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AIBU?

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Original poster

CF? Would you park on the driveway of a house you were viewing to buy?

358 replies

movingonupps · 05/04/2022 16:31

This happened to us today and DH & I can't quite workout if we were the CF or not lol.

Went to viewing, no where to park, 1 car already on 3 car drive.

We parked on drive and got out of car

Vendor opens door, asks why we have parked on drive.

Explained we had a viewing

Again she said why have you parked on drive, her son will be home shortly

I said if it's a problem, we will just leave; so we did!

Her EA was gobsmacked when I explained why we didn't do the viewing.

Who is BU?

OP posts:
EliyanahM · 06/04/2022 20:10

I've never viewed a house nor own a car, but if someone was viewing my house and I wanted to make a good impression then I would make sacrifices so they could park outside to view the house with ease.

RidingMyBike · 06/04/2022 20:57

I think it was fine to do that. We've recently been viewing houses to buy but haven't parked on the drive (aimed to arrive 10-15 mins early, park further away and walk round local area to get a feel for it) but I think it would be ok to do so. We also have an elderly car and didn't want to risk being viewed as not able to afford the house on the basis of the car we have!

I suppose the thing against it might be a lot of the houses we've viewed have been back to back viewings in 15 min slots so it would have been chaos if everyone had wanted to park on the drive! It was bad enough if people were early or late for their slot!

RagingRagingAndMoreRaging · 06/04/2022 21:15

If you are visiting a house for any reason it’s fine to park on the drive!

Ddot · 06/04/2022 21:38

Where did she think you would park. Only if it was an open house would it be unacceptable. You were invited! so bollocks to her and her house, dont get in a chain with that.

maria57 · 06/04/2022 21:44

Personally I think it was a bit hard faced of you to park on the ladies drive. If you are the type that dont mind people doing it to you...dont expect everyone to be the same. You should have asked first if parking was difficult.

Pemba · 06/04/2022 22:00

Hard-faced! Blimey. It was a multi car drive, she had an agreed appointment at the premises, road was busy. Ridiculous to think she was in the wrong.

PUGMEISTER21 · 06/04/2022 22:10

Seller could have said, would you mind just parking on the road as my son is due back any minute. Rather than asking why you have parked on the drive. She'll be a pain in the arse when it comes to paperwork and negotiations.

Smileyaxolotl1 · 06/04/2022 22:29

I think you were rude.
I wouldn’t dream of parking on someone else’s drive without asking/unless they had previously given me permission and delivery drivers have never come into my drive and I would be very surprised if they did. I have never seen a normal delivery driver go onto someone’s drive in my life.
I think it’s quite telling that those who think this is perfectly normal are also rude enough to call the quite large amount of people who think the OP is rude ‘batshit’ for not agreeing with them.
Bad mannered people show it in lots of ways.

I also strongly disagree with the poster who suggested it was mc people who would object and wc people who wouldn’t. Wc people tend to have far better manners and are far less entitled than middle class people so I would bet a lot that it was the other way round.

WildCoasts · 06/04/2022 23:09

I would always park on the road. Walking up is part of the viewing experience. You get to see the fence and garden and front of the house more clearly that way. Also, it's not yet my house and I'm not friends with the owners, so it would feel a bit familiar to park on the driveway.

I might park on the driveway if there wasn't any parking in sensible distance and I had an appointment for a particular time.

I don't think it's really a big deal that you parked on the driveway. I'd find it a bit odd (partly because I think walking up is part of the inspection process) but wouldn't say anything.

Newmumatlast · 06/04/2022 23:52

@bluebaul

A reverse. Surely?
Really? Its interesting how others think as for me I would expect to be able to park at the property if there was space and this would put me off a) because as OP said she would be getting into a chain with this person and this does seem bit difficult and b) it may make me question how reasonable shes been with neighbours given I think she is unreasonable here. But maybe I'm wrong?!
Mamanyt · 07/04/2022 00:34

UMmmmm...Here in the US, and admittedly we are more than a bit odd, we would expect someone coming to view the house to park in the drive. In fact, most realtors would insist that the owners not be home during viewings.

