Beyond belief

If you have any way of contacting the people you bought from they will surely remember the person who tried to scam them. Try to find him, he may well deny he approached your buyers but at least he will be aware he has been caught out. Horrible thing to do, horrible person. You will get through all this, take time there will be another buyer. Look after yourself.

This is a civil matter, the Police are very unlikely to get involved.
Taking photographs of people can be construed as an invasion of privacy.
It can also antagonise, this is not advisable when living alone and your address is known.
My advice is to reiterate to your agent what has happened and explain that the ball is in his court to sort the problem and either secure the sale or find another buyer.

Poor you Lucky what a worry. It doesn’t seem fair that you position yourself nearby with a camera, like Miss Marple, to ‘catch him’.

Can you get a second estate agent to try to sell the house? I think you are allowed more than one - and the one that sells it gets the commission?

Something here is fishy. I agree what was said upthread - how would this man just happen to be passing by? Too much of a coincidence.

I agree with others. This seems very fishy

Do you have a for sale sign Lucky?
If you were to remove the sign, the man may believe that your house is no longer on the market.

We have always refused the estate agent sign,.
That includes the two occasions when we sold houses belonging to our father.

My sister also sold without the use of estate agent board.

Good luck

X post granbaby

I had to answer the phone before pressing post.

This must be so infuriating and worrying for you, Luckygirl

The next time you show somebody around or if the prospective buyers return make sure you have your mobile phone with you.

If the man in the car turns up again take a photo of him and his car - make sure you get the reg and tell him that if he harasses you further you will e-mail the car details to the police - then send him on his way.

I'd would then let the police know anyway.

I would have a camera ready to take photos of him incase of re -visits. Take car reg too.
I'd like to know how he knew
A. It is for sale and
B. When buyers were viewing.
Something isn't right.
So sorry to hear of your loss. I hope all gets sorted in time.

. That sounds horrible, whatever the explanation might be.

I hope your buyers proceed anyway, Luckygirl.

If he was a previous potential buyer that dropped his offer at the last minute, is it possible he had a survey at the time, hence the drop in offer and he’s actually telling the truth? Just a thought.

to do so, sorry.

Try if you can to find out who this man is and get a solicitor to write to him,

If it isn't possible do so, leave the estate agent to show other prospective buyers the house and station yourself outside the house with a camera, so you can take a photo of him and of his car's licence plate if he turns up again.

And please do talk to the bank and to your husband's executors, the funeral expenses can definitely be paid from his estate,

Yes definitely some questions need answering here Luckygirl sounds like someone along the line is trying to pull a fast one. Can you get one of your family to help you sort this out. It's not what you need right now is it. Don't be pressured into making a decision you may regret. Take care.

In the past we knew of agents who would arrange for a property to be sold to a friend/relative at a reduced rate and then sell it on at a profit and split the proceeds.

I would also question how the man knew you were having a viewing, has it happened when others are viewing?

My advice would be not to pay for their survey, Luckygirl; you are buying a new-build so there will be no forward chain so less pressure.

I have re read your post and am now wondering if this is a ploy to get a free survey.
Did you actually see this person and hear him talking to your purchasers?
If not then I would be suspicious.
Having sold 13 houses I have an expression. “ buyers are often liars”.

In your situation, I would try to let that go...it takes up too much energy which I’m sure you won’t have right now....just be on the estate agents case to get another buyer if need be. Regarding your other finances, they are sadly, often in chaos after a close death and those people will have to wait to be paid-they will be used to it. Let the bills roll in for a bit if need be. If there really isn’t money to pay for a funeral, there are loans to be had if you enquire. Good luck. It will smooth out financially in the end I’m sure but maybe not in the straightforward way that we always hope for.

Do you think it's possible it was some mindless idiot's idea of a prank?

It's mainly Purple Bricks around here now. They ask market valuation prices (not inflated ones) so sales are fast but they charge far less (as a flat fee) so in the end you get similar results. Never use their slow in-house solicitors, though, get your own.

Or as others say,it may be time to get a different estate agent in- what about that purple bricks on tv?

I would not mention the man to the buyers,or why hes done this,because it might put them off anyway as they,like you,may be worried hes 'creepy' & may be fearful of what he may do next if they do buy it.

Oh dear this is all starting to sound very familiar. I am beginning to think that the estate agent is bending over backwards for buyers in the small market town where I am trying to sell.
First viewing people agree it is immaculate and energy efficient by the time they go back to the estate agent it has become a hovel that needs so much doing to it that they offer many thousands less than asking price which is already 15% less than market value.

Oh dear, that is all you need at the moment!
I would have a word with your solicitor and would be suspicious of the estate agent's motives too. Is there another local one you could speak to - and did you get three valuations?
One local to us was suspected of dodgy dealings to bring down prices and thus sell at a reduced price to people he knew.

If anything further happens it would definitely be worth reporting it to the police.

Try not to let this upset you, have you told your DD?

What a spiteful and vindictive man, what a dreadful thing to do.I hope things get sorted for you very soon.

sent you pm Luckygirl..