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Original poster

Why do they want my neighbour's house?

56 replies

Spidergloves · 28/03/2023 10:41

I live in an isolated part of a village with few other houses around.

My next door neighbour died in the pandemic and the house is still stuck in a lengthy and complicated probate situation. It has now been sold but it is in a major state of disrepair and will need a huge amount of work to be habitable again. There has been no exchange yet.

The first sale fell through and this morning I have just had another previously interested buyer knock on my door asking about it again. Both younger men (under 40) keen to make known the amounts of cash they were looking to throw at it as if that's any concern of mine.

This property is not modern and would not make a developer any money. Something about these potential buyers and their pushy, money talks attitude has set off big alarm bells with me both times.

Am I being silly, a bit of a nimby? Or right to be cautious? Why would they want this house? Has anyone else dealt with this inexplicably pushy sort of buyer?

OP posts:
Original poster
Spidergloves · 28/03/2023 11:17

WishingMyLifeAway · 28/03/2023 11:12

I am struggling to understand why they knocked on your door and why your opinion is relevant as you don't own the house in question?!?

This is why I don't like it! "Hello, is next door still for sale I offered (big specific amount) more than the guys that got it can you put me in touch with the seller"

It's not a delicate approach and as pps have said, surely just get on to the estate agent?

OP posts:
escapingthecity · 28/03/2023 11:20

Is it a large plot? Perhaps they want to knock it down and build a few houses on it

maximist · 28/03/2023 11:21

Is there land adjacent that could be developed? They may need access and your houses are in the way...

Original poster
Spidergloves · 28/03/2023 11:22

Semi rural near a village? How much land is the plot - and how much with yours added? Any fields around? I also suspect they see potential to land grab and develop.

This is a good call, there is a plot at the back which is not part of the house involved (nor mine) and people do assume it's for the taking. It can't be built on either but people don't know that when they see the pound signs.

I suppose my idea of a developer is different from someone just rocking up like a wide boy, I assumed a more professional approach if they're after something you've got!

OP posts:
McSlowburn · 28/03/2023 11:23

I do think that is very strange - I'd do some more digging.

Candleabra · 28/03/2023 11:32

I’d wonder if they were looking to knock down the original house and rebuild with a bigger house or houses on the plot. Seems to happen a lot round here.

FictionalCharacter · 28/03/2023 11:37

nothappytobeheretoday · 28/03/2023 10:50

Perhaps they are trying to reassure you that they will do a good job and not cheap one so that it will help your property value as well? Or that they have the funds to do it quickly so won't be as lengthy of a bother for you? Maybe they are trying to be nice?

They didn’t say anything like that to her though. And how is knocking on someone’s door asking them about the house next door, which she’s unlikely to have any connection with, “being nice”? Harmless maybe but still a bit intrusive, and of no benefit to the op.

HurryShadow · 28/03/2023 11:47

It does sound odd and as others have said, more than likely because a developer has seen some potential with the surrounding land, without having done any further consideration of whether it's actually feasible.

If it happens again, maybe ask them for a business card? Say you have no current plans to sell, but if anything changes in the future you can contact them?

ArcticSkewer · 28/03/2023 12:13

If that's all they said, perhaps they don't think the estate agent is passing on their offer and they wondered if you have a direct contact

Reddickyouless · 28/03/2023 16:30

my first thought was they want to see your reaction to the sum of money- to judge if you were impressed or not
my guess is that they'll want to buy your house along with the neighbours to knock down and put at least twice the amount of houses on the land

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 28/03/2023 16:40

The first sale fell through and this morning I have just had another previously interested buyer knock on my door asking about it again

Maybe they are wondering why the sale fell through and are wondering if you are The NextDoor Neighbour From Hell ?

So knocked to test the water and gauhe your reaction.?

<<Only kidding, you're probably lovely.>> Wink.

Nonotmeagain · 28/03/2023 18:49

Spidergloves · 28/03/2023 11:00

Thanks Newusername I know you're right it's not so unusual for people to knock and ask, but that two very similar guys have done this with a very intense attitude just made me uncomfortable about them as potential neighbours. Fair enough I am suspicious!

What might they do to you?

CoolShoeshine · 28/03/2023 22:14

We had a neighbouring bungalow which was empty for a few years and starting to get quite run down. Had people ask me about if over the years who claimed to be interested in buying it (even though it wasn’t for sale). Some people are drawn to the romance of turning an unloved shell into a beautiful home for themselves, others want to make some money. Some are probably just nosey 🤷‍♀️

DevantMaJardin · 28/03/2023 22:18

Surely they're just trying to suss out the local neighbourhood, whether the neighbours are friendly, that sort of thing and the only thing they've got to talk about is the fact they're thinking of buying this house? The level of paranoia on this thread is high even for MN.

GettingStuffed · 28/03/2023 23:08

My cousin's partner did this, he'd send to houses that were sale under probate and offer to pay in cash an amount under the market value. people sold to her

BeanzToastie · 29/03/2023 21:47

Are you on the same plot as this property? Is there a lot of land?
Would they get permission to demolish both and build 4 or 5 houses on the same plot?
If so, that's why they're knocking, to suss out if you might sell up too.

JohnnyM · 30/03/2023 11:03

What @BeanzToastie said.

They are simply seeing if they get any reaction/interest from you when they mention specific numbers in terms of buying your house/plot.

notacooldad · 30/03/2023 11:11

They were just sussing out whether they could get both properties and do a big development
I agree with this and similar comments.
Sounds like they want to do a knock down either to put a few houses in place or one Grand location style house.

oviraptor21 · 30/03/2023 11:15

Absolutely a full redevelopment opportunity with as much land as they can get. Id keep watching for planning applications.

fruitbrewhaha · 30/03/2023 11:17

They just sound like wide boy dickheads and were trying to see if you had any inside information that they could use their advantage. Ie how desperate are the owners to sell. I'd just chalk it up to experience and hope they don't acquire the house.

bunnibee · 30/03/2023 11:19

OR, as in my case OP, they want to put (ahem!!!) holiday homes/caravans on there.

Younger men, loads of money?

I have been offered £100k just to put a gateway in to an unremarkable field adjacent to me. No chance!

Mypatioisminging · 30/03/2023 11:22

They asked you to put them in touch with the seller? That’s weird as the agent would do that if the seller wished to be contacted.

knocking on neighbours doors to understand fhe area and who you’re living next to is fairly standard. Are you sure that’s not what they were after?

Mypatioisminging · 30/03/2023 11:23

bunnibee · 30/03/2023 11:19

OR, as in my case OP, they want to put (ahem!!!) holiday homes/caravans on there.

Younger men, loads of money?

I have been offered £100k just to put a gateway in to an unremarkable field adjacent to me. No chance!

in what universe is two men, possibly a couple in their forties younger men.

carriedout · 30/03/2023 11:26

TheYearOfSmallThings · 28/03/2023 11:00

They were just sussing out whether they could get both properties and do a big development.

This.

Finalstar · 30/03/2023 11:39

Must admit my first thought was cannabis farm. Until recently I would have said it was too far fetched but it just happened to our newish neighbours. They sold their old house to a cash buyer who had apparently told the estate agent he was going to renovate and then let it. So nobody paid that much attention to a parade of blokes wandering in and out at odd hours with tools and whatnot. Three months later it was raided because it was in use as a cannabis farm - police had a tip off apparently.