Selling my Auntie's house - what questions shall I ask the estate agent??

[Emily1583]

So our Auntie died in April. She lived alone and never married or had children and in the will the estate was left to my mum, myself, my brother and two relatives in Australia. The house is a three bed bungalow on the coast of North Devon.

It's been on sale since July and we've received no offers as of yet. My mum had at first dealt with the sale of the house but she is retired and said she didn't want the hassle of dealing with estate agents so as I live closest to the property I said I would take it forward from hereon in.

I've set up a meeting with the estate agent for this Thursday. I can understand the property market has perhaps slow down of late for obvious reasons so I was going to ask what the recent local property market trend is in the area, and any suggestions how we could present the property better, etc, but what other questions should I perhaps ask the estate agent?

Depends what it’s like now? Is it empty need or repair ? Who are you marketing it at? Elderly or family?

I'd start with asking them why they think it hasn't sold. The simple answer, especially if there have been no or very few viewings, is that it's overpriced. Very cluttered or completely empty houses are a harder sell.

Mum cleared the whole house. It's as empty as can be.

Being on the north coast of Devon I think we had visions of it being snapped up as a 2nd home (don't shoot me, I know I know). Not sure if we've missed the boat with the surge of 2nd homes post covid though. Otherwise it's a three bed with a decent sized garden ample of parking out front and near a school so it could be attractive for retired or families really.

Mum did have viewings but no offers, and one or two people who did drive by viewings without even entering the house which I find pointless really.

Not an answer to your question, but have you kept up the house buildings insurance and what happens about council tax?

Ask the agent whether they have similar properties on their books and what is selling. Yes, ask whether it needs presenting differently and why he thinks it hasn’t had the interest you expected.

Otherwise, it’s a price issue.

Post a link to it on here and you'll soon get the feedback you need.....

Drive bys might indicate lack of 'curb appeal' so does it look nice from the outside?

Rooms look smaller when empty, so lending some furniture to the house for a while might help.

Price.

You can sell it at auction
You decide a minimum set price

Ask if they do Open House events and whether one might be appropriate in the circumstances.

Our neighbours house was a probate sale and the estate agents did one. The potential buyers were queuing to get in. It was almost as if they were after the last roll of loo paper in the pandemic!

Are you happy to post a link here?

What's the price compared with recent sales in the area? Is it priced appropriately for any work needing done etc?

Not in the least pointless. They obviously didn’t like the look of the property/area.

It’s a falling market and people aren’t sure what they can afford. If you want the money soon I would suggest marketing at ‘peak price’ -15% given the property shortages in the coastal areas, it will sell at the right price, but given the cost of mortgages, today’s right price will be a bit lower than the 2020-2021 right price.

We can’t answer without seeing the house - it could be families don’t like bungalows or elderly wanting to downsize but wouldn’t go for a three bed.

Is it freshly painted decent kitchen kerb appeal?