A
female
age
22-25,
anonymous
writes:I’m on here to see if anyone else has had odd experiences whilst viewing houses to buy?My fiancé and I are looking to buy our first property, so obviously we didn’t really know what to expect when viewing homes. None of our friends are homeowners so have not had the experience of house viewing and our families both purchased their homes over 20 years ago so are unable to recollect any odd experiences.So far we’ve seen 5 and the owners of 4th house seemed a bit odd. Now I don’t want to come across as judgmental or nasty but there definitely was something off about them. I mean they could be unwell or missing their children etc…. But both my fiancé and I got the creeps.We knocked on there at our confirmed time and when the last opened the door she just stood staring at us (she looked in her early 50’s)…. I introduced ourselves but she just kept staring - not saying anything (it was a really uncomfortable silence). When I then said “are we able to come in?” She replied “I suppose so”Her husband (looks mid 50’s) then came to say hello and he too just stood there staring at us in the hall way -at this point I asked if they were expecting us to which they were.They took us to the living room first and really oddly instead of talking about the house they started showing us pictures of their daughters who were at university (pictures were on the wall) and they were telling us all about them. We had no interest as we were there to see the house. Every room we went in too they had to show us something- in the kitchen there was a crystal bowl that a friend bought them for their anniversary, in one of the bedrooms a statue they got on holiday.She had a photo album out on her bed and was showing us pictures of their holiday, last year with friends. When we asked why they were selling, they both looked dumbfounded.When we left and drive off they were stood at the window just watching us- I waved but they didn’t wave back. My fiancé, who is never bothered by anything couldn’t wait to leave as he was getting really odd vibes, as was I. When the estate agent contacted us to get feedback on the house we didn’t mention how odd we found them as it wasn’t polite but we did ask if they had any views on the house as they seemed unsure in how to show us round. The agent confirmed they had quite a few viewings and in the past 5 years the house had been on and off the market and actually sold 3 times but each time the buyer pulled out ( she was unable to give us reasons why). Obviously we aren’t interested in the house and have no desire to return. The rest of our experiences were really nice and “normal”. Anyone else have a similar experience to us?
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reader, anonymous, writes (4 March 2023): I must agree with the anonymous female reader:
"You had an easy time of it and are making a big deal of very little."
I think the people were very sentimental about the house; and may not have many visitors. People who don't get-out much tend to be a little nervous or awkward when they finally have visitors; and may over-share or think they're just being very friendly. Some younger people would find that "weird!" They wanted to impart to you that the house was full of fond memories; and wanted to impart to a younger couple how "livable" the place will be. They just went a bit too far selling it to you.
If it has been sold over a few times, that's usually an indication there are expensive repairs needed for the heating, plumbing, the roof, or electrical wiring. A housing inspector would have given you the inside skinny on the structure and its integrity. If they were selling the home at a steal, caveat emptor! In a movie, the place might be haunted!
Staring was no big deal, they just wanted to figure-out who they'd be selling their home to. You were quite young for the average home-buyer; most people in their 20's can't afford to purchase a home, or are still trying to get their careers in order.
A
reader, anonymous, writes (4 March 2023): The weirdest experience I've ever had was when I looked at a really lovely place up for rent. It had a fireplace, stained-glass windows on one side, oak floors, a nice balcony off the one of the large bedrooms overlooking the back yard. It was a duplex, and the landlady said her parents left her the house; and she used to live upstairs on the floor she wanted to rent. She explained, after her parents passed away, she and her husband moved down to the first-floor. Her husband passed-away a few years back, she said.
Here's the creepy part. She explained the last tenant was a single gay-man, and "they always tend to be neat." She says she prepares the meals, and has to have access to the place whenever she pleased. No pets, but she had two cats(?) She proceeded to ask me if I was ever married, had a girlfriend, etc., etc. She even had the lease handy to have me sign and leave a deposit. She smiled a lot, and kept telling me how handsome I am. She no doubt had figured I am gay; because she said I was dressed so nicely. Most men aren't so meticulous about how they look! Busted!
