Neighbour Trying to Poach Our Buyers

chaotic_j

Hi,

We inherited a property with a past boundary dispute between our relative and the neighbour.

Since our relative passed relations with the neighbour were good and they were friendly to us.

The neighbour has also lost a relative and has to sell their property as instructed by the will - they have been asking for quite some time when are we going up for sale? and what valuations were etc. We needed to clear the property first and once that was done we have gone up for sale with an estate agent.

The neighbour now appears to be speaking to any potential buyers visiting the property with or without our estate agent trying to poach them or putting them off buying. They are saying they are selling their house, if the buyer isn't interested in ours - to come and speak to them etc.

They have done this a few times and the estate agent has had words which resulted in the neighbour getting quite nasty - they don't want to put their property up for sale with an estate agent and pay fees which they describe as a rip off.

We don't want a dispute with the neighbour but what they are doing is causing us upset and anxiety. We don't feel that speaking to them directly would help. Where do we stand, is there anything we can do?

Thanks in advance.

greatcrested

Ignore. Nothing you can do (other than be friendly).

Buyers will choose he house they want at the price they want.

If next door is a nicer/cheaper house, they'll buy it. If not, they won't.

p00hsticks

chaotic_j said:

The neighbour has also lost a relative and has to sell their property as instructed by the will - they have been asking for quite some time when are we going up for sale? and what valuations were etc. We needed to clear the property first and once that was done we have gone up for sale with an estate agent.

I'm a bit confused - is it the neighbours property (i.e next door to the one you are trying to sell) that is being sold or the neighbours deceased relatives ?

hazyjo

Confused as to how the neighbour knows the time of your viewers. Are they looking out the window all day? They'd be better off sticking a 'private sale' board in their window.

Why don't you do the viewings? Meet buyers outside the property?

We last sold at the same time as our next door but one neighbours. Didn't care that we had the same viewers. I would've thought it would be the EA's problem if the neighbours got a buyer from someone they'd found to view yours. Let them worry about it.

Norman_Castle

"They have done this a few times and the estate agent has had words which resulted in the neighbour getting quite nasty"

If they're intruding on conversations or interrupting during the viewings its understandable the agent is annoyed with them.

Suggest they put their own for sale board up rather than poaching viewers viewing thanks to advertising you will be paying for through the agents fees. If buyers are interested they're welcome to visit the neighbours property.

ChewyyBacca

@chaotic_j
this is indeed nasty on their part, unfortunately not much you can do. I really hope you don't lose out on your sale, because of their sneakiness.
However don't you have to disclose neighbour dispute to potential buyers? 

chaotic_j

Thanks for the replies.. it is the neighbours property (next door) that the neighbour wants to sell..

The neighbour is old and so is in the property almost all the time keeping watch.. they have CCTV and yes when buyers are there the neighbour is opening and closing their door, waiting for buyers to come out of our property viewing then appearing at the boundary making comments.

It would probably be best if they put their own sign up. Maybe I could offer to have a sign made for them?

So presumably what they are doing is obviously ethically/morally wrong but can't really be stopped? We don't really want to do viewings ourselves as we don't live in the same town and have paid extra for the agent to do it (hybrid agent). What would be the benefit of doing the viewings ourselves?

hazyjo

Just thought it may stop the neighbours from coming out if you did viewings.

Does it really matter in the great scheme of things though?

They need one buyer. So do you. It's not like you need 20 and they're nicking them all. The chances of the houses and decor being the same are prob a zillion to one. When my neighbours were up the same time as me, ours went first even though most of our viewers were the same, as theirs needed more work - despite theirs being a semi and mine terraced.

davidmcn

chaotic_j said:
So presumably what they are doing is obviously ethically/morally wrong but can't really be stopped?

On what basis could it be stopped? You can't prevent your neighbours popping outside and starting a conversation with your visitors. It doesn't sound like "harassment", does it?

Davesnave

Potential buyers ought to speak to neighbours anyway. I know many don't, but it's the only way to get a good feel for a neighbourhood and assess the person(s) who will be living next door.

There's one way to ensure he neighbour doesn't poach your buyer, and that's to  offer better value. Could you not get a relative, friend or colleague to do a 'viewing' and thus mystery shop next door and the price they're seeking?

Annisele

I'd be tempted to either leave this in the estate agent's hands, or ask their advice. They've already "had words" - and they don't want the neighbour poaching their commissions.