Ex-Homeowners Show Up To See Former House, Get A Reality Check When Woman Doesn’t Let Them In
I’m from a generation that loathes surprise social interactions. Even the thought of an unexpected phone call or unwanted guest makes me anxious. So if a stranger tried to force themselves inside my home, I probably wouldn’t have it.
This person had to deal with the previous owners of their house. Recently, she came to Reddit to tell the story of how two women who grew up in that house asked to be let in and see what it looks like now. Perhaps the author felt similarly to the way I do because she refused to let them in. After being branded as “mean,” she decided to ask people online: who was right in this situation?
We got in touch with the author of this story, u/No-Ask3051. She kindly agreed to tell Bored Panda more about the incident. Read our conversation with her below!
Once you sell a house, it belongs to the new owner, no matter how much sentimental value it holds for you
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
So this woman was shocked to find out some people think it’s okay to show up at somebody else’s house and demand they let you inside
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: No-Ask3051
The author tells Bored Panda that this may have soured their relationship with the neighbor
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
While it’s understandable that the previous owners might want to see what their house looks like now, forcing themselves inside is certainly not it. What’s more interesting is the role of the neighbor in this situation. u/No-Ask3051 says that their relationship prior to this incident was quite neighborly.
“The neighbor is a lady of 68 years,” the author told Bored Panda in a message via Reddit. “She is, overall, a nice lady; always helping with something, always there for us. Although, like every other person, she has some thoughts about life in general and other things that we just can’t agree [on]. Maybe it is because of the age difference, maybe [it’s] just because people are different.”
The Redditor says she was a tad shocked when the neighbor reacted in such a hostile manner. “She was quite angry when I denied their request. I have never seen her like that. She tried to get answers [about] why I am not comfortable with letting strangers in my home. I said, ‘I am not comfortable and that is it for me.’ She told me I was rude.”
The most ridiculous part of the story is that the neighbor now continues to socialize with the owners as if nothing happened. “[She’s] chatting with us normally like nothing happened. [As if] she did not tell me that I am rude and weird,” u/No-Ask3051 says with obvious disbelief. “Everything is back to normal.”
In her post, u/No-Ask3051 mentions how the previous owners already did the same thing some years ago. But back then, her mother handled the unwelcome guests. “My mom told me she couldn’t believe that they came again,” the Redditor tells us.
She said her mom let them in, although she was confused. She did it to keep the peace between neighbors. “She complied with it,” the author says. “Her decision to let them in definitely sparked some thoughts, also because of making ‘peace’ with neighbors.”
The author believes she did the right thing; you don’t just show up at somebody’s house like that
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
“Privacy is something very important to me,” the Redditor admits. “My first reaction was really simple; it [has been] OUR house for the last 30 years. My mother, my father, and I can decide if we want someone in our house [and] yard.”
“Sometimes, you are not in a good mood, sometimes, your house is messy, or you have a lot to do that day. I thought, ‘I have every right to say no to visitors. Especially someone I personally don’t know.’
“I get it that people sometimes want to reminisce, they have memories, good or bad. But look at the house from the street, tell a story or two, and move on.”
“I posted on Reddit because [the] reaction from my neighbor surprised me and made me feel like an a**. So mixed emotions and thoughts led me to Reddit. And as far as I have seen, 98% of Redditors agreed with me. It is creepy and weird, especially after I found out they were here before.”
“I am from a small town in Croatia, where thoughts of other people matter,” the Redditor opens up. She says that might make her more inclined to people-pleasing. “Sometimes, we go really far to make other people satisfied just because we are scared to take action ourselves, and we are scared that other people are going to talk about us badly.”
The Redditor says that’s a whole other story — what people in small towns do to stay in their neighbors’ good graces. She thinks this is probably the reason the neighbor now smiles and chats with them as if nothing happened — to keep the ‘peace’ with the neighbors.
Most commenters backed the author for doing the right thing
In fact, many had similar stories
However, one person called the author a jerk; the women probably just felt nostalgic for their childhood home
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I am mildly curious about the places I've lived. I'd enjoy seeing how other people decorate the same space. But I'd never ask!
