Beyond belief

How very 'ODD' - as mentioned before, how did this man know that they were going to be there in the first place??

Either a set-up staged by the Estate Agent or the prospective buyers to get it cheaper IMO - either way, dodgy as hell1!

Ideally it is the purchasers that need to get the survey done so they know it is above board etc - but maybe you could offer to pay for it by taking it off the price if they subsequently purchase the property, OR get them to arrange it with who they want and you pay for it if possible so they know you haven't had a hand in it?

Not what you need at the moment Luckygirl, I am so sorry x

Would it be possible just to ignore this strange incident and carry on. Leave the house on the market and if it happens again when possible buyers are there ask the man for proof. He is making unsubstantiated claims As a buyer if I loved the house I wouldn't be put off by a random strangers words. I would put an offer in then get my own survey done
It's very odd behavior.

We have always had our own survey done when we have moved house so that we know exactly what we are getting in to. You could offer to pay for the survey if finds any major faults but otherwise they pay for it. Prospective buyer in your case may be angling for a price reduction after horrible man told untruths.
This is so so nasty for you especially after all you have been through.
How about speaking to someone at Citizen's Advice to find out if and what you can do about this hideous man. Just think though he is so eaten up with rage that he can't have enjoyed life for the past few years.

Lucky people never cease to amaze me. How vindictive this man must be especially knowing you have just lost your husband.

I am sure it will sort itself out but you really do not need the hassle.
As Maw says paying for a survey is not the answer. The buyers have to pay for their own.

Sorry Greymar that came out as the OPPOSITE of what I intended. I meant is good!
Please don’t anybody rush to contradict me, (flippin predictive text.)

"Estate agent - it is in his and my interests to get a sale here as he is selling the new-build that I am buying." That doesn't preclude it being in the estate agent's interests for the sale to be to the man who buttonholed your buyers. You don't know what connection they may have - family, friend, special client.

There is also a further point that you don't know what connection the man had with the prospective buyers - is it possible that it could all be a set-up? Nothing is impossible.

Tell the estate agent about this invasion, (adding pointedly that you have no idea how he knew that there would be viewers looking seriously at the house at that particular moment in time) but bite the bullet and get a survey done - inform the buyers that you are doing so, and explain that it is to clear the air. If this sale falls through, you will then be well-prepared for the next (he sounds malign enough to do it again), and it will prevent the current viewers from possibly lowering their bid on the mere suspicion of problems.

And tell the police, there may be some criminal or illegal activity going on.

Greymar the Just Tell is Once thing isn’t good, i was given the form and explanatory leaflet when I went to register the death.
Another piece of good advice was to get several copies of the death certificate at the time, as you have to send them to so many people and while they are always returned, it can cause delays. Copies ordered subsequently cost a lot more than at the time of registering a death.

I am so sorry to hear about another worry for you Lucky, and I have nothing to add apart from being as the same opinion as those who have already posted, with wise advice.
This is a wicked thing to have done to you.
Hoping that you manage to smooth things over with the prospective buyers, and that they do get their own survey done.

www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once

TBH the only survey that counts is that paid for by the purchaser because they then have redress against him/her if a problem appears after the purchase. A survey commissioned by the vendor could easily be “biased”.
Did you have a mortgage when you moved ? (Sorry, personal question) or were you cash buyers?
If a building society was involved they will have conducted their own survey (not a detailed one) to verify that the property was worth what they were lending.
I think your agents should be helping you here and perhaps contacting the prospective purchasers to fill them in.

As for funeral expenses, it is quite normal for these to be paid out of the estate (wake included) and unless your husband’s Will is complicated the funeral directors should be billing the executors/solicitors or, if it comes to you, pass it on to the solicitor.
(I dreaded the admin after Paw died but found it all proceeded very smoothly, everyone was very understanding and did all they could to help me - bank, solicitor etc
Many people said I could have done it all myself, arranging probate and so on, but I was happy to leave it to somebody who knew what she was doing - £1000 well spent IMO. )

Take a very deep breath. I wonder ( kindly) if you are expecting too much of yourself here too soon.

Please get support from family members.

Sadly some people seem to have an uncanny knack of homing in on somebody when you are vulnerable.

There was no survey 4 years ago - I know, don't say it - I just have to deal with the situation I am in.

Estate agent - it is in his and my interests to get a sale here as he is selling the new-build that I am buying.

I knew an estate agent very well. The market encourages them to work for their own interests - not yours!

They like fast turnover. It's far more profitable for them than gaining the highest price and commission. Bear that in mind. The chap I knew would resort to all kinds of dirty tricks.

Sorry to hear this Luckygirl as if you needed added stress at this time! People's evil behaviour never ceases to amaze me. You've already been given very good advice from the other posters so go for it. Get all the help you can don't try to struggle on your own.

This is dreadful for you.
Something similar happened to friends who owned part of a Mill conversion; this man owned a third and was putting prospective buyers off so that he could buy the rest of the property, which he eventually did. But he was rather more subtle about it, simply discouraging other buyers, and paid a realistic price for the property.
Report it to the police, and see if you can gather information to counter any subsequent attacks.

I agree you should tell the police. How did the man know, and is he planning to step in with a low offer? If he knows the police are interested he should back off.

And, of course, dig out that survey.

I suspect that somebody (neighbour, 'friend', estate agent or relative) has something to gain from the (fast and cheap) sale of your house. Try not to be panicked or overwhelmed by it and take time to make decisions.

This is awful. It's not revenge. It's a vindictive attack. I'm guessing that his plan is to make you desperate to leave then put in a ridiculous offer. As others have said, show potential buyers your 4 year old survey and.talk to your local PCSO.

How absolutely horrible.

We were once in the process of buying a house when we heard in a very odd way that the house had serious structural problems, we loved it, so straight away arranged another survey, turned out it was true!
But the point is, if they really like it, they won’t take the word of some random nutcase, they’ll check it out for themselves.

It's highly unlikely that the man is acting on his own- Nobody shows up just in time to speak with prospective buyers while they're outside the property-

If he is acting alone, he is stalking-

Either way, the police need to be involved-

Having just read the thread where so many people seem to delight in getting revenge, this gives the other side of the coin.

You'll beat this, just as you've beaten everything else. It's what you do.

But what a pain in the fundament it is when you least need it.
Would Restraining Order help?

Oh luckygirl How awful. However I do remember you had a relative/friend who was willing to help you over fees. Could/would you late this person help you out while you settle probate, sale etc. I think you will find that funeral directors are willing to wait for the settlement of the bill, knowing that accounts are frozen. Ask - they can only say no. Also perhaps speak to your potential sponsor. People don’t make offers like that lightly. I guess your DDs aren’t in a position to help. I know it shouldn’t be the case but I would bet this man wouldn’t have behaved like this if one of your SILs had been there. I shall be thinking of you.

You'll be appointing a solicitor for the sale so speak to them about it.

Horrible man. Get your solicitor up to speed on it x

You really don't need a new survey. If you're sure that this man has absolutely nothing to to with the estate agent (how did he know when buyers would be there?) I'd just let the agent show people around and be out somewhere else.

Yes, dig out the four year old survey lucky, surely enough to put their minds at rest. I wonder if asked they might remember any details about the car. Whether or not this is the same man his words were a fabrication that your well-being is threatened by. Definitely worth a chat with the PCSO. I’m so sorry this has happened.