Previous owner asking to buy back property!

Silvertabby

Put the time capsule tin and (if you still have it) the named/numbered house plaque in with the items being picked up.

What if you did bury the tin where they said - and then want to lay a patio or build a shed or greenhouse over it?  

grandadgolfer

I think the OP will have to get firm with previous owners on a number of things including tell them to bog off regarding burying the tin in back garden, I get the impression they will keep popping around sending stupid emails/letters etc if not told firmly to get knotted. Or if they insist on the stupid idea of buying house back make sure its a healthy profit i.e. all fees/solicitors etc plus £20k for the hassle

NameUnavailable

I've not read all the responses but going back to the OP, if I wanted to suddenly reverse a sale after completion I think I would at least offer a nice incentive (like all costs plus and extra £5K or so assuming prices hadn't increased) but I wouldn't think of doing it in the first place.

A polite response basically saying thanks but no thanks is all that is required. I wonder what the sister next door thinks? She might have been glad to see them go!

sidneyvic

Section62 said:

Ath_Wat said:

Seriously.  I'd ask them "How could you possibly think anyone could accept this?  That I should put myself through so much hassle and effort and take a financial loss just for your benefit?  While you get to be put back in the position you were with no losses at all?  Genuinely, tell me what was going through your head."

Do you really think that is constructive?  Either as something you might do yourself, or as advice to the OP.

No wonder there is so much hate in the World if people feel the need to respond like this.

Just 'Let it go'.

Thats exactly what the OP should say. There is no way they should be put in this position, what sort of entitled attitude asks to buy a house back for 5k less.... Any half decent individual would at least be offering far more than the OP paid to at least cover their costs. So yes it is constructive, need to make it clear so they dont think they can keep coming back petering, cut them short before they start. ( And I would g8ve up on the bad liberal advise)

Tranboy

Unless the time capsule is hermetically sealed it will fill with water and the mystery contents will be ruined,anyone of a certain age might remember this happened on blue peter , they buried one in 1971 and when they opened it in 2000 it was a soggy mess. As regards the name plate it most definitely should be removed as to leave it in place will give the special couple a tacit acceptance that they will be back in "their" house one day. Expect the sister next door to be giving weekly updates on whats happening to their house....

Slinky

We had a spot in our garden where we had our garden bench, and we buried our cat wrapped in a baby blanket a couple of feet down. I did warn our purchasers that that's where he was, really just to warn them, as coming across a dead cat would be pretty upsetting. Other than that, I'd fully expect them to do whatever they want to the house and garden, although I'm still in contact with my old neighbour, and had to tell him not to keep telling me about what the changes are that they've made. I prefer to remember it how I loved it, even though I know it's not like that now.

JuanBallOfWimbledon

Thanks again for all the replies and advice, guys. It’s reassuring seeing everyone else be as incredulous as we are! 

Just a quick update, I replied to their last email in a slightly firmer tone. I made it very clear that we have no intention of selling and see this very much as our home for life. My wife thinks that me calling it ‘our home for life’ may trigger them, as they clearly think of it as theirs still. They didn’t reply, which is unusual for them as they have previously replied almost immediately to all communication. 

I took down the sign the day after we completed. It is in with the rest of their belongings, awaiting collection by their family member this afternoon. I’ll update on whether they show this time.

As annoyed as I am, I don’t think I can bring myself to bin their time capsule. We plan to build a summerhouse fairly close to the tree they specified this summer. My idea is to bury it under there, that way we have a reason to refuse, should they ever request we excavate it. For the person who asked - It contains a few photos of (I assume) their family with descriptions on the back, a baby sized shoe with a name and year on an attached tag, a keyring, a Christmas tree decoration, a key (no idea what the key is for), a pressed flower, a small piece of brick and a few pebbles and a small tapestry/cross stitch type thing of what I assume is a family crest. Nothing outrageous. 

And @george4064, I really wish this wasn’t true; but it is. I really feel for them, the situation seems to be that they retired and decided to buy a small cottage in the country. They obviously regret it at the moment, but I’m hoping with time they’ll come to love it and will be able to move on. 

Marvel1

Are they having a laugh? £5k less plus all the fees you would have to pay!

pinkteapot

I know I'm just adding to the chorus of people saying the same thing, but I am just so taken aback at this thread!

I understand their feelings but what gets me is offering you LESS than you paid. I don't know how much the house and therefore your stamp duty was, but our last two house moves have each cost around £20k in stamp duty (mostly that), EA fees, solicitor fees, removal costs... So in our case, at £5k less than we paid, the vendor would have been expecting to just lose £25k so they can have their house back?!!!! They would have needed to offer £20k more than we paid, and then some for the hassle!

I do feel really sorry for them having these regrets about their move, and understand where they're coming from, but they're absolutely out of touch. 

If they don't leave you alone, or if the sister makes your lives miserable, I'd consider re-selling to them (but only for a significant premium) but then I've always moved about a lot so am always open to moving again. 

Hoping they quiet down though and you can enjoy your new home (and feel like it's yours, not theirs!). And hoping that relative turns up today to remove their stuff!

Slinky

There's a possibility you may end up with them moving back as a near neighbour at some point as they can't buy your house. Is your house an individual style on your street, or one of others that are similar?

Our old neighbour previously lived 2 doors the otherside of us. Sold and moved back to their home town, regretted it, and bought the first house that came up for sale in the same street. Identical house, but smaller garden than what they had before.