Neighbour wants to buy my house

[Heatherjayne1972]

So the house is up for sale with a local EA. there's been lots of interest but no offers yet (been on the market almost a fortnight). Today my neighbour from two doors up knocked and asked if I be willing to sell to him for a cash sum .
What would you do ? What are the pitfalls? Should I just say no and stick with estate agent Or does it sound ok. I really have no clue.
Thoughts ...

[Uphillanddowndale12]

I bought a house by approaching a neighbour- I offered her the asking price she wanted to move back to Holland, and we drew up a contract with my solicitor which we both signed and then my solicitor did the conveyancing. It was all fine.
Some estate agents do a no sale, no fee clause. You could tell the ea you're taking it off the market. It's up to you, don't let the ea bully you into doing things how they want it's your house and your life and future

[ElsieMc]

We sold to our neighbour who was renting. He knocked on the door one Sunday and tried to view there and then but I wouldn't let him in. I told him to view through the estate agent because I didnt want someone keep on knocking on the door. They viewed and offered the asking price and sale went through just fine.

I think this guy is just trying it on. Who knocks on someone's door interested in their rock bottom price. Just refer him to the agent because how do you know he is in a position to buy the house and has a proceedable offer?

I would just ignore him and if he comes up with a decent offer, all well and good but it doesn't sound promising. What an arse.

[Flugelpip]

I would refer him to the EA for your own protection. Private sales can be fraught with difficulties and if you're having a tough time anyway you don't need any more hassle. EAs can be worth a lot just for keeping people from pestering you directly. Also, they will tell him where to go if he's trying to offer very little and you can blame them instead of falling out with him and possibly having to live near him for a bit longer. Your rock-bottom price is none of his business.

[Miri2007]

Do check with the EA their rules on private sales. A previous house of mine had been on the market but someone I knew was interested and offered directly. As I knew them and they were not introduced through the EA they (the EA) were happy there was no conflict of interest and the sale went through privately. Might be worth asking their policy on private sale before you send the neighbour to them....

[Bitofeverything]

I had this situation with a person who owned other half of my building (I owned one flat and he owned other). He had installed awful tenants in his flat. Sold it to him - with no payment to estate agent after checking contract very carefully. Was actually relieved to sell it to him because anyone else would have had to put up with the neighbours from hell and was seriously worried about that... He dropped price just before exchange and made the whole thing a nightmare - but still cost less than estate agent fees...