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Original poster

Is anyone else having a misreable time trying to sell their house?

475 replies

Roseflower · 23/08/2010 23:07

Our house has been on the market since June and trying to sell it - it's so depressing. Our one offer fell through and since then it just been no more offers.

Buyers (this month we have only had FTB) seem to be getting more and more unrealistic in what they expect for their money around here.

I hate everything about selling a house- the horrible estate agents, the constant calls from rival estate agents touting, the time waster people, rushing around like mad tidying up after dd for hours, giving up our plans to get ready for viewings, people saying nasty things about our family home... but worse in the uncertainity of it all.

Be good to know other people feel as down as me for some support. Or even better people who did feel like me but now things have turned out well!

OP posts:
120 · 15/09/2010 10:27

I agree, you have to make the place look great whilst being honest. Otherwise it makes you wonder what else they are hiding. Any defects should be reflected in the price, so if someone complains/has an issue you can just say that is why it is x amount less than that house round the corner that dosen't have that problem. I think when buying houses people are willing to make compromises to stay within their budget (often don't have a choice) but you have to show what the issue is so you get viewings from the people who are willing to make exactly those compromises.

midnightexpress · 15/09/2010 11:27

I always look on Streetview if it's available on rightmove - it's amazing how many places are next door to a pub/opposite a petrol station that has been carefully cropped from a photo.

120 · 15/09/2010 11:57

hm. I'm quite interested in something that is opposite a rough pub. Thought it would be entertaining. Maybe I'm wrong? I was just thinking it would be noisy around 11ish each night but that would be it.

midnightexpress · 15/09/2010 13:14

Don't know. I'd be put off by the noise, but also by the potential for having my wing mirrors knocked off/people throwing chip wrappers in my garden, that sort of thing, I think. But then I'm probably an old fart. Grin

120 · 15/09/2010 13:20

garden wall v high and gated development. There is the potential for drunks hanging about when I'm trying to get in, but it's a development with well over 50 flats/houses surrounding the car park so can't imagine it will be that much of threat. London's great innit?!

EmmaHewett · 15/09/2010 13:42

I've been trying to sell a house since the end of May - if it was in London it would have been snapped up immediately but my area has an overabundance of (tiny) newbuilds so no one wants a Victorian semi with a downstairs bathroom, sigh.

Have taken it off the market and am seriously considering investing dh's pension lumpsum in an extension.

120 · 15/09/2010 13:50

Would it be cheaper to move the bathroom and then try to re-sell? Have the agents given you any clues as to why the viewings weren't successful? Can you drop the price?

staranise · 15/09/2010 14:31

Hello, can I join in? Ive got an estate agent round tomorrow to value our three bed, end-of-terrace in London. What sort of things should I do to impress him or should I save the major clean/de-clutter for when it actually goes on the market? Would of course like a good price & quick sale (wouldn't we all!) as it would make such a difference to the size of house we can buy next. But also have three v young DCs and we are very squashed in at the moment so our small house looks cramped as it is.
I've never sold a house before so it's all new and not a little daunting!

120 · 15/09/2010 14:49

My top tips would be to (if you can)

  • put off the estate agent so you can have a proper declutter so they get a nice idea of your place.
  • If there are signs of wear and tear or any problems like moth/carpet beetle/rats/mice/damp/peeling walls/mouldy ceilings/dodgy mastic in kitchen or bathroom/dead plants etc sort them out.
  • Take some digital pics of your home and have a good look. Look on globrix or rightmove to compare similar sized properties in your area to get a realistic view of what your property is worth. You can also use nethouseprices to see what things in your area have sold for in the last 6 months
  • get three valuations from local estate agents. Take a good look at the agent's website and the agent themselves to see if you like their style and will be able to put up with it for up to 6 months.
  • find out what percentage they charge and what exclusivity they tie you in for. Also find out what kind of marketing they will do for you in terms of board outside/brochure/professional photos/picture in their office window/email out to their client list etc etc
  • don't promise anything! Get all the info first. They are very good at what they do so will try and pin you down.
  • cut down on the kids toys so you have less to tidy up each day. declutter your shelves etc so you have more room to declutter other areas eg papers etc when you have to do a quick clean up.
  • put away as much personal stuff as you can - it needs to be stylish but not too homey
  • finally make sure it doesn't smell!

good luck. It's stressful, but worth putting the effort in before the photos and valuations. The estate agents themselves should like it and want to show people it so make it something you are proud of and that will come across to the agents!

120 · 15/09/2010 14:49

sorry, bit of an essay for you star, but I've literally just done it!

MollysChambers · 15/09/2010 14:54

Agree with 120. Make it look like a show home before EA visits. Clear out as much stuff as you can. When we sold our last house BIL's garage was jam packed full of our clutter.

staranise · 15/09/2010 14:59

That's brilliant, thanks so much. Luckily we have a big and empty attic so I can shove a lot of stuff up there though it's goingto be hard to keep it all clear. We've had it painted very neutral quite recently though it's a long way from being a show home.

Right, I'm off to tidy up and de-clutter while the kids are at school, will report back tomorrow. Time to get out the scented candls... Thanks again!

