A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:So I want to start off by saying that I’m not one to suffer with anxiety and I’ve always considered myself strong and able to move on when rubbish happens but something that has happened recently has made me feel quite vulnerable….I live in a cul de sac- all our houses are detached. My neighbors (who live right Nextdoor to me) recently put their house up for sale. These neighbors have always been offish but it’s never bothered me. Unfortunately what was happening was that potential buyers kept knocking on my door , thinking it was my house up for sale, as the “for sale” sign was more on my side than the neighbors. The first few times it happened I thought nothing of it but then it was happening everyday 3-5 times a day - the majority of the time I work from home, my office is in the 3rd floor so as you can imagine it was totally inconvenient running down the stairs every couple of hours- especially as I was busy dealing with clients on the phone or via Zoom.Unfortunately some of the potential buyers argued that it was my house for sale (another story for another time) and some apologized but then wanted to chat about the neighborhood- which I understand but not when I’m deep in work. It’s not at all convenient. One evening I went over and politely told the neighbors what was happening and ’asked if they could contact their estate agent to move the sign to their side. They totally dismissed what I had to say and literally just laughed in my face and told me the sign was fine and not on my side! I figured you can’t educate thick so I left it.2 days later i had to go to the office. I didn’t get back home until 9.30pm that evening. The next day the neighbor came over to have a go at me because I didn’t answer my door for their potential buyers- apparently several families had come by (mistaking my house being for sale) and left when nobody answered. They then called the estate agent who told my neighbors.This time I wasn’t polite - I pointed out that I had been at work all day and had they paid attention they could see my car hadn’t been on the drive all day, therefore was not home to answer my door. I also said that it wasn’t my responsibility to direct potential buyers to their home when it’s their responsibility to ensure the sign was in the correct place. They didn’t like that I stood up for myself and stormed off. I immediately called the estate agent explaining everything- they were so nice and even said that they found it strange when they came to put the sign up that it was nearer my house but apparently the neighbors had insisted that’s where they wanted it. They told me someone would be out the following week to move the sign.Now feeling completely put out I decided to work the entire week in the office to avoid any potential buyers and being disturbed. By the end of the week the sign was moved and I’ve had no further issues, however I still feel on edge after my run with the neighbors- they haven’t spoken to me since and I just want them to hurry up and sell the house so there’s no risk of bumping in to them. Am I being silly?
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 September 2023): I posted this question & this is my reply to “youcannotbeserious”
Firstly I want to clarify I didn’t make any of this up as you suggested- just because you worked as an estate agent & this particular situation never occurred to you, doesn’t mean that things like this can’t happen. Odd I know but not impossible.
As you can see from my post, I’m very busy so do not have the time to sit & make up or exaggerate scenarios. If it happened a couple of times I wouldn’t be writing about it online as I really wouldn’t have cared.
Yes you are right, the potential buyers would have the number of the house-but for some reason they weren’t looking at the number, they saw the sale sign & to where it was positioned assumed it was my house for sale.
My neighbor (who is selling the property) has a hanging plant by the number of the house with leaves sprouting from it, that hide the number. Maybe that was a factor?
Plus all the house from the front are identical.
I can assure you there were 3-5 viewings a day - you ask how this is possible…. Well maybe because the house is in a very desired area? Maybe because the neighbors want to make a quick sale & the house is underpriced? Maybe because houses in that area rarely go up for sale? I didnt ask potential buyers “why” they were interested.
Regarding what happened the day I was out- I can only tell you what my neighbor told me.
It would make perfect sense for them to call the estate agent whilst at the property for them to sort it out- so I’m guessing maybe my neighbor had lied to me about this to make me feel bad & what you suggested is in fact what happened but I have no idea as I wasn’t at home.
A
female
reader, Youcannotbeserious +, writes (13 September 2023):
 I worked for estate agents up till very recently and I'm sorry but your story just doesn't add up.
For a start, the potential purchasers would have the details from the estate agent when they made the appointment to view so would know which house was up for sale (they would have the number, or the name, of the house, plus a photograph on the leaflet).
Secondly, where on earth do you live in the UK that you were getting 3-5 lots of purchasers on your doorstep, day after day? I appreciate the house market is fast moving at the moment, but I've never heard of anyone having THAT much interest in a house. There's often a flurry of interest when a house first comes on the market, but that's usually very short lived. Certainly, if there was as much interest as you state, there would have been an offer fairly quickly.
The story about numerous viewers calling on the day you were at work and going away also doesn't ring true. Surely, if they couldn't get access to the house they thought was for sale (if we are to believe the part of your story about them all coming to the wrong house), they would have phoned the estate agents from site and the estate agents would have sorted it out by either phoning the owner of the actual house for sale or coming out to it to sort out the problem.
I suspect one person may have come to your door and you have exaggerated the rest of the story for sympathy.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (13 September 2023): I posted this.
I wanted to explain- in the UK when a house goes up for sale, any potential buyers call the estate agent, who then speak to the sellers to arrange a suitable viewing day & time. So all the people that knocked on my door had appointments booked, they didn’t just randomly turn up. When they knocked on my door the day I was at work, they left & then contacted the estate agent to tell them that nobody was at home to let them in. The estate agent who at this point had no idea they were coming to my house, contacted my neighbors (the actual sellers) to tell them that potential buyers had come by but no one was home. Now they were at home - & they knew buyers were knocking on my door which is why I was blamed for the whole mishap.
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A
female
reader, Honeypie  +, writes (13 September 2023):
 Wow, What a bunch of asshats you have for neighbors!!
Glad they are moving and I hope you get better neighbors on the sale of the house.
I think the neighbors did this on purpose. And in the beginning, you fell for it.
I don't know how the real estate is done in the UK, but here in the US you can't just walk up to a house with a FOR SALE sign and knock on the door (unless it states that it's for sale by owner).
That means you contact your own (or the estate agent whose name is on the sign) and ask for a tour. The homeowners (and their pets will not be there for a walk-through. And... in most cases you AND your estate agent will know how much you can afford to spend, so if you can't afford more than (let's say) $250,000 you are not going to be touring $1,000,000 homes.
I would have taken the battery out of the door bell if I were you and you have to work from home.
It's not your job to help sell the neighbor's house. Or the neighborhood.
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A
female
reader, Ciar  +, writes (13 September 2023):
 I don't think you're being silly. The experience has rattled your cage, not in some far away place but on your home turf. I get that.
The good news is you found out how low class your neighbours are, not as they're moving in, but as they're moving OUT.
They're leaving and they want to sell their home as quickly as you want it sold.
Be thankful you're not their agent and don't have to deal with them in any other capacity.
Now, if they or anyone else who might be associated with them in some way (or potential buyers) don't answer your door.
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A
female
reader, Anonymous 123  +, writes (13 September 2023):
 Umm yes, you're being a little silly now. There was a minor issue which was sorted and your neighbours were obviously at fault but you can't rush them out because you don't like them! And also you never know how your new neighbours are going to be! Just do your thing, don't talk to them and if you see them, just move on. I don't talk to most of my neighbours and I don't even have any problems with them... It just suits me that way.
And good for you for standing up for yourself!
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