Of course I declined, but it was such a really nice place. I really wanted it, but I'm very private. My personal-life was none of her business; but she did have a right to know who'd be in and out of her property. She didn't even mention a credit check! I left my phone number when I set-up the appointment to see the place. She called me several times thereafter to tell me she was showing it to others. Each time after a showing, she called and asked me if I was sure I didn't want the place? This went on for a couple of months, until she stopped calling. She was very sweet, but just too creepy! She never stopped smiling! I don't want the landlord lurking around my place when I wasn't there; or letting themselves in unannounced while I was!
Your experience is like the start of a horror movie or scary novel.
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A
female
reader, Youcannotbeserious + ♥, writes (4 March 2023):
 If it's true that "in the past 5 years the house had been on and off the market and actually sold 3 times but each time the buyer pulled out", the estate agent MUST have some idea as to the reason(s) why. Also, if this is true, perhaps the vendors are just sick of showing people round, having them commit to buying the house and then pulling out before completion?
I did also wonder if, perhaps, they were also expecting someone else the same day (perhaps a social worker or similar) and thought you were them?
Or perhaps they are just devastated at leaving a home they have occupied for many years and in which they raised their family.
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female
reader, Honeypie  + ♥, writes (4 March 2023):
 I absolutely agree with FA
"Probably the reason why most reputable estate agents insist on showing the house when the owners are not home."
We did have ONE rather nasty encounter with an owner at the very first house we were looking at. He basically came out with his shotgun to tell us to get off his property.. (welcome to America lol)
We DID arrive 10 minutes early so the real estate agent wasn't there yet. So we got in the car, called the agent, and decided that this house was a big fat nope.
What we found out later was that the owners were divorcing, she wanted to sell ASAP, and he wanted to renovate it first then sell. So there was a legal battle going on between the spouses.
There is always a reason why people sell their houses and it's not always a good one.
Also, DID you guys set up an appointment to see the house or did you just show up?
I think it's kinda rude to just show up and expect a tour of the house. People have lives even if they are trying to sell a house.
I don't know what is "normal" in the UK, but I DO know that in BOTH Denmark and the USA - you talk to an estate agent, and THEY set up a TIME/DATE to go see the house, and 99% of the time the owners (and pets) are NOT there. Unless you are buying from the owner directly.
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A
male
reader, Fatherly Advice + ♥, writes (4 March 2023):
 Nope, never had an experience like that. Probably the reason why most reputable estate agents insist on showing the house when the owners are not home.
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A
female
reader, RitaBrown +, writes (4 March 2023):
You must have heard of the British phrase "there's nowt as queer as folk". At some stage in our lives we're all going to meet people who seem odd or weird to us. It's just part of life. I've house-hunted twice (and sold a property once) and each time met some people who gave me a strange vibe.But why are you asking? You won't have to see this couple again and it's not as if they did you any harm except weird you out a bit. Do you have a tenancy to ruminate over things?We get quite a few posts on DC where the poster seems only to want to hear other people's anecdotes. I wander if I posted my anecdotes, would they later appear on another website somewhere under the garish title "50 ghastly house-hunting experiences".And finally, to the poster who suggested that you might have got the wrong house, (that thought did cross my mind too) but in the UK it's normal for the home owner to show you round if they are still resident at the property.
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male
reader, kenny + ♥, writes (4 March 2023):
 Well I have brought and sold and viewed many properties in my time, I can't say I have encountered any experiences like this.
I have heard of lonely people putting their property on the market with absolutely no intention to sell just to get some social interaction with the outside world which I think is the case here.
Good luck with your subsequent viewings and hopefully you find your perfect house soon.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (4 March 2023): Are you sure you went to the right house? Wouldn't the estate agent have shown you round?
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (4 March 2023): It is called growing up and meeting people. When you get to my age, 65, you will have met hundreds of such people. Some will be more weird, some will be less weird. If you worked in a shop you would meet a lot of weird people. It is all about meeting strangers and how they all vary. I could tell you of lots of strangers I've met that were weird, a lot weirder than this. You had an easy time of it and are making a big deal of very little.
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