To be so frustrated selling house

[GSD20]

3 years we have been hoping to move.

3 years ago we first marketed. It took 2 agents and a lot of hassle (40 viewings) but eventually sold once which fell through thanks to the rubbish UK selling system just before exchange. We removed from the market and saved up more money over 18 months or so and tried again. Can’t sell. We are priced as low as we can afford too.

In this time we have seen 3 houses we loved and lost them all. Now I’ve stopped looking as houses are flying out the door and ours is stuck. Now there’s pretty much nothing to buy even if we did sell as we have dropped so low to sell we can’t afford to buy what we want.

Things that are putting people off are things we can’t change, downstairs bathroom and ex council mainly. The house is immaculate otherwise but we can’t afford to move bathrooms etc as we have barely any equity as it is.

We can’t stay here as we need to move for work and also our house is tiny, no garden space and there’s no room to extend anywhere so we can’t even make the best of a bad situation. We have no storage space, it’s a house designed for one person and there’s a family crushed into it, it’s suffocating.

I’m so fed up, it feels like it’s easy for everyone else but it’s been THREE YEARS since we originally decided to move and it’s driving me nuts.

I know there’s nothing can be done and it’s a very first world problem but I feel better getting it off my chest. Please someone give me some hope I won’t be stuck here forever

Are similar houses in the same area selling? Are you getting viewings (but no follow-through) or just no interest at all?

If you need to move area, I’d rent your house and rent new house. Of you can’t sell Imminently. Then you can move forward.

I know you say it's priced as low as you can go, but it does sound like you need to knock a substantial amount off your asking price, OP.

You could then consider buying something you can afford, maybe slightly smaller than you were hoping, or a house that needs a little work. Compromise just to get moved.

I do feel your frustration, I can't wait to move! Luckily ours should sell quickly but it's horrible just dying to move.

You just need the right buyer however it sounds like it’s priced to high just because you need a certain amount doesn’t mean someone will pay that!

Sorry OP, but it's on for too much money. Any house will sell at the right price.

I feel your pain though. I'm absolutely desperate to sell our horrible, cramped house, but it looks like we're stuck here for the foreseeable future.

make sure you have decluttered, and put stuff (even temporarily) into storage, when you do viewings. You say you have a family stuffed in a small house - well you don't want to give that impression to Viewers. They need to see it as having space and potential. Can you hire a trailer or a lock-up to make your house seem more spacious.

Honestly, and I don't mean to sound harsh, but it isnt a buyers concern if you can't buy the house you want.

It has to be price, after 3 years. If you genuinely want to move, you need to look objectively at your price. What are similar properties selling for locally? You need to be the same, or slightly lower even, as your house will now have the stigma of "it's been on the market 3 years, there must be something wrong with it".

Objectively, how are your photos? I bought a house after 2 years on the market and it was 100% down to the terrible photos that it took so long to sell.

Post the Rightmove link and people will tell you what to change.

It's too expensive. People will compromise on almost anything if the price is right.

What you think it's worth isn't the same as what others are prepared to pay for it. If you're brave, post a link.

We paid £95k for it in much worse condition 6 years ago. We have put a new roof on, new flooring throughout. We have also fenced the property and made gardens from overgrown wilderness not to mention decorated throughout. The whole house has been neutralised, no clutter or mess anywhere.
We have it on for £95k with a view to selling at £90k and are set to make a fair loss.
New area is a lot more expensive than current area but we can’t help that. We can’t rent as we have 4 pets and nobody would touch us with those

Next door sold last year for £113k, I just don’t get it!

We originally got lots of viewings when we marketed the first time around but it took 40 viewings to sell it. Mainly comments about bathroom, size of the property which we couldn’t change
Now we have relisted and to be fair it’s only been on since beginning of January but we have had no interest at all. Not a single viewing or enquiry, nothing.
The house we were hoping to buy sold very quickly!

We are seriously considering selling up and moving in with MIL just to be free but that idea sends shivers down my spine

Sorry I won’t post the link as far too outing.

We have been on the market, then sold, then on again for a while after that and couldn’t resell, took off on agents advice and saved up and now we have relisted again.
Suppose we could look flakey but that isnt the case

Should you afford to let it. I know it is difficult if you need the deposit from the house to fund your next house. Have you tried a different agent. The only other thing would be to buy a new house as sometimes they will buy your house from you. Friends of mine did this.

Oh forgot to add. Mortgage company valued it at £115k, estate agents valuation also £110-£115k

Is there anything in the immediate area that’s massively off-putting? There must be something if not the price.

95k-115k is an over 20% increase in price it’s a big uplift.
If it’s been on for three years it’s on for two much.

Too much. Bloody autocorrect

Have to agree...it's too expensive if it's not selling 🤷‍♀️

Mine sold in 3 weeks...I priced it competitively and 'set' it up to sell!

It's a very small house, but really well presented. No clutter. Immaculate and freshly painted. You could literally just move in and start living in it without lifting a finger...I had viewers falling over themselves to get in.

Step back from your house and look at it objectively, from a buyers viewpoint. Is it fresh...is there ANYTHING that might put them off...does it look worn/faded/cluttered anywhere? Stand in your kitchen...are your counters free from appliances, boxes, piles of mail etc? Have you put everything away? Are your taps/drainers sparkling? Is your dishcloth on the drainer? If it is...get rid! Do the same in your bathroom...this area should be totally free from 'family crap'. Nobody wants to see 20 different half empty bottles of product and the kids bath toys everywhere. Go through every room like this. It won't take long once you start.

It sounds extreme...but it works 👍. Unless you have the most desirable house on the market (and you don't 🤷‍♀️) then you need to 'sell it' by 'setting' it like a show home. Which means depersonalising it. Good luck.

We really cannot add anything as to why it will not sell unless you post a link?

Crossed post😁

Sounds good. Are the colours fairly neutral?
Is you agent working hard enough for you? Could you get a friend to see by requesting a viewing. Is the agent doing the viewings or are you?
Do you want to pm me a link and I am happy to give advice. I sold two houses both within a week. Not saying I wasn’t lucky but I worked very hard on the first and got my asking price.

You said you have 4 pets, could there possibly be a smell when people viewing that puts them off?
Not trying to be rude but I remember viewing a property once and the smell of dog was so bad it put me off.

We're looking to buy now... It's amazing the range of houses for sale... From pristine we can move in now to the truly vile....

This morning we actually arrived a little late for appointment... The estate agent (who arrived with us)... Threw open what was the dining room door... A bloke was sitting in his socks and y fronts on a stained mattress... In the dining room.... He was very apologetic... I just found it funny....

The mattress and the dirty socks left on the side, after he had got up, whilst we busied ourselves in the kitchen and lounge... Was a bit of a turn off...

Was the house that sold the same size ?

Oddly, this was very little difference in price to the immaculate one a few doors down...

Apart from dossing man, ALL the carpets had bad stains on them.. Looked as if had been party central for years....

But it should not LOOK like it has been..!!

OP this might sound silly but when W sold our house we took all the photos ourselves - we spent ages doing it but could really make the best of the light/space etc by having a few attempts, moving bits around to make it look as good/big as possible. Might be worth a try just to freshen up the listing and get new people through the door? YANBU to be fed up though! Fingers crossed for you x