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Original poster

How can I sell this f*cking house

144 replies

Instawars · 07/07/2023 11:43

due to a relationship breakdown I need to sell my house. I am still living with ex and it’s absolutely hellish. The house has been on the market for 6 months and nothing in our area is moving.
ive spoke to the estate agent and they’ve said it’s not the price “the market is just slow”. We own as tenants in common so because the estate agent keeps saying it’s not the price I can’t get my ex to sell it at well below market rate to entice a buyer that way.
I am at the end of my tether and don’t know what to do. If I look on right move there are 25 properties listed in our area and only one is under offer- some have been on the market 9 months or more.

OP posts:
weightymatters73 · 07/07/2023 15:33

What about him buying from you - can he afford it?

So take the price, deduct fees (which won't exist if one of you sells to the other) and divide in two.

Doris86 · 07/07/2023 15:43

It 100% is the price.

A303 · 07/07/2023 15:47

ive spoke to the estate agent and they’ve said it’s not the price “the market is just slow”. We own as tenants in common so because the estate agent keeps saying it’s not the price I can’t get my ex to sell it at well below market rate to entice a buyer that way.

Damn that pesky bloody recession that is being engineered. Damn the stubborn bloody inflation that will hang over the UK economy like a thick sticky web for 15 years. Damn the lack of quantitative easing and the end of an era of cheap money. How dare these things try to enter my mind and reason. How dare the mere suggestion of a 10% or 15% reduction in my house price to sell it should have to enter my mind.

Well how about 30% or 40%? That is more reasonable. Get sold quickly. Get sold first.

Doris86 · 07/07/2023 15:48

GasPanic · 07/07/2023 14:14

If you post a link hundreds of people will post saying stuff like the photos are too cluttered and paint the walls blue.

But the reality is it is the price. It's always the price. Lower the price enough and someone will buy it.

Absolutely. It’s hilarious how many people on here seem to think you can get someone to buy an overpriced house, just by painting a wall a different colour and buying some new soft furnishings.

The reality is it always comes down to the price.

SparklyShoesandTutus · 07/07/2023 15:57

Have a look at getagent online. They rate local estate agents. Find the best 2 or 3 in your area and get them to come and do a valuation. It os highly likely that it absolutely is the price. Interest has had a huge impact on the market so what would have been reasonable 6 months ago is likely to be high now especially in an area that os slow moving.
Also look at other properties locally what do you have that they don't? Make sure that those things are showcased in both description and pictures.
Walk around what changes can you make to make your house more attractive, can you remove anything, move furniture to make the best of the space. Staging a room can really help.
Sorry you are having to go through this. Good luck with the sale.

Clarinet1 · 07/07/2023 15:59

Well, according to Saint Kirstie of the sledgehammer, there are only three variables in property sales - location (which you can’t change), size (which you probably won’t want to spend money changing) and price which, as PP have said, if it’s low enough, someone will want a bargain.
I agree with the PP who said that, if you just moved out and left the difficult Ex to pay the mortgage and pay the bills, you could possibly leave yourself open to legal action - could you consult a lawyer on this? Perhaps a lawyer might even be able to broker some kind of solution eg Ex buying you out.

Tophy124 · 07/07/2023 16:04

It’s the price. Homes are still priced outrageously for the current interest rate. Our realtor friend actually told us to not buy right now because interest rates have gone up and people are still wanting the Covid years pricing and so something has to give.

Tophy124 · 07/07/2023 16:06

Also quite puzzled about why you posted? All we can say is it’s the price and you need to drop it without actually sharing the house info, and so it’s a bit of a strange post. Nobody can give you any other information as we have nothing to go on.

ifthe · 07/07/2023 16:18

So many unhelpful comments here. The OP literally states that a controlling ex will not lower the price as he has backing from the estate agent (who has seen the property) that the price is not the issue, yet 4 pages of posters have piled on and said cut the price. The whole point of her post is that she can't cut the price as he wont let her.

