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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if any estate agents can please advise me on selling on a destroyed house

97 replies

Toomuchtooyoung01 · 20/04/2021 20:03

I'll keep it brief - started renovating our house (3 bed semi, Surrey) its gone really wrong and OH has downed tools and we and our kids are living in a building site, have been for some time. Cant afford to get professionals in to do it. Even if we were to remortage, there is so much to do and I genuinely don't think OH has it in him to do it any more.
Can any estate agents out there advise how much I could expect to get if we were to try and sell the house as it is, either to a builder or a couple who were willing to take on a project? Am absolutely at my wits end.
Zoopla currently estimates £515k, with £490k being "low" and £525k being top end.
Thankyou.

OP posts:
Doubletrouble99 · 20/04/2021 21:42

My DD and her partner were in your position in Walthamstow in a 2 bed Victorian terrace. They were going to take a loan out to get it done up for sale but I suggested getting estate gents in before doing that and they were overwhelmed with offers from developers. Definitely worth asking estate agents. Can't loss anything.

User57327259 · 20/04/2021 21:54

If the downstairs is worn but liveable and on the assumption that there are toilet facilities downstairs, you have the very basics.
If there are no ceilings upstairs they need to be replaced and the walls plastered before you can even start decorating. Any plumbing and or electric wiring needs done before plastering.
What is the real problem? Is money the issue or has DP just given up? Or is he lazy? Do you have DC living in this house?

Ideasplease322 · 20/04/2021 22:02

Why haven’t you asked a couple of estate agents to visit and value it?

Seems odd, how on earth would someone know without seeing it?

Milkywaystars · 20/04/2021 22:02

Get in touch with your local FE college and ask if any final year apprentice students want some experience. They might do it really cheaply or for free because they need qualification experience. They will be monitored by their college supervisor so worth considering.

Ellieboolou33 · 20/04/2021 22:06

@User57327259

If the downstairs is worn but liveable and on the assumption that there are toilet facilities downstairs, you have the very basics. If there are no ceilings upstairs they need to be replaced and the walls plastered before you can even start decorating. Any plumbing and or electric wiring needs done before plastering. What is the real problem? Is money the issue or has DP just given up? Or is he lazy? Do you have DC living in this house?
Agree with this!

our house has just had a full rewire, all ceilings need fixing or replacing, all walls need re plastering, all flooring, doors, skirtings and architrave needs replacing. We knew it would be a big job and would take a few years to do up.

Re plastering and new ceilings are not a huge expense, is it money or are you just fed up of living in a building site? Mine's both but it will be done eventually and it's safe, clean and warm, kids rooms practically done.

I think a lot of people assume once you buy a house, especially a doer upper, it should be show home ready instantly. In reality it's not like that.

Dashel · 20/04/2021 22:19

I don’t want to add to your issues, but the windows need to have fensa certification and it doesn’t sound like they were fitted by anyone qualified to issue it Or signed off by building control.

Do you have any friends or family that might help as well as qualified trades where needed? We had DIY weekends with 20 odd people of all different skills come and help us and we got booze for afterwards and did loads of food and had fun. I know it’s harder with Covid.

Could you look at it differently? Maybe getting the easiest or cheapest room done?

Some items can be easier than you think, such as getting plaster board or thermal boards up, it’s just the electrical stuff and plumbing need to in place if needed.

I would get a valuation from an Estate Agent so you at least know where you stand and what your options are.

DiptyqueandDiamonds · 20/04/2021 22:23

Sorry OP this sounds awful. Not to make it worse but did you get consent from your mortgage lender and insurance company before starting major structural works?!

Agree with PP that if there isn’t a usable kitchen and bathroom then a buyer will find it very hard to get a mortgage and you may need to find an agent with good developer buyer contacts or an auction.

Original poster
Toomuchtooyoung01 · 21/04/2021 15:37

Thanks for the advice. Have arranged for 4 different estate agents to come round and give valuations next week so will go from there I guess.
Unbelievably OH is talking about us buying another do-er upper as our next house 😳

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 21/04/2021 15:43

That sounds really stressful, how much did you pay for it? If you want to move quickly then an auction might be your best bet.

GappyValley · 21/04/2021 15:44

@DiptyqueandDiamonds

Sorry OP this sounds awful. Not to make it worse but did you get consent from your mortgage lender and insurance company before starting major structural works?!

Agree with PP that if there isn’t a usable kitchen and bathroom then a buyer will find it very hard to get a mortgage and you may need to find an agent with good developer buyer contacts or an auction.

