that they might be a bit of a demanding buyer.

BUT that's more of an emotional reaction. If you take the emotion out of it and think of it as a house rather than your home, you hold all the cards. If you're not thinking of selling, bin the letter. If you are, great - you have an instant buyer and no EA fees. If they do turn out to be a pain in the arse, you pull out and you still have the house they wanted.

AngelicaSchuylerAndHerSisters · 20/01/2022 23:02

I know someone who bought two homes this way.

Eviethyme · 20/01/2022 23:02

yabu. to get your dream home sometimes you got to be cheeky

AngelinaFibres · 20/01/2022 23:02

[quote Foodfoodfoodie]@MrsGinnyM I think that’s it - it’s my home already!

I dunno maybe it’s just pregnancy hormones making me Crazy but I thought it was pushy and presumptuous. And the whole price thing read to me like another person who had so much money they thought they could just buy someone out of their home[/quote]
If you wanted to sell, and they wanted to buy there would most certainly be a price at which they could buy you out of your home. Then it would become their home It's entirely normal. Just about everything has a price.

Clymene · 20/01/2022 23:02

I get them all the time too. I quite enjoy reading their appeals. I like hearing about their children and why they so desperately want to live on my street. And then I put them in the recycling.

saraclara · 20/01/2022 23:05

I'd be thrilled! They're offering over the current rate AND I'd save a small fortune in estate agents fees. And the perfect buyer is a highly motivated one. It's the jackpot, frankly.

The road I live on used to be one of the more desirable ones on our estate, and we'd often get estate agents putting a slip through on behalf of clients wanting this road in particular, and once or twice we'd get 'home made' slips from individuals. But nothing as detailed. Of course now, with the internet, it's easy to find out more about a specific property, so they have more to go on and more to say.

AngelinaFibres · 20/01/2022 23:05

@RainbowBridge21

I find it weird. It's one thing eyeing up a house and wishing it was on the market, it's entirely another contacting random strangers. It's not much different from junk mail really or an unsolicited phonecall. I also dont think it's nice to feel that someone is watching your house.
They aren't watching your house. They looked at the area, liked several, I expect and put letter through each one. They are not sitting outside and planning to murder you so they can get their hands on your house. If you don't reply they will carry on with their lives.....and probably move in next door.
StoatMilk · 20/01/2022 23:07

Don’t be ridiculous OP Hmm

MummyJasmin · 20/01/2022 23:07

What a strange reaction.

SquirrelG · 20/01/2022 23:09

Oh for goodness sake! It's not that uncommon for this to happen - if you don't want to sell then just ignore the communication.

Some people have such minor things to get into a state over - how I envy them.

NataliaSerene · 20/01/2022 23:13

I completely understand your feeling and would be somewhat annoyed also, particularly because we haven’t lived here long and it feels so personal for someone to suggest they want it!

However, this is similar how we got our home and we’d never have been so lucky otherwise. My husband knocked on the door and spoke with the owner who said he was indeed planning to sell soon.

And in fact, it’s how he bought the house himself, by just knocking on the door at the right time. People now stop us when we are outside to say “I wanted that house! It never went on the market.” We just smile and nod.

The reason it worked out for us is that the seller is a private person and the home is very special. He did not want to have people coming through his house and particularly the “looky-loos” that would have been keen for a glimpse. We barely saw it before making an offer and only saw it one other time before moving in.

You obviously have a special home also. I’m afraid this kind of thing comes with the territory.

oakleaffy · 20/01/2022 23:16

Happens in our street ALL the time.
People relocating from London, mainly.
Not remotely intrusive.

pinkpirlie · 20/01/2022 23:17

I know several people buy houses this way, just bin it if you're not interested in selling.
If you were thinking of moving, you would have just got a potential buyer and potentially saved several thousand in estate agent fees.

MarchXX · 20/01/2022 23:18

I'd love to get a message like that, OP, but its never gonna happen Grin. I'd be flattered even if I didn't want to sell.

notacooldad · 20/01/2022 23:18

And the whole price thing read to me like another person who had so much money they thought they could just buy someone out of their home
I'm not seeing that at all. They're just letting you know if you were considering moving they are dead keen to buy. You're clearly not so no issue!
Your pregnancy hormones need to calm down because there is no problem here!

And for putting them to the bottom of the list,are you always that petty? That is a real life example of cutting your nose to spite your face!!

skodadoda · 20/01/2022 23:19

It’s quite a common practice and I know people for whom it has worked.

oakleaffy · 20/01/2022 23:19

@SquirrelG

Oh for goodness sake! It's not that uncommon for this to happen - if you don't want to sell then just ignore the communication.

Some people have such minor things to get into a state over - how I envy them.

Exactly! I just put the notes into recycling. It doesn’t even need to be a “ Special “ house, either. It’s just buyers using initiative.
whynotwhatknot · 20/01/2022 23:19

sounds like they really want your house-wouldnt bother me could get a decent price and no ea fees

MrsGinnyM · 20/01/2022 23:21

Your pregnancy hormones need to calm down
Hmm

AngelinaFibres · 20/01/2022 23:22

@NataliaSerene

I completely understand your feeling and would be somewhat annoyed also, particularly because we haven’t lived here long and it feels so personal for someone to suggest they want it!

However, this is similar how we got our home and we’d never have been so lucky otherwise. My husband knocked on the door and spoke with the owner who said he was indeed planning to sell soon.

And in fact, it’s how he bought the house himself, by just knocking on the door at the right time. People now stop us when we are outside to say “I wanted that house! It never went on the market.” We just smile and nod.

The reason it worked out for us is that the seller is a private person and the home is very special. He did not want to have people coming through his house and particularly the “looky-loos” that would have been keen for a glimpse. We barely saw it before making an offer and only saw it one other time before moving in.

You obviously have a special home also. I’m afraid this kind of thing comes with the territory.

Nobody who asked would have a clue how long you had lived there. You would be angry and find it very personal for someone to suggest they wanted it. That's precisely what you did and is why you are currently living in it. SmileSmile
oakleaffy · 20/01/2022 23:22

@notacooldad

And the whole price thing read to me like another person who had so much money they thought they could just buy someone out of their home I'm not seeing that at all. They're just letting you know if you were considering moving they are dead keen to buy. You're clearly not so no issue! Your pregnancy hormones need to calm down because there is no problem here!

And for putting them to the bottom of the list,are you always that petty? That is a real life example of cutting your nose to spite your face!!

This! Heck, I’d sell in a flash if I was thinking of moving, to save the fees.

It’s hardly an unusual occurrence for this to happen.
Nothing to be precious about.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/01/2022 23:23

they would be bottom of the list, regardless of money

Bloody Hell !

We had an inquiry about my DParents house before my Dad was even cremated .
I didnt think "You cheeky swine" but obviously with the drawn out probate system we weren't in a situation to take the offer up .
I certainly wasn;t offended by it .

If you aren;t interested in their request , put the letter in the shredder . It;s not like they've turned up with a measuring tape and the IKEA catalogue !

Ileflottante · 20/01/2022 23:23

So much OTT precious behaviour on this site gets put down to “I don’t know, pregnancy hormones or something,” rather than people admitting they’ve embarrassed themselves with offended naivety…