Cheeky request to buy parents house - AIBU?

[SewingMum46]

My DPs still live in the same house they built when first married in the 60s. It’s in quite a nice area and because DF is an amazing gardener has a lovely garden which can be seen through the gate. It’s split level so although DM has some mobility problems and is quite frail, it still works for them. They’d only leave if something happened to one of them.
They got a card through the door last week with a message that basically said this couple who live in a very posh house up a very posh street nearby want to downsize because their kids have left home, so please would they consider selling their house to them? It included something along the lines of “Of course we’d pay full market value but it would be good to avoid those annoying estate agents fees”. It was handwritten with the name and address of the couple.
I feel it’s a bit cheeky and tbh on the verge of being entitled. DPs don’t know these people at all - they said in the card they’ve “always thought the house is lovely” and now they’ve decided it would suit them better as their “current property is on 4 floors”.
DF hasn’t shown the card to DM. I told him to ignore it but hold onto it. He’s adamant that if he sold to them it would be above market value, but he doesn’t want to sell - it would be up to DB and me to sell the house after they are gone.
What would you feel if this happened to your DPs? I find it really upsetting.

You're overthinking this way too much. They aren't saying that your DP's HAVE to sell them their house. It's entirely up to your DP's if they choose to sell or not. They can just ignore the letter or tell them that they aren't looking to sell. No big deal.

If they want to do it get the house valued and for extra security contact a solicitor

I'm currently in the process of buying a house that I wrote a nice letter to. I sent about 20 similar letters over the course of a couple of months. My vendors had seen the EA the day before receiving my letter, and were ready to go to market the next week. I basically paid them market value NOT to put it on the open market, plus they are saving EA fees. They've found a chain free property to buy, meaning so far it's going well, probably because we are all sensible people with a common goal.

I see why you'd not like being approached this way given your circumstances, but it is very normal, particularly with current demand far outstripping supply.

A friend of mine did a similar “note drop” along a particular road many years ago
They had a few responses and ended up buying their “forever” home which they live
They said it was the best thing they’ve ever done
No one replied saying they were cheeky or entitled , they were mostly flattered that someone wanted to buy their house !
If DF doesn’t want to sell he can either ignore or reply saying no
It’s probably not the only house they’ve posted the same note to !

Bearing in mind your parents age - around 80’s? - I think the note is inappropriate and opportunistic. It sounds to me if they were thinking of getting a house on the cheap as the owners are elderly and wouldn’t know the market price. I really think they’re out of order and shouldn’t have bothered your parents, at their age.

Well, lets put it this way. If the OP's parents didn't have their daughter looking out for them and were a little bit more "not with it" lets say, how on earth would they ensure that these people were going to offer them the market price?

How would they stop this couple persuading them not to put it on the open market, since an estate agent or professional would ensure they got a fair price for it?

They could just be quite suggestible at their age and not be on top of prices at all and looking for an easy life. Which is exactly what some people are on the lookout for. It happens to me quite often - I own some land around my house which is worth a small fortune, and the number of idiots who contact me who vaguely know me for social media trying to get me to sell it for 15k or so is unbelievable. And these people know full well its true value.

I'm neither elderly nor gullible and people still try it on with me. The note in itself is fine but putting it through the door of people you know to be in their eighties is really quite questionable.

@SewingMum46 I've had several of those notes that were nowhere near as polite. All they can do is ask. It's not personal, nor inappropriate. It's just an ask.

(Understanding it is a reminder that people can be vulnerable to people being opportunistic. But this may not be the case at all in this situation)

How did the note writers even know the age of the occupants? Also, it would be common sense to assume, in such a situation, the would be sellers would get some real estates out for quotes so they would know the value they should be getting at a private sale.

I once went on holiday with a friend where we spent a few days of it driving around each street in their desired town and looking at houses. Friend took notes of desired streets and house numbers. They couldn’t be completely sure as obviously didn’t see insides, street view only or Google view if couldn’t be viewed from street. Then they did a mass letterbox stop asking that if interested in selling in future they consider contacting them to discuss potential of a private sale. Friend wouldn’t have known whether occupants were 30yo and solicitors or 90yo with declining faculties. The intention was not to scam anyone, it was also assumed any occupants considering selling would do due diligence and have real estates price the house as does anyone considering selling before they commit to doing so via whatever avenue. Was also convenient as friend lived out of state a few days drive away so would never have been able to do normal viewings etc in person as houses came into the market, much more efficient for them to do a scan of all streets/houses in one go while they were there.

Where we live its quite commin practice amd good sense.