Knocking on someone's door to ask them to view their property

skm1981

BikingBud said:

skm1981 said:

BungalowBel said:

I can't imagine not knowing what your neighbours look like after two years of living next door to them!  Even our 'keep yourself to yourself' neighbours on the one side pass the time of day when we see them in the front garden.

Anyway, that is how the situation is.  I would pop a note through the door asking if your m-i-l can have a viewing.  They might wonder why you didn't knock the door, but so what?  If neither of you have spoken to each other after two years, they probably wouldn't have knocked your door either.

I'm in and out all day every day.  I work from home, I walk the dogs 3 times a day, I do 2 school runs a day as well as other stuff and I just never see them.  I know the man works away a lot, but I don't know about his wife.  I occasionally see their son who I would probably recognize, but definitely not the man or woman.  Maybe they only come out at night... 

I think my mother in law will listen if I ask her not to knock and just put a note through instead.  The house has been up for sale for a brief stint from around October but then they took it down in December.  I wondered if maybe cos that's not the best time to sell?  Then it went back up again a few months back . It's just really weird.  It's almost like they don't want to sell, but then why have your house for sale if you don't want to sell?  But then another odd thing was they applied for planning permission last year for an extension on the back which got granted... but shortly after they put it up for sale and there's no mention of the planning permission application being granted in the rightmove listing.  That was another reason why I thought perhaps divorce.

If you don't know your neighbours from Adam and have no relationship there is nothing to spoil. That said you seem to know lots about them, are you actively stalking other near neighbours?

Are you more concerned about your perception of how the MiL should behave?

If so then perhaps keeping a distance and not encouraging her to live next door, or even anywhere nearby, might by the answer 

Yes I stalk them all day and all night.  I don't sleep.  I just sit at the window with my binoculars watching for any movement.  At night time, I have specifically bought night vision binoculars to make sure I don't miss a single thing.  Occasionally, I will switch from the back of the house to the front of the house, but mainly I watch the front to see if anyone comes or goes. 

On a serious note, you've gone off topic.  What I know or don't know about my neighbours shouldn't wind you up so much.  Also my mother in law living next door to me or on the other side of the world for that matter also isn't something I asked for your opinion on.  

skm1981

ThisIsWeird said:

Blimey, some judgemental folk!

I don't think Skm came on here to ask whether it's normal to not know some of their immediate neighbours. How well you do tend to know them can come down to many factors, some of which you'll have no control over. That is neither a good nor a bad thing. It's just a 'thing'.

Ditto for whether to knock on their door. 'Technically', that is a 'bad thing'. IE, EAs are usually very clear that you should not do this. That is not to say you cannot do so, of course, but it is a generally accepted convention that all approaches should be done via the EA.

That said, I think as long as any approach acknowledges this 'breach' in the 'rule', and makes it clear that the knocker has no expectation at all, and is happy and apologetic if rebuffed, then fill your boots if you feel you need to. But, I think it's inconsiderate. You have your house for sale, it's likely a stressful time, but at least you know when folk will expect to view, right? Seemingly, for some folk, nope. 

In this specific case, fair do's, there may be more 'justification', since the mil has limited opportunity to visit, and has tried to arrange viewings the correct way. 

No-one will have any control over how the vendor will react, of course, and some folk on here have given their t'pence worth. I'll add mine for what it's worth: unless they had a bludy good reason, and were uber-apologetic about it, I'd consider them to have a bludy nerve. And, they'd otherwise slide down the list of preferables.

Who on here would want to be caught off-guard, in the middle of your everyday life, by someone who thinks they can circumvent the usual process? You wouldn't want to 'put them off', just in case they are serious buyers, but they will effectively have you over a small barrel. What to do- risk upsetting them with a foff, or allow them to disturb your day with this presumptuous knock?

And what if you were the third person to try a 'knock' that week?

Pfffft.

I can only recommend the note-through-the-door method, and if that elicits no response, you'll have your answer. Don't bludy knock.

Thank you for staying on topic and answering what I actually asked. 

I don't know why people on here pick holes in everything when it's not even relevant to what I've asked!  So what if I don't know my neighbours?!!  I'm not gonna go knocking at their door asking if we can be best friends

Gavin83

ThisIsWeird said:

Who on here would want to be caught off-guard, in the middle of your everyday life, by someone who thinks they can circumvent the usual process? You wouldn't want to 'put them off', just in case they are serious buyers, but they will effectively have you over a small barrel. What to do- risk upsetting them with a foff, or allow them to disturb your day with this presumptuous knock?