Estheryan07 · 07/04/2022 08:58

I would have! She was BU

Ddot · 07/04/2022 09:02

Even if she didnt want anyone parking on her drive she could have phrased it in a more polite manner. If it was such a problem why didn't she leave instructions with the EA. The seller is rude and frankly a bit weird

Harmonypuss · 07/04/2022 10:35

It's extremely rude to assume you have the right to park on someone's driveway without having first been invited to do so!

In all my years there have only ever been 3 people's driveways I've parked on (belonging to my mother, sister and best friend) without first being told that I'm welcome to do so.

Never, ever assume you have the right to do something in/on someone else's property unless you're told you can!

WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 07/04/2022 10:48

I’m still blown away by the responses to this thread. Who knew people could feel strongly about a visitor parking on their drive!

UnexpectedMorrisDancer · 07/04/2022 11:01

I know it’s a bit different, but I live rurally and if people didn’t pull up the driveway they’d have a five minute walk to get to us!
I feel sorry for delivery drivers just thinking about them having to lug my stuff up to the house!

RaleighDurham · 07/04/2022 12:31

@WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe

I’m still blown away by the responses to this thread. Who knew people could feel strongly about a visitor parking on their drive!
Me too! "Extremely rude?" Shock Some people on here just defy belief. I wonder how they function in real life, making up rules for things to find offence with as they go along.
RaleighDurham · 07/04/2022 12:31

@Harmonypuss

It's extremely rude to assume you have the right to park on someone's driveway without having first been invited to do so!

In all my years there have only ever been 3 people's driveways I've parked on (belonging to my mother, sister and best friend) without first being told that I'm welcome to do so.

Never, ever assume you have the right to do something in/on someone else's property unless you're told you can!

Are you serious?

Glad I don't know you in real life.

notacooldad · 07/04/2022 12:43

I’m still blown away by the responses to this thread. Who knew people could feel strongly about a visitor parking on their drive!
Absoutley bonkers. You would think someone had pinched their knickers or something. It's a drive way!! Nothing more.
If it's inconvenient someone just needs to say ' Oh, my whoever needs to be parking there in 15 mins if that's ok' or words to that affect.

There's so much pettiness on MN. People seem to live in a heightened state of stress thinking everything is rude!!
I do get amused reading people's perception of rudeness but also think what the hell are you moaning about!

Abraxan · 07/04/2022 12:45

@Winterfellismyhome

Shes being silly. I presume she actually wants to sell her house...
Unless maybe she didn't want to and this is one of her tactics to make sure the house sales don't happen.
LadyLazarus40 · 07/04/2022 13:32

@Harmonypuss

It's extremely rude to assume you have the right to park on someone's driveway without having first been invited to do so!

In all my years there have only ever been 3 people's driveways I've parked on (belonging to my mother, sister and best friend) without first being told that I'm welcome to do so.

Never, ever assume you have the right to do something in/on someone else's property unless you're told you can!

It’s rude to park on a drive? Why exactly is it rude? This is what no one explains!

Just for clarity we’re talking about a drive - entered through gates or a gap in a hedge generally which leads through a front garden normally down towards the house and often a garage. Sometimes with turning circle and normally either gravel or tarmac ? Built with the purpose of providing parking for cars at the house??

RubyandPearl · 07/04/2022 13:57

Wtf?! Of course the vendor is being unreasonable. I would have done the same as you. I bet you wanted to use her front door and everything

TopCatsTopHat · 07/04/2022 14:15

@RubyandPearl

Wtf?! Of course the vendor is being unreasonable. I would have done the same as you. I bet you wanted to use her front door and everything
🤣🤣🤣
OfstedOffred · 07/04/2022 14:36

If selling my house I would park my own car round the corner and leave my drive free for prospective buyers. So yanbu.

EthelTheAardvark · 07/04/2022 14:46

I bet that adds a tenner to your bills.

Bet lost, baby

But you wouldn't know, @TooOldToBeAGoth. No-one's going to tell you that they've just added £10 (or more) to their estimate because you were an arsehole about letting them park on your drive.

Bet won, baby.

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