I have instructed an Estate agent to sell a property I own.

For various reasons, mainly confidentiality, privacy and the sensitivity of an eldery recent widower Neighbour who has become a good friend I did not want a board up.

I stresed twice to the agent that under no circumstances did I want one of their boards on my property.

I come home tonight to find a bloody great board screwed to the freshly painted door frame of my house. Whoever did it has used massive screws, to big and tight for my electric drill to shift.

My old neighbour ( I was planning to break it to him gently over a few weeks) is distraught. I have lived here since 2000. He and his late wife moved in on the same day as me (new build) We are quite close. Lots of memories like her cooking me and my best man breakfast on my wedding morning, Me dealing with their beloved old dog when she died, the delight the old man has in our puppy.....You know, someone who at aged around 88 needs to be told gently that we are moving on.

I want to keep my affairs as private as possible. I am fine with on line ads, shop window stuff, but I expressly told them no board.

It may seem a small thing to many, but it has left me fuming. A breach of confidentiality involving a big logo'd van, and a man coming onto my property against my express wishes and damaging my house with 3 massive screws a door frame.

I know it may not seem like a big deal to many, but each person's case is different. They are going to get one fk load of a bking tomorrow. It may be a mistake on their part but when I have told them no, rebuffed their repeated attempts to persuade me to have a board and my reasons why have been explained to them, then they have gone too far.

Trespass? Criminal damage? Neighbour in tears, my wife upset because he is upset, my privacy compromised. Before I sack them I want to (legally) threaten them and put the fear of weeping Christ into their snivveling, hair gelled cheap suited mini-driving (well it is a car forum) souls.

I don't know what to add other than I think you have a right to be pissed. I would be.

Sorry to hear they ignored you.

Don't most estate agents put clauses in their contracts regarding the placement of these signs? Might be worth checking what the contract you signed says about this.

The EA was in the wrong, no doubt about that, but Devils Advocate position - if it was that important to you, why did you not tell your neighbour before you instructed a firm of EA's?

There are 2 houses on our cul-de-sac currently for sale without boards - we knew within hours of them going on the market, as did most of our other neighbours.

Wel I have calmed down now.

They got my angry voucemail and a guy came round straught away to take the sign nown. He was full of apology but I told him it wasn't his fault, as suggested above, he just gets a list of houses to board up. Its a big firm, and he works only for them.

The woman I believe to be responsible called and got a thorough critique of her actions.

I was a bit cruel, asking her how to deal with my old neighbour now? How would she feel if it was her or her Dad r Grandpa?

I then decided to ps off for the weekend and while away here I took a lengthy apology from someone senior at the firm. I had already negotiated a decent deal in the sale fees so just told her that if she wanted to keep my business then they couldpay for my energy certficate and issue a proper bking to the staff responsible.

The firm is big and local. They also come highly reccomended, however when they sent me the Ad To proof read, they had missed two crucial selling points off, one a double drive which is unique in this development where, other houses have single drives or allocated bays. Indeed they said in the ad that it had allocated parking.

They got an email yesterday highlighting the errors and a simple sign off line. "One more mistake, inaccuracy or action contrary to my instructions and you are sacked."

I hope that's got it sorted.

You know I like to make my own judgements rather than go with the stereo type view. Estate agents we are often told are not to be trusted. Based on my limited experience, I tend to agree.

What a wonderful result. You conducted yourself very well OP and don't worry your reaction to everything is very equal to the idiocy shown by them. Big comapnies like this should have their head screwed on more.

Hope from here on in they sort themselves out.

OP - you will have succeeded in letting the whole office know that dealing with you is going to be difficult.

You now have two options:

1) Wait until you realise that your property is now going to be the last staff members are going to want to show people around. Or,

2) Disinstruct them now and save your self some time.

This. Thoroughly understand the actions the OP has taken however the reality is you've now rubbed them up the wrong way, when you need them on your side.

I'd sack them off and go with someone else, and have a clean slate.

Mate, happy to go along with the stereotypical view (except one of the largest chains in the country tend to drive Astras leading on to an Insignia if they've realy hit the big time )