Personally don’t see the issue. If I was selling a house, someone knocked and I wasn’t busy I’d let them in. Were I busy I’d just tell them it wasn’t a good time and to arrange an appointment with the EA. The only reason the EAs insist it has to go through them is so they retain control and so there isn’t any disputes about their commission….

I don’t get the whole issue with the house needing a clean first. I’m potentially buying your house, not your cleanliness. If I was that bothered about how spotless the house was we’d never have bought the house we’re now in.

LHW99

Put a note through the door as suggested.  You could add that M-i-L has contacted the EA, but they have not yet managed to get in touch with the neighbours.

That would let them confirm she is a serious purchaser if they are worried.

BikingBud

skm1981 said:

BikingBud said:

skm1981 said:

BungalowBel said:

I can't imagine not knowing what your neighbours look like after two years of living next door to them!  Even our 'keep yourself to yourself' neighbours on the one side pass the time of day when we see them in the front garden.

Anyway, that is how the situation is.  I would pop a note through the door asking if your m-i-l can have a viewing.  They might wonder why you didn't knock the door, but so what?  If neither of you have spoken to each other after two years, they probably wouldn't have knocked your door either.

I'm in and out all day every day.  I work from home, I walk the dogs 3 times a day, I do 2 school runs a day as well as other stuff and I just never see them.  I know the man works away a lot, but I don't know about his wife.  I occasionally see their son who I would probably recognize, but definitely not the man or woman.  Maybe they only come out at night... 

I think my mother in law will listen if I ask her not to knock and just put a note through instead.  The house has been up for sale for a brief stint from around October but then they took it down in December.  I wondered if maybe cos that's not the best time to sell?  Then it went back up again a few months back . It's just really weird.  It's almost like they don't want to sell, but then why have your house for sale if you don't want to sell?  But then another odd thing was they applied for planning permission last year for an extension on the back which got granted... but shortly after they put it up for sale and there's no mention of the planning permission application being granted in the rightmove listing.  That was another reason why I thought perhaps divorce.

If you don't know your neighbours from Adam and have no relationship there is nothing to spoil. That said you seem to know lots about them, are you actively stalking other near neighbours?

Are you more concerned about your perception of how the MiL should behave?

If so then perhaps keeping a distance and not encouraging her to live next door, or even anywhere nearby, might by the answer 

Yes I stalk them all day and all night.  I don't sleep.  I just sit at the window with my binoculars watching for any movement.  At night time, I have specifically bought night vision binoculars to make sure I don't miss a single thing.  Occasionally, I will switch from the back of the house to the front of the house, but mainly I watch the front to see if anyone comes or goes. 

On a serious note, you've gone off topic.  What I know or don't know about my neighbours shouldn't wind you up so much.  Also my mother in law living next door to me or on the other side of the world for that matter also isn't something I asked for your opinion on.  

You asked for advice on public forum, if you provide information that is pertinent then people will comment. You will not like all the comments. If the information is not pertinent or you don't wish to receive feedback then be careful what you post.

I wondered how you'd realised when they were coming and going and your query about them divorcing as well as the intricacies of their planning application. You feel that you know this, well enough to post on a public forum, yet you do not know their names or would not recognise them in the street, it just seems a little bizarre, and creepy, to me. Knock on their door and introduce yourself.

Also your post comes across as more about it not being correct for your MiL to knock on your neighbour's door, ie it is the MiL's behaviour that you find unacceptable. You would concede to her putting a note through the door but knocking, heavens no that would be outrageous. Hence if she continues to do things that you consider unacceptable: 

@skim1981 "but I absolute hate the idea of her doing this." 

it could be fun having her live next door.

But if none of that concerns you, stop trying to control it and just let it happen then. 

pinkteapot

eddddy said:

As others suggest, maybe put a note through their door in advance saying something like...

My MiL is house hunting in this area.... I mentioned to her that you house is for sale and she's interested... she's visiting me on this date.... could she pop-in for a quick informal viewing? (With your phone number and/or address.)


If you hear nothing... maybe tell your MiL that you left the neighbours a note, but they didn't reply, so it seems that they are not interested in selling anymore (and that you don't know why).

I would do exactly this, but with "Hi, I live next door!" at the start.  

As from your name at the bottom they'll have no clue who  you are from what you've said.  I know the address would make it obvious but that would feel like a slightly odd way to tell them you're their next door neighbour...

Good tip re telling them she's tried through the EA ("Sorry to bother you direct, but she's tried getting a viewing through the agent and they can't seem to get her a viewing.") - just in case there's nothing going on and it's just a really rubbish agent - they'd want to know!

