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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:
Original poster
FeeFee832 · 01/09/2019 23:37

@Gabsalot

Personal reasons, but yes, I need it to sell quick and it does matter when it happens. I need it to be in the next 7 weeks.

OP posts:
Original poster
FeeFee832 · 01/09/2019 23:38

Ps. I have also found my dream home, but not offered because I don't want to get in to a chain but can't see it going anywhere right now. It's overpriced.

OP posts:
UnderperformingSeal · 01/09/2019 23:49

Be patient OP. On the market since April really isn't all that long although I guess it probably feels like it to you. We've been looking for a house recently and seen several on t'internet that took that long or longer to go. On in particular that's been listed since last year and still hasn't sold.

UnderperformingSeal · 01/09/2019 23:54

What will happen in 7 weeks time that means you need to sell?

MadCattery · 01/09/2019 23:56

Bury a statue of St Joseph. Go online anywhere to buy one. They are sold for this purpose, with instructions. Have a good laugh, but a lot of people swear it works. My best friend, who happens to be Catholic, did -including the laughing part - and she finally sold the house.

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 02/09/2019 00:16

@UnderperformingSeal personal reasons.

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 02/09/2019 00:22

Fair enough but to be honest now youd be lucky to to sell in 7 weeks with another new buyer

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 02/09/2019 00:40

@GabsAlot why?

OP posts:
Original poster
FeeFee832 · 02/09/2019 00:40

Surely it can be done?

OP posts:
Derbee · 02/09/2019 01:11

I’ve never heard of a house selling (and completing) within 7 weeks. Not saying it can’t be done, but I’ve never seen it happen, or heard of it happening.

Chasingdandelions · 02/09/2019 02:09

We put a offer on our house and it was accepted 3 days after it going up for sale. We had no chain and neither did the current owners, the straight forward sale still took just over 9 weeks. I can't say it would be the same for you but just giving a general time frame.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 02/09/2019 02:09

Our neighbour's house was put on the market in early July and the new people moved in last week so it can be done quickly but that is unusual. It sold for full asking price of just under £1m.

However other friends in the village have had their house on at £1m for 8 months and have had 2 offers both of which have fallen through due to the chain collapsing.

The more people involved in a chain the higher the risk of it collapsing. As you've had offers then it's not the price that's wrong but just bad luck.

if you need to sell quickly then you need to drop the price.

mathanxiety · 02/09/2019 04:31

Please read the thread. They are keeping in touch because they don't want anyone else to buy it.

It's possible they could lower the asking price for their house if yours went lower though.

And it is very interesting that they are contacting you directly and bypassing your agent, with Inverness's post in mind

mathanxiety · 02/09/2019 04:33

You're going to have to consider dropping your price if you simply have to sell within 7 weeks, OP.

Your entire chain seems to me like a game of chicken.

Mayborn · 02/09/2019 04:50

I would bring on a second agent on a joint sole basis (commission split 70:30 to the winning agent) to get them to compete on the sale and offer a reduction for s chain free buyer. Your only chance of completing in 7 eeeks is without a chain, it’s as simple as that. One agent who covers the local market independently, and one big national or regional chain with a wider reach.

Alexalee · 02/09/2019 07:09

Completing in 7 weeks... has to be sold at auction
That is a very short time frame
You still haven't said where you are... I presume london as you said the old agent was a big london chain

KurriKawari · 02/09/2019 09:23

I had my house on sale last year and we had 4/5 viewings every day for two weeks and three offers at asking price! In the end I didn't sell because I couldn't find a property.
I've put the house on again in july and we had a total 4 viewings and one really cheeky offer. My EA was useless so I changed agent. We did an open house at the weekend, and had some real interest. They've been told if they want to make an offer it must be their best and final offer, they have to back it up with proof of funds, mortgage in principle and solicitors details. Two people said whilst they were stood in the house that they want to make offers, one came back with her partner. Waiting for the office to open this morning and they will call everyone. Changing agent has been great, they seem so much more on the ball tha previous agent, more proactive, some good channels for advertising, good links and reputation with community etc.

What is your reason for moving? How much do really need to move? We are moving to be closer to secondary school, but if we don't sell it's still ok.

If I was you, I would get second opinion for an agent who has lots of "sold" boards in the area. Ask yourself whether you can wait it out a few months as summer period is slow. And are you prepared to take a hit and lower the price?

KurriKawari · 02/09/2019 09:26

To do it in 7 werks you would either need a cash buyer, an auction or a company that buys houses for cash at a lower price, think "webuyanycar" but for houses.

misspiggy19 · 02/09/2019 09:28

You don’t need a miracle, you need to drop the price.

Every house sells at the right price

GabsAlot · 02/09/2019 10:12

Everything just takes too long i was a first time buyer there was no chain at all but it still took 10 weeks

Mildura · 02/09/2019 10:22

To do it in 7 werks you would either need a cash buyer, an auction or a company that buys houses for cash at a lower price, think "webuyanycar" but for houses

Not really, 7 weeks is fast, but not unachievably so for a motivated buyer with a half-decent solicitor.

Mildura · 02/09/2019 10:25

First time buyers can often make the process slower rather than faster.

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 02/09/2019 10:39

Update: We are going to drop the price tomorrow... in the meantime, our agent rang everyone who is looking at £535 and not £550 and has booked in 3 viewings for tomorrow and Wednesday. Fingers crossed.

Emailed our solicitor who said if its a chain free / cash buyer, completion can be done in 6 weeks if everyone moves quickly together. It all depends on searches coming back.

OP posts:
Original poster
FeeFee832 · 02/09/2019 10:41

Solicitor said, they can have all the details out on the day they hear from our buyers solicitors as well as we have already started the process with them. So don't need to do ID, checks etc... positive news from the solicitor.

Our EA has also said this morning, they check funds, mortgage in principle etc before taking it off the market and us accepting the offer in full/engaging solicitors so that's also good.

OP posts:
Original poster
FeeFee832 · 02/09/2019 10:50

@mathanxiety They aren't bypassing the agent!

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