It is difficult to understand the lengths people will go to buy a house, like knocking on other people's doors. Have things got that desperate now? I know house prices have got a bit ridiculous but is this really necessary?

A friend of mine has been bothered by seven different people recently asking him if he wants to sell his house.

And they really know how to pick their times don't they? Some call in the early hours of the morning, others decide to leave it until eleven at night.

What is it with some people? You just wake up one Saturday morning and say, 'I think I'll visit a stranger's house today and ask him if he wants to move'. Listen up, if he wanted to sell his house he'd have a 'for sale' sign outside his house.

And what's with the alleyways? Let me explain. I have seen a couple of gentlemen in my neighbourhood walking suspiciously up and down the alleyways. Far too well dressed to be burglars and not smart enough to be council workers. Apparently they are just checking the houses out. Well that's the general consensus.

I can maybe see why people would do this. I must admit I have sent eight people round to see a house I was hoping to buy in the hope the family would get confused and decide to sell.

The secret it seems is to tell everyone to put an offer in and make sure your bid is the highest.

But sometimes that can backfire because some clever clog (who calls himself your friend) will put in an even higher offer.

And he won't even have the decency to tell you. You'll find out by chance while driving past the house and see him doing a spot of gardening.

Last week I accompanied some friends of mine to view a property.

The homeowner opened the front door and was greeted by seven of us. To say that the guy was a bit taken aback would be an understatement. So being a careful man he decided only to allow two of us in at one. It was like being at school again and our lunchtime visits to the local corner shop.

Fifteen minutes later it was my turn and I just happened to enter the home with 'Mr Discount'. He's the kind of guy who wants a tenner off for just turning up and thinks he's doing the seller a favour. He promptly noticed 16 faults throughout the house and each time made a point of telling the homeowner about them. OK, a crack in the ceiling needs to be pointed out but a scratch on the toilet seat. That was hardly going to get a thousand pounds knocked off was it?