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Original poster

Viewing houses- surely everyone does this?

277 replies

Sophieagain1984 · 28/09/2022 14:01

We're house hunting. Whenever I view a house, I always knock on the door of the next door neighbour, pretending I've got the wrong house- I like to know what the neighbour is like and sometimes they even give you useful info.

DH says no one else does this and it's weird. WDYT?

OP posts:
Johnnysgirl · 28/09/2022 19:26

Sophieagain1984 · 28/09/2022 19:23

Sorry, I do get that mixed up.

I don’t spin a yarn. I’ve said what I say in an earlier post - “Is this number 5?” Or whatever and they say no and I apologise and go away. It’s really not something to tell the grandchildren about 😂

Show quote history

What impression do you get of a person from that? It's ridiculous.

tigger1001 · 28/09/2022 19:27

"Sorry, I do get that mixed up.

I don’t spin a yarn. I’ve said what I say in an earlier post - “Is this number 5?” Or whatever and they say no and I apologise and go away. It’s really not something to tell the grandchildren about 😂"

And apart from being incredibly annoying for doing this, how does that help in determining if they are good neighbours?

If you insist on knocking, at least be honest instead of making yourself look incredibly daft.

Acheyknees · 28/09/2022 19:27

I had a woman knock on our door when she was viewing a small terraced house opposite. She introduced herself, told us she was viewing the house opposite and asked me if I was upset that my large victorian house hadn't increased in value as much as houses in the south where she was from. Absolutely not I said, it's not for sale and I have no plans to sell.
Bizarre!!

WinterDeWinter · 28/09/2022 19:28

I think the pretending thing is a bit weird - like pretending to tie your shoelace when walking so someone catches up with you and you can talk to them - but asking around and hopefully introducing yourself to near neighbours before exchange is just due diligence I think.

HaveringWavering · 28/09/2022 19:29

"I bet there are many more houses round you that are for sale than the number that have signs."

Nope, I keep a close eye on RightMove and I know exactly what's for sale near me. I then have a nose at them as I walk past, and they always have signs.

HaveringWavering · 28/09/2022 19:32

You get mixed up between "British" and "English"?

I thought people had to do a test to live in the U.K. these days?

Original poster
Sophieagain1984 · 28/09/2022 19:34

tigger1001 · 28/09/2022 19:27

"Sorry, I do get that mixed up.

I don’t spin a yarn. I’ve said what I say in an earlier post - “Is this number 5?” Or whatever and they say no and I apologise and go away. It’s really not something to tell the grandchildren about 😂"

And apart from being incredibly annoying for doing this, how does that help in determining if they are good neighbours?

If you insist on knocking, at least be honest instead of making yourself look incredibly daft.

I don’t really mind looking daft. I have a thick skin (as this thread perhaps shows 😂)

OP posts:
Johnnysgirl · 28/09/2022 19:36

You're still not explaining what enlightenment you get from "No, that's next door", op? That's making you look a bit daft as well.

Original poster
Sophieagain1984 · 28/09/2022 19:36

I thought people had to do a test to live in the U.K. these days?

The thread takes a dark turn.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sophieagain1984 · 28/09/2022 19:40

Johnnysgirl · 28/09/2022 19:36

You're still not explaining what enlightenment you get from "No, that's next door", op? That's making you look a bit daft as well.

I’ve explained a few times. You can tell pretty well whether they have loads of barking dogs, or whether it’s student sharers/party house, or someone openly very unpleasant. And sometimes they are very nice and say “are you looking at the house?”

(Obviously you can’t rule out eg that they have loads of dogs that just aren’t there at that moment, so it’s only partial info, but better than nothing,)

OP posts:
Johnnysgirl · 28/09/2022 19:49

You get all that from a 4/5 word sentence? Incredible.

scrufffy · 28/09/2022 19:50

You don't find any of that out from a sorry no that's next door.

FuzzyPuffling · 28/09/2022 19:51

I'd think you were a right dodgy type sussing the place out to burgle.

