No viewers in ages. Sob.

[quietplease]

Been on the market for (I think) about eight or nine weeks now.

A few viewings at the beginning - all of them liked the house - two want a return visit but haven't sold theirs.

House is priced at 365k. Next jump up is around 550k with no reductions happening in that price bracket.

Threee houses for sale in our village - my four bed semi at 365k, a 3 bed cottage in a rotten position also at 365k and a 2 bed bungalow that needs work. My house is in mint condition right down to having gorgeous new patios.

I honestly don't think it's overpriced for the area - but where have all the flippin' viewers gone? I don't want to reduce the price while we still have two interested parties trying to sell theirs.

Anyone else not had viewings for weeks?

[blanchedevereaux]

Yes, me too. Nobody seems interested.

Actually, had a weirdo round last week who asked such interesting questions as "is that carpet?" and "is that a tiled floor?". I actually think I was more annoyed at having him round as I had spent the day cleaning up for a total timewaster. His feedback to agent was that he didn't want a house in this area (why come and look then) and he didn't want a double garage (which is pretty obvious from the photos)....

[quietplease]

It's frustrating isn't it?

I was talking to my colleagues at work. None of them are in the market at the moment so they don't know how long it's taking to sell but one of them commented that if a house had been on the market for six months, they'd think there was something wrong with it and automatically discount it.

That worried the pants off me TBH. All viewers on this house have loved it - there's really no reason for anyone to discount it at all.

[choufleur]

I do think if it's been on at that price for ages then it's overpriced. Just because smaller properties have stupid price tags doesn't mean that you are asking the right price.

[mazzystartled]

Is it that long? 9 weeks?
Is it too "done"?

[oldenoughtowearpurple]

At any one time there are X buyers looking for a house like yours. When you first put your house on the market they all come and have a look so you get quite a few viewings to start with. Maybe one of them buys it, maybe not.

But once the existing buyers have all been round then you have to wait for new buyers to come into the market. Obviously there are far fewer of these, so the number of viewings tails off.

I am simplifying but you get the principle?

Personally I don't think 8-9 weeks is 'ages'; it's pretty standard. I would be more concerned about the time of year and the natural slowdown in the number of new buyers coming along (because of Christmas, the school year etc).

You have to be patient. Try to give it another 4 weeks. Your agents will make it clear if they think you should drop the price.

[Fiddledee]

I really don't think that people want mint condition properties when there is a falling market - they will wonder how they can add any value?

Why do people move into your village? Is it priced that people that are upsizing in the village can afford your property?

You may just have to wait it out - ask the estate agent if the two people that need to sell their own properties are still interested in yours and you are willing to take offers from people in a chain?

Do you have to move now?

[quietplease]

You mean "done up"?

Had that conversation on another thread.

It's really "done" but that's what the viewers have liked about it. If I could find something so thoroughly "done", I'd be really pleased. I don't mind changing decor but the thought of expensive jobs like windows, boilers, kitchens etc just fills me with dread.

I know people have different taste but this house is a blend of old and new. It's an old house that's very 'Farrow and Ball' meets 'Laura Ashley' (spots and stripes, not flowers!) but the newer parts of the house are much more contemporary. So although it's neutral in parts, it has definite colours and statements in other parts of the house. Lots of character, I think.

Has three bathrooms - one deffo needs re-doing so there's a bit of scope!

[quietplease]

Am I being impatient?

Wouldn't be the first time.....


Oldenough - I see what you mean

[1percentawake]

Do you have to move now quietplease? I am surprised at how many houses are coming on around us despite the grim market conditions

Maybe take it off and 'relaunch' it after Christmas. Some people might be clearer about their jobs by then.

Took us 5 months to sell during the last downshift in prices. We took it off the market for a month and put it back on with another, better agent. Got buyers through the door straight away.

Sounds like a lovely house BTW!

[quietplease]

you wanna view it?!!!!!!

[quietplease]

We don;t have to move now - it's just when you get it into your head that you're moving......

We've been here for about 13 years. We've been ready to move to the next house for the last three years or so but there was uncertainty over a change of job for DH and we could have ended up anywhere in the UK so we figured it wasn't worth the expense of moving until we were certain.

Turns out his job has moved only 10 mins up the road and we could have moved 3 years ago.

Ah the frustration!

[1percentawake]

Way out of my price range unfortunately but maybe if I win the lottery!!