Yeah that's kinda weird. I sometimes drive by the house I grew up in as a child just to wax nostalgic and check out the courtyard and the neighborhood but I would never ask to be let inside. That would be so awkward.
Load More Replies...We recently had a really large family revisit our home. It was a little weird, but the house has a lot historical meaning to their family (owned it for 100 years, lost family members there, was important in WWII). I didn't mind, because I knew who they are and what it meant for them, but I think it is entirely reasonable to refuse such a request. It is up to you to decide what you are comfortable with.
This is my stance. I really like doing the kind thing, and depending on the vibe I get from them. My own saftey comes first, I i think they aren't safe I'm not letting them in. If I don't feel unsafe however I be more than happy to.
Load More Replies...Nope. We bought our house in 2010. If the original owners came by to see it, I wouldn't feel comfortable letting them in. When were in our old house for three years and it's only a few minutes away. We still drive by it regularly. I have some great memories in that house as it was the first one we lived in after returning from abroad after a decade. And the kids were all little. I would LOVE to see inside of it. But while we do drive by it often, I'd never ask to go in. That would be weird, and intrusive.
That's it. I understand the impulse and I don't think they mean any harm but coming into people's personal space is ... personal.
Load More Replies...It's pretty rude to expect a tour of the house on the spot. If they were making introductions and trying to set a time later to see inside the house, that would have been more respectful. And even then, OP is not obligated to make an agreement.
I SWEAR, this happened to me today! I was on my porch and the new neighbor who moved in behind us said that she remembered my house from years ago (they've never lived in my house, only in the area years ago) and "I need to come over and see what you've done to the inside." Umm.... absolutely not. It's not your house and I don't know you. I'm still mad over the audacity and rudeness of that woman. I'm so glad that we have a fenced yard and 2 barking dogs.
Very suspicious. I would even report it to police. This is what some burglars do. I had a guy come up to my door, one day, at my old house. He was asking if my "husband" was home. I had split with my common-law bf about a year ago. So, it's not like this guy from down the street wouldn't have noticed. I kept this guy's face in mind. A week or 2 later I had open house. 1 week later my house got broken into. I mentioned the dude to the police and had already made a rough, but decent sketch she was impressed with. They found the culprit, who matched the description. He broken into a few houses on the street that had open-houses.
Load More Replies...We had to sell my father's seaside house after his death. It was heart-wrenching because the house was in the family since 1947, having belonged to my great-grand-mother, but we simple couldn't afford to keep it, the house prices in that now fashionable area being what they are. The people who bought it were very enthusiastic and they poured money into that pretty but somewhat ramshackle (for lack of funds, my parents had let it go some) house. After two years of construction, it was restored to its former glory and then some. Hubby and i decided to use our share of the sale to buy à small apartment in the same seaside town, because I was really attached to it, and we followed the progress of the house every time we came there. Last June, it was finally finished, and the new owners invited us in and proudly gave us à tour. I was so glad to see that house I loved start à new life.
When my sister, who lives in Athens, Greece, was over with us in the Netherlands, we walked through our old neighborhood. It was our house where we moved away from when we were 6 and 8 years old, so for me (6) the memories were vague. So we just stood in front of the house for a little while talking, and the owner came out to ask who we were and we started talking about how we lived there and the next moment she invited us in! But we felt embarrassed, like an intruder, and we kindly declined. It was 40 years ago, and it's hers now.
No! It is BEYOND rude to show up at someone's house without prior agreement and expect to be accommodated.
Upvoting you from -1. Someone must think owners have no right to say no.
Load More Replies...They might have head a better chance if they had called the neighbor well in advance to ask for a quick tour at the owner's convenience.
Totally!!! Would have let the Mother communicate and decide as a family and would allow tidy up time if they were willing. No one in this current society likes unexpected visitors. It would have made a massive difference.
Load More Replies..."Sure, but you should know tours cost $50, per person, payable in advance."
I am mildly curious about the places I've lived. I'd enjoy seeing how other people decorate the same space. But I'd never ask!
