Selling house 'under the radar' - possible?

buckman

Hi there, I thought I'd ask if this was possible at all in this day and age?

We would like to sell our property but our neighbours are nosey.

Can anybody make any suggestions? ie: private agent referrals?

marksoton

So let them be nosey. It's nothing to do with them....

AnotherJoe

Don't have a sign board put up.

AdrianC

You could ask the EA to do some initial quiet marketing - most EAs will have a list of people who are looking for specific types of property.

Not all buyers register with agents, though, especially those who are at the early stages of hunting. They just use the websites to find what they like the look of, then contact the agents.

So, at some stage, though, unless you sell the place quickly, you're going to have to go public. You don't HAVE to have a for sale sign outside, but it may well help if you're on any kind of thoroughfare - especially if it's a desirable area. Ultimately, though, if Joe and Jane Potential-Buyer are going to find out about your house, it's going to have to be listed on RM, and the agent's website, and...

mije1983

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Don't have a sign board put up.

^ This.

Unless they are actively looking to move themselves, or for some other reason have set up alerts with estate agents or Rightmove/Zoopla etc, they are unlikely to see it advertised online.

But really, does it matter if they know you are selling?

Bonfire_Bride

We removed our board BUT if your neighbours are THAT nosey...they will see the potential buyers coming for viewings.

Is it really an issue if they know the house is for sale?

Owain_Moneysaver

The 'we buy your house for cash' agents will be used to being discreet, but will pay well below market value.

McKneff

Why are you bothered about your neighbours knowing you have your house up for sale.

They may be nosy, but i wonder what one word they would say to describe you two ?

eddddy

TBH, it's always really obvious to me when a neighbour is selling/letting. I tend to notice one or more of the following:

- An EA turns up with a shiny suit, clipboard and camera to prepare property details
- Cars stop outside and the occupants peer at the house
- Slightly self-conscious couples arrive, and talk quietly to each other whilst looking around the front and back gardens (sometimes with the shiny suited EA who sometimes does lots of talking and pointing, and then sometimes keeps a respectful distance, trying not to look bored).

Unless your property is very remote from your nosey neighbours, I don't think they'll miss these signs.

G_M

When you sign your contract with an estate agent, make sure it includes

* a no board clause
* a clause prohibiting the use of Rightmove, PrimeLocation, Zoopla or any other publicly accessible websites
* a no mail advertising clause
* a clause requiring all potential buyers to disguise themselves as postmen.

This should guarantee the neigghbors never find out.

Davesnave

If you share access, then they have a legitimate reason to be interested in who buys the property, but no say over who it might be. It could therefore be a worrying time for them.

For that reason I would tell them, rather than letting them find out via a third party, because they will. However, I have no proper understanding of why a 'private person' wouldn't want them to know in the first place.

To my mind, being private by failing to convey info like that as a matter of courtesy, just borders on petty meanness. Sorry!