Also, I absolutely agree you shouldn't knock and expect to view there and then, but it wouldn't be completely disastrous if she ended up knocking and said something like "I'm so sorry to bother you, I'm staying with my son/daughter next door for a few days and I'm interested in buying your house but the estate agent can't seem to arrange a viewing, so I just wondered if there was any chance I could come and view it in the next few days? Have a think and knock if there's a time that would be ok."

ThisIsWeird

Gavin83 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

Who on here would want to be caught off-guard, in the middle of your everyday life, by someone who thinks they can circumvent the usual process? You wouldn't want to 'put them off', just in case they are serious buyers, but they will effectively have you over a small barrel. What to do- risk upsetting them with a foff, or allow them to disturb your day with this presumptuous knock?

Personally don’t see the issue. If I was selling a house, someone knocked and I wasn’t busy I’d let them in.

How many visits per day would you still not see an issue with?

skm1981

BikingBud said:

skm1981 said:

BikingBud said:

skm1981 said:

BungalowBel said:

I can't imagine not knowing what your neighbours look like after two years of living next door to them!  Even our 'keep yourself to yourself' neighbours on the one side pass the time of day when we see them in the front garden.

Anyway, that is how the situation is.  I would pop a note through the door asking if your m-i-l can have a viewing.  They might wonder why you didn't knock the door, but so what?  If neither of you have spoken to each other after two years, they probably wouldn't have knocked your door either.

I'm in and out all day every day.  I work from home, I walk the dogs 3 times a day, I do 2 school runs a day as well as other stuff and I just never see them.  I know the man works away a lot, but I don't know about his wife.  I occasionally see their son who I would probably recognize, but definitely not the man or woman.  Maybe they only come out at night... 

I think my mother in law will listen if I ask her not to knock and just put a note through instead.  The house has been up for sale for a brief stint from around October but then they took it down in December.  I wondered if maybe cos that's not the best time to sell?  Then it went back up again a few months back . It's just really weird.  It's almost like they don't want to sell, but then why have your house for sale if you don't want to sell?  But then another odd thing was they applied for planning permission last year for an extension on the back which got granted... but shortly after they put it up for sale and there's no mention of the planning permission application being granted in the rightmove listing.  That was another reason why I thought perhaps divorce.

If you don't know your neighbours from Adam and have no relationship there is nothing to spoil. That said you seem to know lots about them, are you actively stalking other near neighbours?

Are you more concerned about your perception of how the MiL should behave?

If so then perhaps keeping a distance and not encouraging her to live next door, or even anywhere nearby, might by the answer 

Yes I stalk them all day and all night.  I don't sleep.  I just sit at the window with my binoculars watching for any movement.  At night time, I have specifically bought night vision binoculars to make sure I don't miss a single thing.  Occasionally, I will switch from the back of the house to the front of the house, but mainly I watch the front to see if anyone comes or goes. 

On a serious note, you've gone off topic.  What I know or don't know about my neighbours shouldn't wind you up so much.  Also my mother in law living next door to me or on the other side of the world for that matter also isn't something I asked for your opinion on.  

You asked for advice on public forum, if you provide information that is pertinent then people will comment. You will not like all the comments. If the information is not pertinent or you don't wish to receive feedback then be careful what you post.

I wondered how you'd realised when they were coming and going and your query about them divorcing as well as the intricacies of their planning application. You feel that you know this, well enough to post on a public forum, yet you do not know their names or would not recognise them in the street, it just seems a little bizarre, and creepy, to me. Knock on their door and introduce yourself.

Also your post comes across as more about it not being correct for your MiL to knock on your neighbour's door, ie it is the MiL's behaviour that you find unacceptable. You would concede to her putting a note through the door but knocking, heavens no that would be outrageous. Hence if she continues to do things that you consider unacceptable: 

@skim1981 "but I absolute hate the idea of her doing this." 

it could be fun having her live next door.

But if none of that concerns you, stop trying to control it and just let it happen then. 

You seem very bothered by this Biking Bud.  Almost angry.  Perhaps you should do some meditating, help calm yourself down a bit.

MultiFuelBurner

Having read the whole post it does seem natural that you as the next door neighbour could introduce yourself, as many have posted,  to next door and explain the situation.

Of course some people just don't like to do this so up to you really.

gazfocus

Back in the day, for sale signs were put up to advertise that a house was for sale. Nowadays they’re just up so that people driving round sees how popular a specific estate agent is (or to tell you which house is the one you’ve seen online). 

My point is, I don’t think it’s entirely unreasonable (especially as a neighbour) to knock on the door and ask if your mother in law can arrange a suitable time for them to view the house.