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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:
pussycatunpickingcrossesagain · 05/04/2022 17:03

The poor estate agent. 🤦‍♀️

He's got a bonkers vendor to deal with...I don't blame you for cancelling - imagine trying to negotiate the fixtures and fitting list and keeping a lightbulb?? 😱

MadMadMadamMim · 05/04/2022 17:03

I'd have done exactly the same. I'm bemused by posters who think it's rude to park on the driveway of a house you are viewing as a possible buyer. She was expecting you. It was booked. Where else would you park?

She was so rude, I'd have walked away as well. I don't want to get involved in a long drawn out process with someone who is that fucking awkward about silly things. Either don't book a viewing for when your son is 'about to come home' or tell him to park elsewhere til the people viewing the house have left.

NoSquirrels · 05/04/2022 17:04

It's such a stressful thing to do that unless the house is amazing, I would walk away from anyone displaying the slightest hint of batshittery.

Agreed!

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 05/04/2022 17:04

Some bonkers answers on here.

Yes I'd assume it was ok if I had an appointment to view.

If there was a good reason, I'd expect the vendor to explain politely why they couldn't manage accommodating my car on their drive for the 30 minutes I was viewing it - and I'd move if they asked decently.

But I agree with some others - if the opening gambit is basically "fuck off" then I'd think they could stick their house up their stuck up arses.

pictish · 05/04/2022 17:04

I wouldn’t have parked on the drive BUT I think her countenance was chippy AF considering she’s looking to sell. I’d have left as well.

SoftwareDev · 05/04/2022 17:04

I have a few friends who have viewed houses where the person didn't want to sell. In one case it was a woman who was divorcing her husband and he had moved out and put the property on the market.

People turned up to view - she would show them around and declare, "It doesn't matter what you offer I won't approve as I want to stay here".

Bizarre!

Cherrysoup · 05/04/2022 17:04

I would have parked up the road and walked. You don’t own the house, you’re not a guest. It would strike me as cheeky to park on the drive. I wouldn’t, however, tell a potential buyer to get orrff my land! 🤣

Crunched · 05/04/2022 17:04

There must be a back story. Is it a forced sale? Sounds like the occupier you met is not keen to leave.

bluebaul · 05/04/2022 17:05

Why else would you appear to leave spaces open on a drive in an area where there is no parking but to help potential buyers to view the property...

Leave them open? The spaces were just vacant, not deliberately left open' was the vendor supposed to ask her friends round to fill them just in case?

Obelisk · 05/04/2022 17:05

Of course it’s normal to park on the drive if you’re viewing a house. She sounds very odd.

ForeverLooking · 05/04/2022 17:05

I'm actually baffled by people saying they wouldn't use the drive. The house is for sale. The owner wants to sell presumably, thus having agreed to to viewings on the house. The drive is part of the house. You haven't just turned up and parked on a random person's drive. I'd think it was odd if I was selling and left the drive clear (which i always did) and then the viewer parked over the road. I wanted to sell so I made it easy for both the agent to do their job and for the viewers to park with ease and look around while using what could potentially be their drive in the future. I would say that the lady obviously wasn't keen to sell with the attitude and the fact she was still in the house for the viewing (always awkward and shit)

NiceTwin · 05/04/2022 17:06

Wow, she sounds hard work.
I too would have parked on the drive.

RaleighDurham · 05/04/2022 17:06

Just when you think the world can't get any more crazy, up pops a thread like this and you see posters AGREEING with the batshit vendor!

CoastalWave · 05/04/2022 17:06

I would never ever park on someone's drive - unless they had specifically invited me to. That's unbelievably rude tbh.

No where to park - you park in front of the driveway if needs be.

bluebaul · 05/04/2022 17:06

@Cherrysoup

I would have parked up the road and walked. You don’t own the house, you’re not a guest. It would strike me as cheeky to park on the drive. I wouldn’t, however, tell a potential buyer to get orrff my land! 🤣

Neither did this vendor Confused

WarmWinterSun · 05/04/2022 17:07

It’s completely normal to park on the drive. The seller was very strange. You dodged a bullet there.

MaudieandMe · 05/04/2022 17:07

@dworky

I can't believe people agreeing with you, of course you should have asked first. You haven't bought it yet!
What?? Don’t be silly.

Presumably you’d expect to see inside the house and view the garden, garage, shed etc.when you’re viewing a property that you’re considering buying?

I’d also expect potential buyers to park on the drive so they can see how long/wide, accessible the drive is too.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 05/04/2022 17:07

I’d never park on the drive of a house I was viewing without asking first, and actually the walk up the drive to the front door is a good opportunity to have a look around. Having said that, when I sold our house last year I did tell the agent to let viewers know they could park on the drive. I reckon less than a quarter actually did though.

MsSquiz · 05/04/2022 17:07

@VainAbigail I don't understand your logic!
Of course someone coming to view your house that you have on the market, is visiting by arranged appointment for a viewing would be considered a visitor or guest.

And I would imagine most people who view a house with a driveway would park on it, as surely you want to make sure there is adequate space for your car to enter/park up?

NoSquirrels · 05/04/2022 17:07

Everyone saying “You should have asked first” - I assume the OP was going to knock on the door and say ‘hope it’s OK to park on the drive’ to the agent or householder, whoever answered. But as the woman came out first all aggro, and then didn’t say “Ah, you’ve come for a viewing! Of course that’s fine” when they explained (asked?) then I’m not sure what else could be done. If there’s nowhere else to park, how are you asking before parking?

Viviennemary · 05/04/2022 17:08

No I wouldn't have done that without asking. It's really cheeky.

TenoringBehind · 05/04/2022 17:08

I would assume that I could park on the drive because I had an appointment at the property! When selling houses I be always move d my car somewhere else to free up the drive for the viewers.

I too would have walked away and not even continued with the viewing on the basis that she sounds like she’d be a nightmare to deal with at every stage.

Incidentally, we live somewhere where houses sell the moment they go on the market. There is one house nearby that has stayed on the market for years and that has a stipulation in the Rightmove blurb that viewers mustn’t park on the drive! There’s no good reason why not other than the quirk of the vendor.

Whammyyammy · 05/04/2022 17:09

Has someone park on our drive last summer, (we're the only house with front drive, other 5 and us have rear parking, down a small track), husband went out and asked what they were doing.
They were viewing a house for sale along the lane, he told them to move. They did and said they wouldn't buy a house with such unfriendly neighbours 🤣🤣

Suzi888 · 05/04/2022 17:09

It wouldn’t put me off a house I wanted to buy but YABU to just park on the drive imo - you don’t own it yet!

pussycatunpickingcrossesagain · 05/04/2022 17:09

DH has just reminded me of this....

We had an appointment to view a house, had sold ours, meeting the EA at the house.

We got to the door with the EA and the vendor opened it, said it wasn't convenient and she slammed the door in our face!

We bought somewhere else.