OP hasn’t done structural works from the list. It’s all second fix stuff, mortgage companies aren’t interested in that. In fact, they aren’t interested in most works
ToastieSnowy · 21/04/2021 15:44

Eh? So your OH can rip that to pieces, down tools and lose you a load of money? Surprised you’re still with the OH given that he’s put you and your family in precarious position. Do you feel like you can concentrate on one job at a time each month like others have said? Glad you’ve got the estate agents coming as they’ll give you some clarity and you can decide what to do from there.

Hmmph · 21/04/2021 15:46

@BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted

You need a builder round to price up what the required work would cost. This amount should be deducted from the current market-price of equivalent houses in the same neighbourhood. No discounts for chancers who’ve watched too much daytime telly
This is unrealistic.

You’d need to take off more than the costs of renovation- you need to factor in the fact that the house isn’t able to be lived in and take off (a lot) of money for someone to put up with the stress of that.

Tbh, I wouldn’t sell. I would work on doing it up.

LemonSwan · 21/04/2021 15:49

You need tough words with DP.

Either you finish this do-er upper.

Or you do not buy another do-er upper.

That is the choice.

DrSbaitso · 21/04/2021 15:51

@Toomuchtooyoung01

Thanks for the advice. Have arranged for 4 different estate agents to come round and give valuations next week so will go from there I guess. Unbelievably OH is talking about us buying another do-er upper as our next house 😳
Put a bucket on his head and hit it with a hammer. Repeatedly.
enjoyingscience · 21/04/2021 15:51

Bloody hell. Is he always a bit of a fantasist, or is this just a dented ego for having given up on this house? Sounds like a do up job could end in divorce if he isn’t careful.

MumW · 21/04/2021 16:32

Unbelievably OH is talking about us buying another do-er upper as our next house 😳
Nooooooooooo 😱😱😱😱

If he wants a do-er upper, he should do up the one he's started. clearly he's a serial stripper down-er

JackieLavertysWeirdVoice · 21/04/2021 16:39

Oh god, the windows ...

Was that the final straw?

MoltenLasagne · 21/04/2021 16:46

Has he enjoyed the stress of living in a building site whilst simultaneously losing you money???

Saltyslug · 21/04/2021 16:51

Put your foot down. Get a new build

Original poster
Toomuchtooyoung01 · 21/04/2021 17:00

His rationale is that we wouldn't be able to afford a finished house (in this area anyway) and that new builds are apparently thrown together and rubbish 😑
He has just started ok antidepressants so he's not feeling great about it. I am just about hanging on by a thread, it has been so unbelievably shit (started this "renovation" when I was pregnant with DC1 4yrs ago (!!!!!!!!!!!) and had to bring her home to a building site, DC2 followed and still no action on OH's part, a variety of reasons given. I always coped by being out of the house as much as possible taking DC to various activities but obviously with all the lockdowns that hasnt happened and my MH is massively suffering. It breaks my heart for my children to live like this. At least they are very young so not too aware how rubbish it is. For anyone suggesting we fly solo, I am a SAHM who has a basically dilapidated house I'm worried we would struggle to sell and as I'm a homeowner on paper I dont think I would be eligible for any support.

OP posts:
2bazookas · 21/04/2021 17:04

An estate agent will value it as is, in its current state, and advertise it that way. They will probably have a list of potential buyers/ proerty developers waiting for such opportunities.

It will sell, but nothing like the price of the house next door which is fit to live in; and possibly, you won't get back the price you paid for it.

JackieLavertysWeirdVoice · 21/04/2021 17:05

as I'm a homeowner on paper I dont think I would be eligible for any support

By 'fly solo' do you mean if you and your children moved out and into a rental, without your husband? Just to be clear.

titchy · 21/04/2021 17:06

Sounds like selling then going into rented to sort your marriage out might be best. Don't leap into another purchase.Thanks

Original poster
Toomuchtooyoung01 · 21/04/2021 17:10

I hate mentioning money/figures as I feel like a prat, but (according to Zoopla etc) our house has gone up in value £220k since buyijg 9yrs ago (mental I know) so I am really hopeful we would be able to walk away with enough to buy another place, albeit in a less pricey area to where we currently are. This is the only house we have ever owned so I am quite inexperienced in terms of buying/selling, do you think its realistic for us to be able to do that?

OP posts:
Original poster
Toomuchtooyoung01 · 21/04/2021 17:11

(Again I know that the sale price will be significantly reduced because of all the work that needs doing)

OP posts: