Previous owner asking to buy back property!

Woolsery

family355 said:

We never did come come across the ashes. People can be strange 

I don't suppose Lord Bath ever came across my parents' ashes either, but we didn't put them in just one place in his 'back garden.'
I dug where a dog was buried about 15 years previously and came across its name tag, but no other trace remained. I returned the tag to the dog's owner who was still living nearby at the time, but he was a vet and said there wasn't much sentiment attached to it. It was a great dog, but every dog has its day.

GDB2222

I did wonder about the name plate. I too have DIY jobs that I've not quite got round to yet. Better late than never, I suppose. 

in_my_wellies

I've only just read this thread
As a teenager I was in an opposite situation. We lived in a large Edwardian house near the town centre. The perfect property came up for sale so my parents downsized to one about half a mile further out. If any of us walked into town the new owner would leap out of her drive and invite us in to see what they had been doing. I went in a couple of times as did my mum and brother but after that we made excuses as we weren't really interested.  
It happened so often that we came to the conclusion that she was watching for us from the bedroom window. 

Jude57

I clearly read too many rubbish novels but the baby shoe and name bracelet in the time capsule have me wondering whether there's a sad story attached to the items and to the house? And whether that could explain why the previous owners can't seem to let go of the house or garden?

My view, for what it's worth, is that it's human nature to want to make sense of odd behaviour but that often, the reason for odd behaviour makes no more sense than the behaviour itself and trying to rationalise the odd behaviour of others is ultimately pointless.

Other than being the previous owners, this couple are complete strangers to the OP. Those advocating allowing complete strangers to bury items in, or worse, dig up items from the OP's garden may feel it's a kindness but I think it's prolonging the connection and prolonging the uneasiness the OP feels. There have been several threads lately where ostensibly 'lovely' former owners have turned out to be anything but lovely. I'm thinking specifically of the man who refused to change his address and the woman who lurked near her former home intercepting deliveries. Lovely people don't make other people's lives a misery so establishing firm boundaries leaves no room for doubt on the part of the former owners.

I'm also a fan of the 'of course you wouldn't expect....' approach mentioned earlier. Hopefully they'll reflect on that and realise their requests (demands) are unreasonable and back off.

spoovy

bouicca21 said:

I don’t think we actually know whether the couple are elderly.  They have adult children so could be anywhere from 50s up - if they started young maybe even late 40s.  I’m in my 70s and if you call me elderly I won’t spit in your face but I’ll certainly fantasise about doing so.

Being older is not an excuse for behaving badly, nor does it guarantee sympathy for daft behaviour. That is just patronising.

OP stated somewhere that they are in their mid 60s.  I plan on being seriously odd by that time.

Ath_Wat

GDB2222 said:

Skiddaw1 said:

I don't think the majority of posters on this thread have been defensive or rude. However, there's a point beyond which being understanding and kind is appropriate. I'm certain the OP wouldn't be rude to the couple, but to my mind it's reached the point where being assertive is essential.

The op is being assertive, just in a kindly manner. 

If I were asked whether a previous owner could dig up a time capsule in my garden. My response would probably be  "I'll make the tea. You bring the cake." Other people here are treating it like an armed home invasion.  

Really, none of this unusual behaviour is in the least bit threatening.

Most people simply have better things to do; it's that simple.  If someone is so starved of human contact that they are willing to go out of their way to have tea with odd people they don't know, that's fine, but you must realise that the majority just don't have the time or the inclination for it.

Moreover, sensible people realise that so don't make stupid requests.  The very fact that someone has asked marks them out as a person I don't want to have anything to do with.

getmore4less

On page 3, 19 total.

Did anyone note they sold with vacant possession.

you can't find the things they want to collect.

JuanBallOfWimbledon

Well, their family member did turn up. It was the woman’s brother. Unfortunately things got a bit silly and it ended on a bitter note.

When he arrived I said a cheery ‘Hello!’, and received a nod in reply. He went to his boot and pulled out a plastic supermarket crate. I assumed this was to help carry the smaller items. He followed me into the house and then headed past the dining room, to the conservatory. I explained the stuff wasn’t through there, at which point he informed me he was going to dig up and pot their favourite plants, I realised here that the crate contained plant pots and a trowel. He also asked for the time capsule and said he’d bury it while he was here. He was really pretty rude with it and in all honesty, I got a bit cross. I said absolutely not, he did not have permission to dig in my garden for any reason, enough is enough. He argued a little but eventually asked for the time capsule and took it and his crate of gardening stuff back to the car. Meanwhile, I started carrying their belongings onto the drive. 

He loaded up the car, then instead of leaving, went next door and let himself in. Not too shocking as some stuff wouldn’t fit into his car, so he took the remainder into the house. However, 10 minutes later we heard noises coming from what we thought was our back garden. Turns out it was him in the garden next door, digging right next to the fence that separates our gardens. Upon looking later, it seems he may have attempted to dig down and then across to get it in our garden, I can’t be sure but there’s a definite biscuit-tin-sized dip in the border next to the fence on our side.

As he came out to get into his car, he shouted at us that we’ve been ‘very unreasonable’ and he’s ‘disgusted at how selfish and petty’ we’ve been. It was all fairly embarrassing having that on the front on our first proper day in this house. Obviously we’re now anxious as to what we can expect when the sister gets back from her holiday. Happy to have my dining room clear of their stuff though. 

Edi81

This is better than a soap opera!! 

The cheek of them! If this was all so important why didn’t they do this before leaving the property?
please do keep us updated. 

diego_94

And there give you the type of people you were dealing with. Self entitled people. He thought it was ok to dig up plants from YOUR garden! 

While the sister is away, get out and make sure that time capsule isn’t on your land.