Tell me I'm just being paranoid

[readytosell]

I've had agents round and getting ready to list house on the market, but haven't instructed any of them yet.

Today I swear I have seen 3 cars drive by and stop outside my house and look at it before driving off, like would be pretty normal to do a drive by to see if you like the area and the look from the outside.

I'm sitting in the lounge so I can see it. I live at the end of a cul de sac so it's not just normal passing traffic.

Please tell I'm just being a bit paranoid and that an estate agent hasn't told people on their books that my house is coming up for sale?!

They might have told people, especially if your property is a bit unusual. When we were looking a couple of years ago I had agents letting me know (during conversations we were having anyway, not contacting specifically to tell me) about properties they had valued recently to give me a heads up. Never the exact house but eg there's a detached house with a big garden in x village maybe coming on the market soon, only down side is it's near a school.

Would it be a problem for you if they've done this?

Nothing particularly unusual about it, it's similar to a lot of properties on the estate, so you'd need a pretty accurate description of the location.

Not a big problem in the grand scheme of things, just surprised if any of them did actually do this given they don't even know if they've got the listing yet. If they have then shows there is some interest already...

They totally told people - my house had a viewing before I ok'd the brochure because the estate agent told someone about it. To be fair, though, I was the first viewer at the house I offered on because of the same reason.

When we were buying a few years ago the EA phoned me and asked for a feedback about the house we viewed the previous day. I said something ( we didn’t like it) and he said that actually there’s another house in this area which might come to the market soon. He said that the owner wanted to be interested that there was sufficient interest for the house to do everything quickly so the EA advised me to have a look from the outside. And I did it straight away: drove through the street, went out and walked around, checked back lane. Next day the agent phoned again and I said that we’re not interested. The house didn’t came on the market in the next 18 months ( can’t vouch beyond that as we’ve bought and stopped looking) . So, yes, it could happen.

We've recently sold in a similar situation.

I am sitting in a house that I may only have been able to buy because of an early alert from the agent. Don't worry!

Didn't realise it was something that was done. I could understand once I've agreed with an agent pre-marketing online, but not before even signing with the agent. Swear I've seen another couple this morning as well.

If I had to guess which agent has done it, it would be the one I liked least and won't be going with anyway...

Its good to know your house has interest though, so I would see it as a good thing!

I was actually shown a house by an agent who hadn't actually got it on their books. It was in a real state and no locks on the door so you could just push it in. He didn't even get the listing in the end (and I didn't buy the house either).

One of the EAs will ring you tomorrow and say they have a prospective buyer for you who is keen to view. They will then ask you to sign up with them before that can happen.