Is this a scam?

[carbonel]

Someone claiming to be from some realty company said there had been some interest in my property and asked if I was interested in selling my house this spring.

I said no, and he said thanks, and we hung up.

But then I started wondering if there was something darker about this, or just what was going on. Because the whole thing seems rather odd. Why would someone cold call to find out interest in selling? Is that really any sort of a way to get a commission?

Comments

[naomikritzer]

It's probably not a scam per se. He might just be trying to rustle up business, but it's also possible someone did point out your house and say they really liked it. My parents got a few calls like this, over the years, and whenever one of their neighbors had a house up for sale apparently there would be people who would come for a showing and then say, "what I'd REALLY like is to buy that house across the street...."

There is a house in St. Paul that is on a cul de sac overlooking Hillcrest Park and the library; if I lived there, my kids would literally be able to get to a library, a rec center, a sledding hill, an ice skating rink, and a playground, all without so much as crossing a street. It's also a big, beautiful house with big beautiful trees in the yard. I have been tempted a few times to slip a note under their door saying, "YOU ARE LIVING IN MY DREAM HOUSE. IF YOU EVER DECIDE TO MOVE, PLEASE CALL ME SO I KNOW TO CALL A REALTOR. HERE IS MY NUMBER." But it just seems a little creepy. (Also, honestly, I doubt we could afford it.)

[timill]

Sometimes it works. We sold our house in the UK 18 months ago to a couple who knocked on our door. At our valuation, for cash.