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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Begging for some advice on how to get our house to sell... I need a miracle.

225 replies

FeeFee832 · 01/09/2019 21:25

We have been trying to sell our house since April. The bloody thing is taking forever. I am beyond impatient now and don't know what the heck to do... I want our house to sell ASAP.

Side note: House is on at £550,000.
We've had 3 buyers. All chains collapsed.
6 offers between £543,000 and 575,000.

Reduced the house to £550,000 from 575,000. Thinking of reducing again to £535,000 but EA saying wait.

The house across the road sold in 3 days!

Changed EA once as well... apparently the house is perfect, neutral colours, tidy, clean... etc.

HELP ME...

OP posts:
ChickenyChick · 01/09/2019 21:50

OP, I get why you won’t post a link. There will be helpful advice but there will also be those taking pleasure picking apart your home, and that hurts.

You cannot stop chains collapsing.

August is a slow month

Sit tight and fingers crossed for September

And if you are desperate and can afford it drop the price

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 01/09/2019 21:51

@ChickenyChick thank you... and thank you for not ripping me apart because I didn't post the link. Appreciate it.

OP posts:
SoyDora · 01/09/2019 21:51

I suppose you could stop a chain collapsing by buying the house that has lost its buyer.

DelphicOracle · 01/09/2019 21:51

There can be no reassurances on the market .... because nobody knows what the next few months are going to bring - what are the reasons for each chain collapse ?

Atalune · 01/09/2019 21:51

Tell your EA that you will reduce the price for a chain free buyer.

Move out and be chain free yourself? Live with family?

Clarabellawilliamson · 01/09/2019 21:51

I would say some of the difficulty you are having is because of the price yours is at. It's too high for first time buyers so I would guess it's people moving up the ladder, who mainly come with a chain? I've no idea where you are or what your house is like, or how many bedrooms it has..... but if the issue is with chains collapsing, you need to go for people without chains I guess!! How you would do that I don't know though!

colourlessgreenidea · 01/09/2019 21:53

We've had 3 buyers. All chains collapsed.
6 offers between £543,000 and 575,000.

In which case there’s nothing wrong with the house. Multiple people have wanted, and have tried, to buy your house, but circumstances conspired against them.

Yes, it's other people's chains collapsing. Everyone who has tried to buy still wants to buy but is now trying to sell

I don’t really see what you can do about that - if people further down the chain are pulling out, it’s utterly beyond your control.

By the sounds of it you’ve just been really unlucky. 🤷‍♀️

Reallybadidea · 01/09/2019 21:53

I think with so much uncertainty at the moment that people are very twitchy and chains are probably breaking down more than usual. Fingers crossed you'll get a keeper soon!

TheTrollFairy · 01/09/2019 21:53

Why won’t you post a link?
Surely advertising it to more people is better for you... what if a MN is looking for a house in your area?

No one knows if the market will pick up again after the holidays... I don’t personally think it will drastically improve

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 01/09/2019 21:54

@DelphicOracle

Collapses somewhere far up - mainly to do with relocation and not buying in that area anymore (both have been London when that's happened).

OP posts:
LegallyBritish · 01/09/2019 21:54

I think the trade war between China and the US has pushed a recession in the last couple months which has had a global affect on the housing market (combined with Brexit). If your neighbour sold in April, it would have been easier then now. Unfortunately you were probably priced too high in April and you have now missed the boat. The housing market will not go back up until the dust settles on Brexit and the global trade war ends.

Clarabellawilliamson · 01/09/2019 21:54

Oh yes, of course- duh sorry, YOU break the chain! Grin It's funny because that what I have just done, moved into rented so that I am not in a chain. Mine will hopefully be sold before brexit, and I will sit it out in my rental and see what happens....

Jocasta2018 · 01/09/2019 21:56

Your neighbour may have had a cash buyer or first time buyer so no chain to break!

From what I can gather from your post, the house is ok, it's getting offers, etc but it's always the chain collapsing that causes the issue.

Unfortunately you're in the lap of the Gods territory - I think chains snap whether the market is buoyant or flat!

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 01/09/2019 21:56

@Clarabellawilliamson we don't have a house to buy as don't want to commit to anything till we've sold as we are just messing people around...

We will buy once we've sold - will rent in the short term!

OP posts:
Laiste · 01/09/2019 21:57

FeeFee - How long seems a long time to someone looking?! If it's been on Rightmove for example?

Six months ish. I'd be wondering what's wrong if the house is still on a website after about that.

3luckystars · 01/09/2019 21:57

I think you should take all the help you can get and offload this house quickly. That's my advice.

Are you buying another house?

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 01/09/2019 21:58

Thanks @Laiste

Because we had a buyer and it was at solicitor stages, the date has reset! So looks like it was only put on 3 weeks ago!

OP posts:
Original poster
FeeFee832 · 01/09/2019 21:58

@3luckystars I know. I seriously need some luck...

No, just going to rent until we have cash in the bank. Don't want to mess someone else around and I'm sure it strengthens our position to be cash buyers.

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 01/09/2019 22:00

Collapses somewhere far up

So you’re breaking the chain? Not your buyers? Or have I misunderstood?

Clarabellawilliamson · 01/09/2019 22:01

It sounds like you're doing all you can then really?! Fingers crossed you get a decent buyer soon...

Laiste · 01/09/2019 22:04

I agree with the advice above about taking it off the market for 3 or 4 weeks and re-launch:
New photos.
Repaint the front gate or the house it's self, rearrange plants or pots and tart up any garden shots for the new season.

Fresh start might attract a new set of people looking.

One way to avoid chain collapses is to accept any lower offers from first time buyers?

hennybeans · 01/09/2019 22:04

It doesn't sound like it's a problem with your house per se. The whole country is in turmoil at the moment and whilst some sell without a hitch, some just aren't lucky. I don't think there is anything you can do. Although I do like the above idea of reducing price just for chain free buyers as an incentive to attract them. Mention it to your agent to see what they say.

And I don't blame you for not posting a link. I only think that would be helpful if you were getting no offers at all.

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 01/09/2019 22:04

@Merryoldgoat what? I'm confused?!

Our buyers always drop out because their buyer pulls out... so their chain collapses meaning they can't buy ours. Currently all three are back trying to sell their own home because they've lost their buyer.

OP posts:
Aberhonddu · 01/09/2019 22:06

@FeeFee832
Begging for some advice on how to get our house to sell... I need a miracle. (69 Posts)

If you need a miracle perhaps you might like to start praying.
No link, no information, not even a vague hint about the geographical location. How on Earth do you expect anyone to help you?

recrudescence · 01/09/2019 22:06

I think only very brave people post links to the house they’re trying to sell. I still feel a bit sorry for the poster who was castigated for her windowless bedroom, frigid conservatory and disagreeable wallpaper.