To Ask Will This Sell

[WednesdayBeetlejuice]

Selling my dearly loved dads house after losing him to cancer months ago.
After the stress of dealing with everything that comes from losing a loved one I have now put the house on the market but there is no money to even redecorate.

The boiler and windows have been replaced and there is loft insulation.

Is this likely to sell easily? I have no idea what to expect but it hurts my heart it sitting empty without my dear dad.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/152255801#/?channel=RES_BUY

Looks like it has a lovely big garden and potential to someone willing to put in the work.

Probate was not needed. Once he was diagnosed with cancer he transferred the deeds into my name as that was his wishes. We just thought he’d have a good few years left yet.
He went downhill very fast.

The house is fully in my name so no issues at all and no mortgage. So whoever buys it won’t have any issues with delays from my side.

This. Sorry for your loss.

Of you want a quick sale, look at auctioning it. When my DF died, his house had virtually no work done on it for 20 years, he was in the building trade, abd wouldn't let anyone else in the house. My brother dealt with the sale, got a good deal from the auctioneer, who was also an estate agent, it sold straight away fir a reasonable amount, no hassle, money with us much quicker than if we had gone through the traditional sales route.

Assuming the area isn't the sort of place to put people off, yes, I'm sure it will. It looks like it's structurally OK, just needs new kitchen and bathroom and decorating. Lots of people like a blank canvas. If you could get 2-bed houses for £160k in my area when I was looking, I'd definitely have gone to view it.

I'm sorry about your Dad.

Last year we sold a house that used to belong to my husband's aunt. The kitchen and bathroom were in better condition than your Dad's house, but otherwise it was similar, except that the garden was in a much worse state. It also had on-road parking (and not nearly as many spaces as there are houses and flats).

We had two estate agents round to look. They both gave the same advice that you have been given- not to bother redecorating or replacing the flooring, because whoever bought it would just do it again anyway.

They were right. We sold it very quickly (completed within three months of putting it onto the market).

I can't comment on the price of yours, or the local market, as I don't know the area, but good luck.

Sorry for your loss.
The house will sell if it's correctly priced - I don't know if it is right for the area, but it is clearly a doer-upper.
However, you might not be able to afford to redecorate, but you could give it a good clean, and I think it would be an idea to take up any carpets that have bits cut out of of them or that look like they have seen better days. The bathroom could definitely do with a good scrub, as could the kitchen.
The garden is a huge plus though, and the cottagey style front is pretty. Make sure that the new boiler and windows are flagged up to any potential buyer, - and make sure you have the relevant certificates to hand .

Sorry for your loss OP. I'd take out old carpets and clean the kitchen floor, door and windows and bathroom then ask EA to retake the photo. The garden could do with the grass cutting but it looks a lovely garden and if the price is right a FTB might want it to do it up to their own taste.

Sorry about your loss. I'd buy it if I wasn't skint.

I'm sorry for your loss.

It will sell. You don't need to do anything to it, it needs some fixing up but if you try to give it a lick of paint or change a carpet here and there for the photos you'll get the wrong viewers.

I bought a house some years ago that was in a similar condition. I was single and it cost me every penny I had just to buy it. I met DH shortly thereafter, and after a while he moved in, we spent 7 years doing it up here and there. We spent many happy years making it a home, we walked up the road to the registry office to get married, we brought our daughter home to it when she was born, she had her first Christmas in that house.

Someone will come along and breathe new life into your lovely dad's home and never know they are honouring his memory by making their own memories there.

I was advised by 2 estate agents not to clean the house as it’s obvious it needs updating.
the kitchen floor is broken where it looks really dirty in the middle. It’s where the big fridge and freezer stood.

i think that is bad advice re the cleaning as the state of the kitchen floor would put people off people even viewing. Even people who are quite prepared to take on a doer-upper.

I also don’t think the state agent is trying very hard. There is no mention on the particulars of the brand new heating system or the full new double glazing - so 2 bonuses that you wouldn’t necessarily expect in an older house 2 fewer expenses for the buyer. Also it’s halls adjoining which means less neighbour noise. It does say it is spacious which it really isn’t but it is absolutely the best of layout for the available space.

The photographs aren’t all that great either.

It’s a really pretty little house and garden and should make someone a lovely home!

I'm sorry about your dad.
It will sell, it does need work and lots of people like a property to put stamp on but I would also ensure it was clean( I'm sure it is), I'd also take down any old curtains etc( sorry I didn't look that closely).
I didn't see in the details there was no onward chain and it's not a probate property.

I agree that you should clean it, I can't see any reason not to.

It will sell at the right price! I don’t know what that is sadly as I’m not an expert on the area, but yes people will buy if they feel the price gives them enough money to do it up and compensates them for the inconvenience of having to do the work.

I also find it odd they’ve advised you not to have the place cleaned but there we are.

EAs tend to say whatever will get them the listing. So they tell people to sell it exactly as it is which means no work for the client who is delighted. They don't really care if the house goes for £20k less than it would if cleaned and well presented. The difference in the EA's commission is very small.

It’s an attractive house from the outside with a good sized gardens and well proportioned rooms.
Definitely clean it and get rid of the old carpets. I have bought a few doer uppers in various states but I’m always happier when the bathroom is as clean as it can be.

That would be the sort of price DS is looking to pay for a doer upper in Mancs
Sadly he wants Eccles Trafford park area due to job and needing easy access to M6 and M61
We would probably offer £150k depending on survey etc

Sorry for your loss.
There is nothing about the house that would stop me from looking at it. It's a nice house.

There's nothing wrong with it. Don't see the point of redecorating houses to sell when new owners will probably re do it. It's really wasteful!

I wouldn’t waste any time or money on cleaning or painting. It won’t make you anymore money and won’t make a jot of difference to its appearance. Anyone buying it will be completely scrapping everything and starting afresh. It’s ripe for an extension on the back.

Like a previous poster said, I'd be looking at recent sold prices for a guide to value. Looking at those I'd suggest your Dad's house is very much at the higher end of the sold prices. With it needing a good bit of modernisation, if you were wanting a fast sale I'd suggest lowering it a fair bit I'm afraid.

I disagree. We couldn't sell our first house and reduced the price a lot. Still didnt sell. Did a few jobs to smarten it up. Estate agent said not to bother. Put the price back up a bit and it sold.

@Viviennemary , you were selling a home, OP is selling a doer upper.

I have accepted an offer pending contracts etc. cash offer with no survey or searches.
anyone experience in how long a house sale is likely to take? I’m guessing after signing acceptance etc I can just leave the estate agents to it?