Yeah that's kinda weird. I sometimes drive by the house I grew up in as a child just to wax nostalgic and check out the courtyard and the neighborhood but I would never ask to be let inside. That would be so awkward.
Load More Replies...We recently had a really large family revisit our home. It was a little weird, but the house has a lot historical meaning to their family (owned it for 100 years, lost family members there, was important in WWII). I didn't mind, because I knew who they are and what it meant for them, but I think it is entirely reasonable to refuse such a request. It is up to you to decide what you are comfortable with.
This is my stance. I really like doing the kind thing, and depending on the vibe I get from them. My own saftey comes first, I i think they aren't safe I'm not letting them in. If I don't feel unsafe however I be more than happy to.
Load More Replies...Nope. We bought our house in 2010. If the original owners came by to see it, I wouldn't feel comfortable letting them in. When were in our old house for three years and it's only a few minutes away. We still drive by it regularly. I have some great memories in that house as it was the first one we lived in after returning from abroad after a decade. And the kids were all little. I would LOVE to see inside of it. But while we do drive by it often, I'd never ask to go in. That would be weird, and intrusive.
That's it. I understand the impulse and I don't think they mean any harm but coming into people's personal space is ... personal.
Load More Replies...It's pretty rude to expect a tour of the house on the spot. If they were making introductions and trying to set a time later to see inside the house, that would have been more respectful. And even then, OP is not obligated to make an agreement.
I SWEAR, this happened to me today! I was on my porch and the new neighbor who moved in behind us said that she remembered my house from years ago (they've never lived in my house, only in the area years ago) and "I need to come over and see what you've done to the inside." Umm.... absolutely not. It's not your house and I don't know you. I'm still mad over the audacity and rudeness of that woman. I'm so glad that we have a fenced yard and 2 barking dogs.
Very suspicious. I would even report it to police. This is what some burglars do. I had a guy come up to my door, one day, at my old house. He was asking if my "husband" was home. I had split with my common-law bf about a year ago. So, it's not like this guy from down the street wouldn't have noticed. I kept this guy's face in mind. A week or 2 later I had open house. 1 week later my house got broken into. I mentioned the dude to the police and had already made a rough, but decent sketch she was impressed with. They found the culprit, who matched the description. He broken into a few houses on the street that had open-houses.
Load More Replies...We had to sell my father's seaside house after his death. It was heart-wrenching because the house was in the family since 1947, having belonged to my great-grand-mother, but we simple couldn't afford to keep it, the house prices in that now fashionable area being what they are. The people who bought it were very enthusiastic and they poured money into that pretty but somewhat ramshackle (for lack of funds, my parents had let it go some) house. After two years of construction, it was restored to its former glory and then some. Hubby and i decided to use our share of the sale to buy à small apartment in the same seaside town, because I was really attached to it, and we followed the progress of the house every time we came there. Last June, it was finally finished, and the new owners invited us in and proudly gave us à tour. I was so glad to see that house I loved start à new life.
When my sister, who lives in Athens, Greece, was over with us in the Netherlands, we walked through our old neighborhood. It was our house where we moved away from when we were 6 and 8 years old, so for me (6) the memories were vague. So we just stood in front of the house for a little while talking, and the owner came out to ask who we were and we started talking about how we lived there and the next moment she invited us in! But we felt embarrassed, like an intruder, and we kindly declined. It was 40 years ago, and it's hers now.
No! It is BEYOND rude to show up at someone's house without prior agreement and expect to be accommodated.
Upvoting you from -1. Someone must think owners have no right to say no.
Load More Replies...They might have head a better chance if they had called the neighbor well in advance to ask for a quick tour at the owner's convenience.
Totally!!! Would have let the Mother communicate and decide as a family and would allow tidy up time if they were willing. No one in this current society likes unexpected visitors. It would have made a massive difference.
Load More Replies..."Sure, but you should know tours cost $50, per person, payable in advance."































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