OP - speak with your mortgage provider and a solicitor. Make your ex an offer that one of you leave within the month with the other picking up the mortgage until the property sells. Don't say that you want him to leave- let the choice be his, but from what you said in your second post he will need to leave as he can't afford the mortgage? You might find he becomes more flexible on price if he is not living there.

But nothing round me is moving either. My neighbour has dropped the price of their property by £100k and its still on the market- the one next door sold for £950 last year- theirs is listed at £700 and nothing. No one is out looking for a bargain I see loads of them and no one is in a position to actually buy them because the market has stalled.

kikedog · 07/07/2023 16:20

@Tophy124 but what you are saying means it might not be price. Your 'expert' friend has told you not to buy at the moment so you're not even looking. If there was a deal to be had and someone did price their house appropriately you aren't even looking. This is why she can't sell- people aren't even looking!!!

rainingsnoring · 07/07/2023 16:24

kikedog · 07/07/2023 16:20

@Tophy124 but what you are saying means it might not be price. Your 'expert' friend has told you not to buy at the moment so you're not even looking. If there was a deal to be had and someone did price their house appropriately you aren't even looking. This is why she can't sell- people aren't even looking!!!

Of course people are looking! I guarantee that there will still be plenty of 'hits' on RM. They simply can't afford the prices at present so prices will need to fall in most circumstances if the sellers want to achieve a sale.

TheCheeseTray · 07/07/2023 16:24

Countdowntowinter · 07/07/2023 13:25

Price is VERY important. Estate Agent sounds dumb.

It's slowed here but properties where the price is reasonable have fallen. People who have been on the market for months and not dropped probably won't sell.

This. No viewing - check photos and presentation and possibly change agent.

drop the price - always the price

Zebedee55 · 07/07/2023 16:26

If you can't or won't drop the price, you will be stuck.

Lowering the price is the solution.

Im99912 · 07/07/2023 16:27

Prices are at last year value
sellers are struggling with realising that there house isn’t the golden goose it was a few years ago

however buyers mortgage buying has dropped considerably so can’t buy as they can’t get the mortgage for it

so if you want / need to sell you have to drop the price
or keep it and hope that In a years time you cami sell as your in negative equity

mathanxiety · 07/07/2023 16:29

You need to get a lawyer and take him to court.

Petition for an order stating that the asking price of the house be dropped 5-10k every month until sold.

User27680416 · 07/07/2023 16:30

if the market is slow and there are multiple properties which aren't shifting, you have to lower the price to be attractive to the few buyers that are out there. Houses always sell at the right price and that is currently lower than sellers want it to be.

DisquietintheRanks · 07/07/2023 16:33

DrSbaitso · 07/07/2023 15:08

or you are moving out anyway, and you will be charging him rent, equal to the cost of your share the mortgage, which he will then be responsible for paying on his own.

Is this legally enforceable?

Show quote history

No.

N15 · 07/07/2023 16:35

Clarinet1 · 07/07/2023 15:59

Well, according to Saint Kirstie of the sledgehammer, there are only three variables in property sales - location (which you can’t change), size (which you probably won’t want to spend money changing) and price which, as PP have said, if it’s low enough, someone will want a bargain.
I agree with the PP who said that, if you just moved out and left the difficult Ex to pay the mortgage and pay the bills, you could possibly leave yourself open to legal action - could you consult a lawyer on this? Perhaps a lawyer might even be able to broker some kind of solution eg Ex buying you out.

The other variable is the condition of the property, which you can change. Plenty of generic suggestions given. Updating and staging the property well with good photographs can make a big difference, if you cannot lower the price.

But you still may not get a sale without a price reduction. If it's been on the market for a long time that puts buyers off too: you make want to take it off the market and relist having made improvements and/or reducing the price.

dontgobaconmyheart · 07/07/2023 16:41

I'd get it valued elsewhere OP, but ultimately I'm not sure how an estate agent can say its 'not' the price, when they know full well price is the single biggest factor. Worth remembering that the estate agent ultimately takes a cut and wants to sell for the highest price but also that it is not them that is having to suffer through an awful situation with an abusive partner from whom they need to avail themselves. Yes the market isn't hot and there is some lag in on-market to a sale but again, it's price isn't it.

