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Original poster

Suspicious or a sad sign of the times?

72 replies

JustJasmine · 01/12/2023 13:54

Hi,

Be interested to hear your thoughts on this.

Dp and I have just come back from a house viewing. I had already seen it a week a go and really liked it, hence the second viewing today.

Anyway, the estate agent told us that the vendors have only been there for 8 months and are simply moving due to unforeseen financial pressures. Straight away, my spidey senses tingled, but then I thought that with interest rates rising and the cost of living crisis generally, I guess this could just be a sad, but true reason and I shouldn't automatically assume something fishy is going on.

My reason for being suspicious is we've had terrible neighbours in the past and have moved very quickly because of this. Took longer than we hoped and it was honestly a nightmare, so I suppose this is why we are extra cautious about the next move.

Would this make you at all suspicious or would you just assume it's a genuine unfortunate situation that has forced them to sell up.

Tia

OP posts:
tescocreditcard · 01/12/2023 13:58

Yes I'd suspect it was either neighbours, or more likely a relationship breakdown.

Ask them how they get on with the neighbours

tescocreditcard · 01/12/2023 13:59

Are they selling it as a loss?

Malariahilaria · 01/12/2023 13:59

I'd be suspicious too. Moving house is quite the upheaval. I can't imagine anyone doing in twice in a year without a specific reason. Can you knock on the neighbours' doors and see what they're like?

CreationNat1on · 01/12/2023 14:02

Knock on the neighbours door and get a vibe for them, make up some reason, moving to the area, just wondering what the traffic congestion is like in the mornings...... Bla Bla Bla

dewclaw · 01/12/2023 14:03

Having had a nightmare neighbour myself until recently and another living close by who makes life uncomfortable, my radar would be aroused too. I shall be very suspicious on my next move and will be visiting at lots of different times and doing research to try to get a feel of the situation. Trust your instinct!

Headband · 01/12/2023 14:05

It could be any number of reasons, sudden illness, divorce, job loss.If it's due to difficult neighbours , I'm not sure how you'll find out, unless they have declared it.

IMustDoMoreExercise · 01/12/2023 14:07

I would go and speak to as many of the neighbours as you can.

Someone will let something slip if there is an issue in the street if you ask the right questions.

Cheeesus · 01/12/2023 14:09

Knock on next door but one and ask about the next door neighbours.

Original poster
JustJasmine · 01/12/2023 14:09

Ah, the knocking on the door idea is proving popular. This would be my mums suggestion 😂 but I'm rubbish at this sort of thing! I would have no clue what to say and would probably give off loon vibes, due to pure embarrassment 😬

OP posts:
GreatGateauxsby · 01/12/2023 14:11

100% suspicious

If they bought 8 months ago they'd be on a fix....
Yes It could be job loss etc. but I would be veryyyyy suspicious

if you love the house I would have no issue knocking on the neighbours doors and introducing myself and saying I'm thinking of buying the house next door.

Original poster
JustJasmine · 01/12/2023 14:27

@GreatGateauxsby (great name btw!👍) I got the impression from the EA that it probably was job loss, as apposed to interest rates, but she seemed very keen to tell us. We hadn't actually asked at this stage, but I've since noticed it's actually the first thing mentioned now on the ad. They must have updated it. Seems very unusual to me...

Also, the house is immaculate. It's been beautifully decorated, but again, more in a suspicious, almost desperate way.

OP posts:
MaggieFS · 01/12/2023 14:39

You'd be daft to have healthy suspicion in this situation because it is unusual.

Absolutely knock on neighbours doors, come back at different time etc.

Daisies12 · 01/12/2023 14:43

I'd say that is unusual, it could be true of course, due to redundancy, illness, relationship breakdown etc. But if they bought 8 months ago, that was when interest rates were already higher so I'd be suspicious it's just because they can't afford it. There's quite a few options if you're struggling to pay a mortgage, and selling the house isn't always necessary, so you're right to be suspicious.

JuliaJoJelly · 01/12/2023 14:48

As someone who moved after 6 months - citing a new job. I can tell you it was 100% the neighbours.

No one moves after that short a time (with all the costs and hassle of moving involved) for no reason IMO.

tealweasel · 01/12/2023 14:49

I don't think you're wrong to be a little suspicious. As others have said, there are plenty of legitimate reasons you could be looking to move in short order, but there are also some questionable ones too. Leaving after 8 months is very fast - even if I were made redundant, I can't imagine that I'd have got to the point where I'd accept I needed to sell up that fast (I'd be looking for new jobs, using redundancy payments to cover costs, speaking with my lender to find solutions...)

Definitely do your due diligence before you proceed. Door knocking, visits in the evenings and at weekends, try to get a sense of the neighbours.

sunshinesupermum · 01/12/2023 14:50

Maybe they are splitting up?

Isometimeswonder · 01/12/2023 14:56

Go to the street a few times around different times of day/evening. You might get a better idea.

Towerofsong · 01/12/2023 14:59

JustJasmine · 01/12/2023 14:09

Ah, the knocking on the door idea is proving popular. This would be my mums suggestion 😂 but I'm rubbish at this sort of thing! I would have no clue what to say and would probably give off loon vibes, due to pure embarrassment 😬

I'd get your mum to go door knocking. Also the current vendors won't recognise her going door to door.

Parentofeanda · 01/12/2023 15:08

I'd get your mum to knock on neighbours doors but also theirs! Asking about the area and neighbours... Saying she's renting out the the house down the road next month, see what they say 🤣

goody2shooz · 01/12/2023 15:15

@JustJasmine How on earth is it decorated in a ‘suspicious, almost desperate way’ ?? !!

Silkiefloof · 01/12/2023 15:15

I would also be careful. It could be true and could be a job loss etc, or divorce but equally could be something in area like neighbours or something noisy / crime. I would be doing a lot of research. Immaculate would say is fairly normal. Husband rang doorbells either side and had quick chat with neighbours before we moved in here just to check they were fine with a family moving in and who they were. And also visited at different times, can be useful to visit in late evening / night to see if any issues.

motherissueshelp · 01/12/2023 15:28

We are moving at 18 months because of a job move and being unable to do the school run anymore. It's a nightmare to move again but we have to.

Our neighbours are great and I am hoping we get nice ones when we move again. It really could be a sign of the times. You could see how long the previous owners had it or how long the neighbours have been there.

Xmaswomble · 01/12/2023 15:36

I’d love to see an example of ‘suspicious but desperate’ decoration

just door knock and say, I’m thinking of moving to the area and wanted to hear your thoughts on it. I’ve had a couple of people do it here. It’s perfectly acceptable and if the neighbours don’t like it I wouldn’t want them as neighbours

OhComeOnFFS · 01/12/2023 15:37

My friend's son has bought a house that was owned for two years previously - they'd done it up and then split up.

I'd really want to make sure about the neighbours, though - there's nothing worse than living next to people who make your life a misery.

ActDottie · 01/12/2023 15:46

We moved here a year ago, I hate our neighbours and we already want to move again. They are serial complainers yet really inconsiderate to other neighbours eg. Parking in awkward places that they shouldn’t be parked in (we have allocated spaces).

we’re sticking it out for another year at least just so when we move people don’t assume we’re moving because of the neighbours, so I’d say youre definitely right to be cautious about their true reason for moving

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