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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:
Original poster
AllTheGin84 · 20/06/2019 12:50

@Nettleskeins I LOVE this house, we have had it for 12 years. Great dining / kitchen open plan with doors to the garden - privacy, amazing location - 10 mins walk to the town, 4 bedrooms, huge living space downstairs, 2 bathrooms...

But needs must and we need to sell.

@Rosemary46? Messing around? WE DROPPED the price by £30,000 just under 2 weeks ago. Not dropping it again! 3 houses around us on for £50k more and they are horrible!!! Loads just sitting on the market.

OP posts:
Original poster
AllTheGin84 · 20/06/2019 12:52

@CruellaFeinberg because I posted it before and someone came round to my house from seeing it online/forum to have a 'nosy' - he couldnt understand why it wasnt selling. IT really freaked me out!

OP posts:
DappledThings · 20/06/2019 12:52

3 houses around us on for £50k more and they are horrible!!! Loads just sitting on the market

So there's lots overpriced near you and stagnant market. So all you can do is drop the price.

lilybetsy · 20/06/2019 12:53

drop the price. It WILL sell at the right price...

Original poster
AllTheGin84 · 20/06/2019 12:53

Also, I don't want people to see the post and offer something silly because I am saying I am desperate!

OP posts:
DappledThings · 20/06/2019 12:54

because I posted it before and someone came round to my house from seeing it online/forum to have a 'nosy

How is that different to someone seeing it on Rightmove anyway? I could put in a search for houses near me at X amount and go for a nosey if I wanted to.

QueSera · 20/06/2019 12:55

OP you're not really giving us anything to work with! I may have missed it, but we don't even know where you are!

Can you send us any non-outing/identifying photos? Anything at all?

Aside from that - the market is generally very cool, most people are saying it's due to the uncertaintly surrounding Brexit, many people are in your position of not being able to sell right now.
A friend was looking to sell her flat recently, valued at £450k last year, now similar flats in her building are on at £385k and still not selling, so she's going to rent it out and use the rent to pay the mortgage until the market picks up. Would you consider that?
Alternatively, drop the price to quick-sale level.
Or, auction?
Sorry you're in this situation OP.

adaline · 20/06/2019 12:56

WE DROPPED the price by £30,000 just under 2 weeks ago. Not dropping it again! 3 houses around us on for £50k more and they are horrible!!! Loads just sitting on the market.

But it's not selling and you say you need to sell and move ASAP. You may not have a choice. If it's not selling and those near you for 50k aren't selling either, it sounds like they're all massively overpriced.

Whereabouts in the country are you that you're trying to get over half a million pounds? £545,000 is a lot of money - what does your house have that other four beds don't have that makes it worth that kind of price?

S1naidSucks · 20/06/2019 12:56

Op, strangers aren’t going to know where you live from internal photos. Not the estate agents ones, in case people image search, just some from your phone. We can’t help you if you aren’t willing to give more information.

LarryGreysonsDoor · 20/06/2019 12:58

For that money I’d expect off street parking.
Permit parking always means it’s busy and a fight for a space.

Of course it depends if you are in London, Birmingham of the Welsh valleys.

CastleCrasher · 20/06/2019 12:58

Ah. That might be your problem- the houses near you that are more expensive, apart from decor are they very similar?

If yours is too cheap compared to others people will assume there's a problem. You can let them know it's essentially priced low for a quick sale, but be aware that that may affect piss takers

IvanaPee · 20/06/2019 12:59

My god!

Anyone from rightmove could turn up, too! 🙄🙄🙄

And you don’t want anyone giving you “silly” suggestions because you’re desperate??

What do you want? Genuinely.

pollypenguin01 · 20/06/2019 12:59

How about you post 2 different houses near each other, one being yours and we can give advice for both and you won’t need to tell us which is which!

Bear2014 · 20/06/2019 12:59

OP why can't you rent your house out and then rent a place in Switzerland? You might really regret stepping off the property ladder in this country when/if you come back. Everyone I know who is working abroad or has worked abroad has done this.

MilletSentToForceIt · 20/06/2019 13:00

You are in a stalemate situation, and you have to take positive steps to break that.

Either reduce the price so that is an absolute bargain. (This may still be more than the house will fetch in say a years time if some forecasters are correct.

Or rent it out. You can negotiate with a reputable letting agent, you would probably need to pay 10% for them to manage it for you, including organising any repair works etc. You would need to factor in taxation, and you probably wouldn’t make any money but, you would retain a property here and your mortgage would be paid.

Have you looked seriously at the possibility of renting? Facts, figures etc.

I think that you need to factor in a sale possibly taking 12/20 weeks to complete.

I also think you will feel better if you take control and do something to break the stalemate you are in.

LarryGreysonsDoor · 20/06/2019 13:00

Are you on with a proper estate agent rather than Purple Bricks or the like?

LastChanceFinalOffer · 20/06/2019 13:00

15 weeks isn't very long. TBH I could see why lots of stairs and limited parking could be the issues.
Re; Limited parking:

  • Is there good transport links nearby?
  • How near are the nearest schools/creches/shops/pubs?

If you know what time the viewings are can you keep a space outside for potential buyers?

pollypenguin01 · 20/06/2019 13:01

Can you do something about the parking issue like rent a garage up the road or find out if you can get special permits at the most local car park to you?

sheshootssheimplores · 20/06/2019 13:01

Sell it to one of those companies that buy houses that are about to repossessed? Obviously you won’t get the price you want but you be able to se it quickly!

paddington34 · 20/06/2019 13:03

Why dont you post a couple of photos- kitchen, living room, master. It could be anywhere so you would still be anon.
What you think is lovely might not be what everyone else thinks.

I wouldn't buy a house without a drive let alone permit parking in a busy area.

JQBased · 20/06/2019 13:03

Priced too high/middle class woes Grin

HiItsClemFandango · 20/06/2019 13:05

Upload the photos to MN instead of posting a link so we can see the inside of the house without knowing where you are and then we can help you!

What are we meant to suggest otherwise? We can't see it!

Do you have somewhere to live sorted in Switzerland or are you relying on this sale to be able to move?

SunnyCoco · 20/06/2019 13:05

I have RTFT but still don't really understand why youre being so weird about not posting photos / the link to your house for sale...
If you're moving anyway who cares who the viewers are?
Also don't your agents ensure viewers are in a buying position?

hibbledibble · 20/06/2019 13:10

Honestly op, this post is pointless, unless you post the link. Or at least photos of the inside. What about pm'ing the link?

Otherwise we can just guess. The usual reasons for places not selling are it is is either overpriced, terrible state, or brexit.

Gabrielknight · 20/06/2019 13:13

Priced too high. Stagnant market. For that money I'd want parking and a big outside space. If its neutral it might b too neutral...