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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

House NOT selling... AIBU?

342 replies

AllTheGin84 · 20/06/2019 10:43

HELP.

Our house has been on the market for 15 weeks... had an offer 4 weeks in at full asking price (woah!), then their chain collapsed and they are no longer selling.

Then we changed agent, went back on the market and dropped price by £30,000 (575,000 - £545,000).

5 viewings in a week, no offers, no interest in buying... WHY? WHY DOES NO ONE WANT MY HOUSE?

Its clean, ridiculously tidy, plain and neutral, lovely comments... but no on wants to even put an offer in!!!!! We have a viewing today, tomorrow and Saturday. What can I do?????

HELP ME MN, I AM DESPERATE TO SELL. This is seriously affecting my mental health.

OP posts:
PCohle · 20/06/2019 11:48

Summer is never a great time to sell and the uncertainty caused by Brexit really isn't helping. The market is really slow.

That said, unless your house has some factor that really limits the pool of potential buyers (eg you're very rural), the answer is pretty much always that it's overpriced.

fingernailsbitten · 20/06/2019 11:48

I work in conveyancing/property law. The market is a bit flat. I would probably drop the price a little.
Brokers and Estate Agents are telling me that the atmosphere is that non UK residents are holding back from investing and that is causing a knock on effect on the mid-value properties where the sellers have a chain above and below them. Some entry level properties that would usually be purchased by non-UK residents have take a bit of a hit. the market has sloed and we're about to go into the six weeks Summer school holidays during which parents get preoccupied with days out and living their lives rather than househunting.

It will improve. Could you have a survey carried out on your own property to hi-light anything which could potentially scupper your sale?

Good luck

crazyasafox · 20/06/2019 11:48

@AllTheGin84 15 weeks really isn't THAT long for a house to be on the market! Confused

People will always come up with this 'I know a house that sold before they even got the 'For Sale' sign in the ground,' and other little gems, but the fact is that very few homes will sell within HOURS like that. (Or a few days.)

We currently have 4 for sale in my direct area (within half a mile of me,) that have been for sale for 3-5 months, and it's a nice area too. The last 5 or 6 houses that sold took between 3 and 8 months to complete on a sale. This is not uncommon, and it never has been. Lots of homes take many months to sell, and some will take just several weeks. It's always been the same.

So stop panicking. But yeah I guess it wouldn't hurt to drop the price more, if you can/want to... A house not selling is often due to being priced too high (and is fuckall to do with Brexit!) Hmm

If it's 'BREXIT causing it,' then how come so many OTHER homes are selling so soon after being put on the market hmm?? Wink

"Oh yeah, it's Brexit's fault that your home is not selling!"

Also

"My friend's house sold within 48 hours of going on the market last week!"

Bit of a 'contradiction in terms' going on there!

Original poster
AllTheGin84 · 20/06/2019 11:48

Also... had loads of comments that it looked beautiful and the only issue was parking outside! had 100 + comments on it. Just looking for some anon tips/words of advice really. :(

OP posts:
Original poster
AllTheGin84 · 20/06/2019 11:50

@DoneLikeAKipper Not in during the viewings ever... EA does them. Husband has accepted a job in Switzerland and we need to move!

OP posts:
LuckyLou7 · 20/06/2019 11:50

It's the stench of dry rot and wet dog that's putting people off. Plus it's way overpriced for a prefabricated bungalow.

HTH.

But seriously check the area and see how quickly other houses are selling. Get another estate agent in for another valuation.
Post a link so we can constructively criticise Wink

BeyondMyWits · 20/06/2019 11:50
  1. Crappy area.
  2. Unusual features.
  3. Price too high.
  4. Economic climate.

If 1 and 2 are out of the picture, then it is 3 and/or 4. And if it is 3/4 there will still be a price where it will sell, though you may not want to go that low.

TrixieFranklin · 20/06/2019 11:51

Then no one can comment based on your opinion of it. I've been in property since I left uni and I've never been to value a property that is anything like my expectations based on what the owners have said about it. Pointless waste of time.

nauseous5000 · 20/06/2019 11:51

We can't even get any viewings Sad

BeyondMyWits · 20/06/2019 11:53

If it is priced at over half a million pounds and there are problems with parking - then that is pretty much the problem I'm afraid.

BobLemon · 20/06/2019 11:53

Then it’s just the price, surely?

Original poster
AllTheGin84 · 20/06/2019 11:54

@NiteFlights new agent, dropped price by £30,000 after everyone saying we shouldn't.

Had 4 valuations at £580,000-590,000, (2 weeks ago) told house was beautiful by ALL EA and nothing to change... we actually went with the agent that told us to change a couple of minor things and drop price to £545k. I just needed something rather than 'oh its lovely... why isnt it selling'.

OP posts:
S1naidSucks · 20/06/2019 11:55

What the issue with the parking? Do you have off-road parking, or a garden that you could utilise for off-road parking?

Mintypea5 · 20/06/2019 11:56

I think for the price it may be the parking that's an issue. We brought a beautiful Victoria terrace which was priced about 100,000k cheaper than others in the area because honestly the parking is crap! It's on street and very competitive so we usually end up a few streets away. Fine for us DH wasn't bothered and it was worth it to get the house we wanted but I know a lot of people parking to be secure especially for that price!

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 20/06/2019 11:57

If you don't want to post the link OP, just post the pictures.

DappledThings · 20/06/2019 11:57

If it is parking that could be a factor for a lot of people. We were looking last year with a budget of 600k so similar. I had a filter on Rightmove for parking so if you don't have any I wouldn't have considered your property.

donquixotedelamancha · 20/06/2019 11:58

Just looking for some anon tips/words of advice really.

Have you tried cold calling your EA? I think the fact that she is always drunk doesn't help.

Your lodger may also be putting people off. Gaarrrr, it be terrible to say, but landlubbers are often prejudiced against the disabled. Could he greet them sitting down then the leg is less noticeable and he has an excuse not to shake hands? Could the parrot go somewhere out of the way for viewings?

ContinuityError · 20/06/2019 11:59

Had 4 valuations at £580,000-590,000

As you’ll know, some agents overvalue to get the business. You’ve gone with one that’s more realistic.

You’ve got some viewings booked with the new agent / lower price in the next few days, why not wait for the feedback?

Daygals · 20/06/2019 12:00

Yes, whenever there's something "wrong" that you'they won't be able to change, it's about the price.

What they really mean is "I'm not paying that much for a house with parking issues".

That said, I agree 15 weeks isn't that long, but if your'e after a quick sale you need to price it accordingly.

katewhinesalot · 20/06/2019 12:00

If I was considering paying that price then I would want guaranteed parking. I wouldn't even bother looking else.

Original poster
AllTheGin84 · 20/06/2019 12:00

Yeah its permit parking - in town, in an amazing location. No strange features.

I really do want to remain ANON, please if you have seen this elsewhere do not post the link to the house or have a feeling which one it is. It was incredibly strange that a man came by to have a nosy round.

OP posts:
FreeFreesia · 20/06/2019 12:00

If the parking is a problem ask the EA to try to book viewings for times of the day/weekend when it is less of an issue.

Quellium · 20/06/2019 12:00

Ours has been on the market since last summer. We can't shift it even with many price drops. Brexit definitely is a big part of it.

adaline · 20/06/2019 12:00

What features does it have that mean it's worth more than half a million pounds?

IvanaPee · 20/06/2019 12:01

But how can anyone here tell you??

Literally nobody knows why!! Maybe it is the parking. 🤷🏻‍♀️