Seriously I'd kill for something done up to my taste - also neutrals and spots and stripes! We're having to start from scratch with our house which when you factor in VAT increase from Jan is gonna get expensive!!

[ShowOfBloodyStumps]

Link to it. I like looking round people's houses. I've v complimentary.

I think the middle housing market is struggling atm. Twill pick up.

[angel1976]

I want to see it! Link please? Same situation here. Had about 5 viewings since we went on the market (almost 12 weeks now) but it's all gone dead quiet now (SE London BTW). Offered on one place that got turned down but nothing new is coming on the market either. If we don't sell it by the end of the month, it's coming off the market and we will re-evaluate in spring next year. If the rental market continues to be buoyant, we are considering renting it out.

[quietplease]

OOOh I can't link to it, that would blow my cover!

Our EA says NOT to take it off the market over xmas because they usually have a mini-rally then (people haivng time off work and looking at houses). Also, the new year brings them out.

[quietplease]

Oh! Two viewing requests in the last seven minutes!

Are you lot playing silly buggers? It's you, innit?!

[angel1976]

LOL, I wish! We had a viewing on Saturday as well but it was last minute and we had just left the house for the ILs and it was very messy... Mind you, I am a bit sick of tidying it up for the viewings...

[quietplease]

They made two offers within an hour of leaving via their own estate agent (ours was closed).

Neither offer is any good, or rather, not good enough for us to feel like shifting out any time soon.

[yesyouknowme]

It sounds really lovely!

[artyjools]

We are in the same position as you - but we have dropped our price a couple of times. The first drop prompted a couple more viewings but the recent one hasn't caused a ripple.

I'm interested that you had a couple of viewings after a long period of quiet. Was anything done to prompt that - such as advertisement in the paper?

We don't HAVE to move, but we have been here for over 10 years and, like you, now that we have made a decision to go, we really want to move on. We have found something we like too, but the vendors haven't dropped the price at all. The price jump we are facing is about the same as the one you mentioned. Its the difference that's the key to it all, isn't it?

Were the offers much lower than the asking price, can I ask?

[Fiddledee]

In this market 10-15% below the asking price is not that uncommon. I presume you've told them what you want in terms of an offer or a price where they can meet you half way.

[artyjools]

Well, have spoken with their estate agent. If we are talking about % drops, then the house we want should decrease more than ours as we are moving up. Obvioulsy, we are not in a strong position until we have an offer on ours. However, as I have said on another thread, vendors' estate agent says vendors are talking about putting price of theirs UP in spite of lack of offers. He says they aren't the only sellers wanting to do this - I guess so that a 10-15% cut wouldn't be a cut at all. Some people haven't grasped the realities of life. Tis a mad world

[quietplease]

They are under offer and have taken a 10% cut. I know which house they are selling and can see from Rightmove that it's an early nineties timewarp - needs everything replacing - thus whoever has offered to buy it knows it's reasonable to offer 10% lower.

Our house needs nothing at all - which is part of the reason they want to buy it. They have offered 10% below asking, which I'm not really happy with given that it needs no work and that I know there's nothing else like this (quality of fittings, design, layout and style) in the price range.

I would accept about 5% below (which is typical for our postcode - I've checked) but they told the EA that the 90% offer was their last offer. They are in a chain of three and face losing the whole thing as they can't find a single other house.

I know they love it because they made an offer within the hour and even asked their own EA to telephone us on their behalf as ours was closed (it was Sunday but their EA happened to have our number). They suggested we go into rented because it puts us "in a good position", yet they are not prepared to go into rented themselves (we have two kids under 6, their kids are grown up).

Remains to be seen whether it really WAS their last offer but we weren't happy with it, given they are only offering 10% cut because of the 10% cut on theirs (which is easily justified).

The houses we want to buy are not budging and inch on price...

[quietplease]

I ought to have added that if the house we want to buy would budge, we would too. There is one house on the market that we're interested in (or rather, about to come onto the market) and the vendor has three interested parties so it's going to sealed bids - my friend boought at sealed bids on a house priced at 395k and paid 450k to secure it.

Hence not being happy with this 10% cut. We might as well stay put than get into a bidding war.

[artyjools]

Have you tried to push the drop upwards, Quietplease? They are mad not to consider dropping the price at all. Have you seen the front of today's Independent? Talking about double dips and such like . I think they will drop more. The folks at the top of the chain need to realise this.