LadyBiscuit · 15/09/2010 17:14

Also staranise - consider the footfall outside the agents. I chose one over another because they are doing roadworks around here and the pavement outside one of the agents was closed while the other one was where everyone was forced to walk. The guy who is (hopefully!) buying my place saw it in the window (was further out that he was originally considering but he liked the look of it).

And fresh flowers, particularly ones from your garden if you can.

staranise · 15/09/2010 17:48

Thanks for that LB - sure you don't live near me? - we have so many roadworks here at the moment!
I'm shoving stuff up in the attic right now (well, not actually while typing...), have put away photos etc and the tatty drawings by the children. And my summer clothes. Will put buggy/washing in the car tomorrow. Carpets need a clean but that will have to wait. When we looked round it it was completely empty and freshly-painted etc - it seemed so light and clean compared with some of the others we'd looked at so I'd love to give some hint of that again. I hoep DH willl be pleased but I'm sure he'll think I'm jumping the gun but I'm jsut pleased to get started on all this clutter!

120 · 15/09/2010 20:02

I think that's the thing. Initially you are so used to the clutter a bit of tidying makes it start to look great again. You do really have to pare back though, to make it look as roomy as possible, after all, that's what most London dwellers are after for the extortionate prices!

staranise · 16/09/2010 11:00

Oh well, had the EA round - quite good in that he said he could sell it today for what I thought was a very good price but that if we did the proper de-clutter, made some minor changes etc, it would go for more.

Thing that bothered him most was the small back garden and tatty front garden - the latter will take a bit of fixing as it involves digging up a concrete path etc but I'm happy to wait til January to put it on the market (as it's such a big move with change of schools etc) so at least there's plenty of time. He echoed what you all said re. importance of de-clutter. I'm now going to spend the next three months making the hosue look lovely, only for us to move out! I'm also considering going into renting at the other end as I can't imagine how you cope with change of towns, schools etc and being in a property chain.

midnightexpress · 16/09/2010 11:57

That sounds positive staranise. Autumn's a great time to be planting and sorting out gardens, so it should look great for the spring if you can do it now. Can you afford to get someone to do it for you?

We're in a similar position if we do move with schools etc. and considering renting at the other end because it just seems impossible any other way. Watch out with your mortgage though that you won't have to pay exit fees - we were told that there is a grace period of 6 months (or was it 9? Anyway...) with our mortgage whereby you won't pay the exit fee if you buy again within that period after you sell.

staranise · 16/09/2010 17:24

Gosh I hadn't even thought about mortgage etc - I'm not sure that DH is taking this move as seriously as I am and there will jsut be so much to do that we need to get some target dates etc in mind. It always amazes me how anyone manages to move at all! I will be coming back for top tips on what sells a house...

Plus the EA weas very nice and very positive but can you trust anything they say or do you think they jsut give everyone the same patter?

thegirlwiththemouseyhair · 17/09/2010 10:41

Estate Agents! Well that's a whole topic of its own.
Dp and I in big disagreement. He is of opinion that the EAs undervalue to get a quick sale.
I say so what if the same applies to what we buy.
It's not the actual price you sell and buy for but the differential that counts. Oh, and that you recover any investment...

Just been manically moving clutter from room to room as pictures are being done today.
Will have to find permanent hiding places when viewers come Grin

MollysChambers · 17/09/2010 12:28

I disagree. I think EA's overvalue to get the property on their books. Particularly when their are so few coming to market. When viewers aren't forthcoming they can then advise reducing the price.

midnightexpress · 17/09/2010 12:46

I agree, particularly in Scotland, where i suspect that they're in cahoots with the surveyors (we still have home reports) - the price for the survey goes up by £100 with each £100k, so they get £100 more if they value your home at 210k than if they value it at £199k.

midnightexpress · 17/09/2010 12:47

I mean I agree with Molly

120 · 17/09/2010 18:50

I think although it is all the same business, there are good ones and bad ones, even in the same company. I've met two truly excellent estate agents this time round. The green and yellows deliberately overvalue, but then they charge 2.5% which is very high. The ones I went with go for a very realistic price as they realise most people want to sell quickly, but they were also willing to put it on for a higher price, so I feel I've got the best of both worlds; realistic estate agents with a realistic price.

I really think it pays to know your market. If necessary pretend you are buying in your area and look at a couple of properties similar to yours, or just snoop online so you get a real feel for what it's worth. Then as tgwtmh said, it's the differential so it's really down to what you need to sell if for, and what the potential person wants to pay.

I've got a couple more viewings tomorrow, so fingers crossed!

Frizbe · 21/09/2010 17:39

OMG I have a viewing in 25 minutes....have opened windows, thrown the bin out, spritz'd rooms with nice smells....donated the kids to their friends house for a bit, wish me luck 'gibber'

notnearlyasblondasiwas · 22/09/2010 20:12

Hello everyone, just popped back to give hope by saying we completed on our sale on Tuesday (finally) and exchanged on our purchase, so houses are moving (at least in London!) Hope all the viewings are going well!