We are looking to move and as you say the same properties locally sit on the market for a while - because the owners won't drop in price. The ones which do sell are where a reasonable adjustment has been made and a price reduction has kicked in to something more realistic.

Our NDN sold last April when the market was on fine form and sold over asking with several offers to choose from. The houses are exactly the same and comparable condition (we had most of our works and decorations even done at the same time by the same person) and I know full well that I'd have to take around 25k less than they took to get this gone if I needed to in the current climate. I can clearly see that by looking at current actual sold prices for properties in the town and not by looking at whats for sale in the estate agent window. It is what it is.

omletteandchips · 07/07/2023 16:43

I work for an estate agent and in the last year we have had one member of staff leave that we haven't replaced and got rid of 2 of our juniors who in the main do viewings as we just cant get people through the door to view. IT IS QUIET

Even if we have really good value properties people want to sit tight as they don't know what will happen with interest rates etc. Our contracts state a fee on sale, so quite frankly I do not care what they finally go for, and even those who get a % of price achieved (rare nowadays) will just want it sold. If they are saying its not the price then they know that they can't get people through the door regardless.

My biggest frustration is our HO putting out press releases saying stuff is moving- I then get really annoyed sellers on the phone asking what is going on. The answer it absolutely chuffing nothing.

Mumtothreegirlies · 07/07/2023 16:43

LosingMyPancakes · 07/07/2023 13:15

I'd never listen to estate agents re price - haven't found one yet that knew what they were talking about. And it absolutely is the price, the market is slow right now but reasonably priced houses are selling here and fast.

You never listen to an estate agent on price?? What estate agents are you getting to value your home?
maybe you got one of those desperate agents out who will over value to get you on their books but estate agents in general will know exactly how much your house is worth and will get you to make a reduction if necessary. They would have sold many houses exactly like yours and know what they’re doing.

Mumtothreegirlies · 07/07/2023 16:45

omletteandchips · 07/07/2023 16:43

I work for an estate agent and in the last year we have had one member of staff leave that we haven't replaced and got rid of 2 of our juniors who in the main do viewings as we just cant get people through the door to view. IT IS QUIET

Even if we have really good value properties people want to sit tight as they don't know what will happen with interest rates etc. Our contracts state a fee on sale, so quite frankly I do not care what they finally go for, and even those who get a % of price achieved (rare nowadays) will just want it sold. If they are saying its not the price then they know that they can't get people through the door regardless.

My biggest frustration is our HO putting out press releases saying stuff is moving- I then get really annoyed sellers on the phone asking what is going on. The answer it absolutely chuffing nothing.

Thanks for saying this. My husband and I run our own estate agents and the situation is a bit dire at the moment with a lot of cold feet.

Wanttomove3000 · 07/07/2023 16:46

The reason it’s quiet/people aren’t looking is because the prices are still way too high. I’d love to move for the right house and I check Rightmove daily - however the prices are a pisstake. I thought I overpaid in the 2021 frenzy and current sold prices on our road are averaging 50k more than what we paid! Some 3 bed semis in my town are going for like 950k 😂 So I won’t be viewing anything as I think the prices need to come down 20% at least….

Doggymummar · 07/07/2023 16:51

I was in this position a decade ago. Living with partner whilst divorce and flat sale was going through. I heard from EA he was making viewings difficult, being in bed when they arrived not opening the door etc

. I arranged viewings only when he was at work it meant no weekends but, serious buyers will come on a Monday afternoon.

Then he wouldn't entertain any offers, my solicitor soon dealt with that. He was told to seriously consider every offer and if it wasn't sold within 6 WEEKS IT would be reduced by 2 pc every 28 days.

We took a full asking price offer within 10 days with a 28 day exchange and a 10 day completion. Get your solicitor on it. The other alternative if as it sounds you are getting nothing from it is to sign it over to him and walk away. Again legal advice is needed.

JenWillsiam · 07/07/2023 17:04

It’s the price. I don’t care what the estate agent says. If people won’t buy it it means it’s overpriced. You can always price to sell.