Stravaig · 28/09/2022 19:52

The ruthless versus the rest of us ...

mam0918 · 28/09/2022 19:56

Sophieagain1984 · 28/09/2022 18:49

The chances of someone remembering a person who knocked on the door, said "Is this number 3? Oh sorry!" four months later are remote, to say the least 😂

But it's also a weird MN thing that someone knocking on your door is some sort of great imposition or trauma. Most people really don't see it like that. I probably have 10 knocks on the door a day, 5 minutes later I couldn't pick the person who knocked out of a line up. Genuinely don't get why anyone would give it a second's thought.

I can understand the people who say they knock on the door and say honestly that they're thinking of buying the house next door- fair play. But those of you who don't even do that are INSANE. It's the biggest purchase of your life and problem neighbours make people's lives an absolute misery. Why wouldn't you try to find out as much as you can? I can only assume you all live in enormous houses and can barely see your neighbours so don't mind too much, but if you live in a small London terrace then having a party house or a crack den or eight barking rottweilers next door is really hellish. Honestly, you'd have to be completely mad to worry more about some minor social faux pas 😂

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Some of us have lives, responsabilities and are busy.

Also 10 people knock on your door daily???

Are you an online shopaholic hoarder? I honestly cant think of any other reason 10 people a day would knock on your door and thats still excessive.

Maybe you should get a hobby? sounds like you could do with something to fill your seemingly endless down time so your not at such a loose end that you just sit hoping someone knocks on your door or go out knocking on strangers doors.

Original poster
Sophieagain1984 · 28/09/2022 19:58

Going to leave this one now guys as my question has been comprehensively answered (husband 1, me 0) and I’ve tried to reply to as many questions as I can, not much point typing the same stuff out again. Wishing you all a nice evening with no knocks on the door (apart from the person who wants to kick me out of the country 😂)

OP posts:
mam0918 · 28/09/2022 20:06

Sophieagain1984 · 28/09/2022 19:17

I’m not British say maybe there’s something I’m not aware of. I’d say it was pretty odd to remember a knock on the door many months later but lots of people on here claim they would 🤷‍♀️

I’m certainly not going to stop doing it and I’m pleased that some others have said they will as a result of this thread. Genuinely think it’s crazy not to!

Ah nice move to a culture and then when you ask if somethings strange and everyone tells you 'yes, thats rude and makes a bad impression' insist its our culture/country in the wrong and refuse to stop your irratating behavior.

Bet your a fantastic neighbor with that kind of attitude, sure everyones just jumping at the chance to live next door to someone who insults our culture and does annoying things constantly even though they know its frowned upon and irrating their neighbors.

VroomVrooom · 28/09/2022 20:26

Johnnysgirl · 28/09/2022 19:36

You're still not explaining what enlightenment you get from "No, that's next door", op? That's making you look a bit daft as well.

It’s quite obvious that the OP gets exactly enough in that snapshot for her to judge tell:

Class
Race
Age

SuperSue77 · 28/09/2022 20:28

@QueenWenceslas I would do the same for the neighbours one one side - love the neighbours on the other. Mind you where I live is great, except for those people.

Topseyt123 · 28/09/2022 20:28

I've never done this, nor had it done to me.

To be honest, I'd find it very odd and would think you were a bit of a tit. 🤔

BloodAndFire · 28/09/2022 20:28

Johnnysgirl · 28/09/2022 19:49

You get all that from a 4/5 word sentence? Incredible.

I think what the OP means, but is not saying, is that she judges them on the sort of thing you CAN tell in a couple of sentences:

  • race
  • ethnicity
  • religion (possibly)
  • class (ish)
  • nationality
  • etc.
But she won't say that in so many words.
VroomVrooom · 28/09/2022 20:28

…and to be charitable, I’m guessing ‘class’ is the over-riding criterion.

BloodAndFire · 28/09/2022 20:29

VroomVrooom · 28/09/2022 20:26

It’s quite obvious that the OP gets exactly enough in that snapshot for her to judge tell:

Class
Race
Age

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cross-post (I got distracted washing up dinner stuff halfway through my post) but I agree with you 100%. That's the elephant in the room.

VroomVrooom · 28/09/2022 20:30

Yep, totally transparent @BloodAndFire

scrufffy · 28/09/2022 20:36

VroomVrooom · 28/09/2022 20:28

…and to be charitable, I’m guessing ‘class’ is the over-riding criterion.

Yup