Neighbour's House

Poppie68

MickeyBlueEyes wrote: »

I have to say my neighbour is very active with an excellent social life from what I can make out. I’m certain she has a better social life than me and seems to be very sharp. However, I cannot be certain of this - just like with anyone else I know regardless of their age, sex...etc. etc.!

I just think you need to apply caution.....my Nan was 92 when she passed and we all thought she was running on a full tank until she passed and several things came to light and proved she was very good at hiding things from the entire family and friends... She was still singing in a choir up until her death and attending weekly WI meetings and helping out in the hospital shop but up until her death nobody knew about several concerns she had and one of them was her home and apparently she had it in her mind my dad was going to throw her out of the house he bought her 30 years ago.... She had relayed her fears in hidden letters and to her solicitor....

I think it's a hard one for you maybe speak to a member of her family if you get an opportunity and explain your intentions, that you didn't want to approach her just in case it upset her and that maybe if they thought it was an approachable subject ask if they would feel better if a member of her family were present when you speak to her.

RuthnJasper

Poppie68 wrote: »

I just think you need to apply caution.....my Nan was 92 when she passed and we all thought she was running on a full tank until she passed and several things came to light and proved she was very good at hiding things from the entire family and friends... She was still singing in a choir up until her death and attending weekly WI meetings and helping out in the hospital shop but up until her death nobody knew about several concerns she had and one of them was her home and apparently she had it in her mind my dad was going to throw her out of the house he bought her 30 years ago.... She had relayed her fears in hidden letters and to her solicitor....

I think it's a hard one for you maybe speak to a member of her family if you get an opportunity and explain your intentions, that you didn't want to approach her just in case it upset her and that maybe if they thought it was an approachable subject ask if they would feel better if a member of her family were present when you speak to her.

Very sound advice also. Each and every situation is different. x

There is a wealth of great advice here, from several vastly different viewpoints. That, to me, is what's great about canvassing opinions on here (despite the occasional troll). Mickey - I'm sure you'll choose whichever course best suits your situation. Whatever you decide, I wish you and your wife every success and happiness.

RuthnGisele x

Brallaqueen

Are there any other houses you would be interested in? I personally think that rather than 'target' this one house you might consider letter dropping a few - the letter would be more impersonal as a result and less likely to offend as you would clearly be enquiring only rather than leveraging any potential relationship for profit.

quidsy

Next time you see her, stop for a chat then casually mention how lucky she is to have such a dream house, mention how you want to upsize and was thinking of putting notes through the letterboxes of the whole street to see if anyone was wanting to sell. You plant the seed, if she is interested she has the chance to expand on it, if she isn't interested then you are just making conversation.

moneyistooshorttomention

plumfin wrote: »

I would knock on the door and explain. Perhaps phrase it as a real compliment that you love her house and you would like first refusal, if she should ever decide to sell. She may want to sell but is no sure how. You might find you are the answer she is looking for too. Good luck.

That's the one I would go for too. It might be better if you got your wife to do this, rather than you (ie woman to woman chat). Your wife would be much better able than you to talk about her plans for a future family and neighbour would be much less likely to feel pressurised with it coming from a woman.

She may be finding the house too much to manage for her and be glad of a troublefree way to move on on the one hand. On the other hand, she may be very attached to it and will only be planning on moving out "feet first" and, in that case, it would be a waiting game. If it is a waiting game, it wouldn't be a very long one (with her being that old).

moneyistooshorttomention

nubbins wrote: »

I agree, age is just a number, in fact my great aunt was a model for Dove soap at 96!!! :T

That looks like one sassy happy lady:rotfl::T

Running_Horse

nubbins wrote: »

Why are people suggesting a 93 year old is unable to cope with a simple question, my great gran is 103 and her sister is 106 and they are sharper than me.

And if that is accepted, maybe she has no plans to move for another ten years, and would view any approach with as much disdain as a forty year old.

samba

The 10th Commandment says something along the lines of:

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house.

MickeyBlueEyes

samba wrote: »

The 10th Commandment says something along the lines of:

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house.

Or their servants and donkeys.

impartialobserv

My elderly parents live in a particularly desirable property and have been approached several times by prospective buyers, both via letters and in person. They have no interest in selling their house. Given their advanced ages, I often feel suspicious about the motives of those approaching them in this way - rightly or wrongly.

Personally I would leave your neighbour alone. If at some point either you or your wife are in conversation with her, you might mention your potential interest in the house in passing, but making a formal approach via letter or similar would be in poor taste IMO.