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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:
MollysChambers · 10/09/2010 12:09

As a neutral observer it seems pretty clear that house prices are only going to go one way. If you want to sell right now then you look to see what comparable houses are being marketed at, take the average, and then pitch yours lower. This isn't going to turn around any time soon, IMO. Cut your losses now and you'll probably look back in a few years and realise that you're better off for doing it... Sorry if that's a bit blunt for some but I really do believe that sellers need a healthy dose of realism. Chasing the market down isn't going to do it. In this situation you will only attract buyers by offering them what they perceive to be value for money.

nottirednow · 10/09/2010 12:22

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OrmRenewed · 10/09/2010 12:28

Agree with molly. Sorry Sad

We priced ours at the lower end of the estate agents valuation (the lower of the 2 we had). And accepted an offer. As a result we sold in about 7 weeks. Many of our neighbours had been on the market for months - a year in once case. After we sold they all reduced the asking price and sold to lower offers within a few weeks.

vesela · 10/09/2010 12:30

do they take house ads in yachting monthly? you want to market it to keen sailors of retirement age who don't mind a step or two and like to feel they're out on deck :)

nottirednow · 10/09/2010 12:37

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spiritmum · 10/09/2010 12:37

Ooh, yes, what about Coast magazine too?

sungirltan · 10/09/2010 12:40

thanks for more feedback. never realised the issue with the shower - honestly its huge its a wetroom! will make sure new listing sorts it out though for sure! didnt realise lift wasnt mentioned either - i am not doing well proofing am i!

we have 3 palms which just about survive but fall over in storms. i tried lavender for greyness but it needs gallons of water. we had conifers to start with which went brown instantly - the last one is on the kitchen balcony and just about alive! i will retian the other plant advice though if we are still here next spring.

the step thing is problem though. its one medium step up onto the window sil then one little step you step over to reach the decking outside and its the same for all the entrances to the main terrace and the small back balcony. the side one had patio doors which are flat at the bottom.

am finding this all v helpful thank you!!

sungirltan · 10/09/2010 12:42

vesela and spirit x post - thats brillaint! we are going with stags now who have a 'waterside portfolio' but i will def ask if they advertise in that kind of media!!

sungirltan · 10/09/2010 12:42

thanks for link nottired :-)

SuzieHomemaker · 10/09/2010 13:47

Do look at the details from the perspective of a buyer. My assumption is that if something isnt mentioned then it isnt there.

Do also check out all the websites such as Rightmove used by the estate agent. Make sure that your property appears in the way you expect it to (eg make sure that all information is clear and that links to details work). Dont assume that your agent will do this.

Do look at pricing brackets and how they work with searches. We made a mistake with our last property. We sold it quickly then the buyer pulled out and we got stuck for a couple of months. We cut the price to just under a Rightmove price threshold and sold again quickly for the same price as we had agreed the first time. We are in a low price area so I am only talking about a difference of £2500 in the asking price. This was a level of subtlety which had passed me by. I now know for next time.

The asking price is a factor and eventually every property can be sold if the price is dropped low enough. The problem is that if the price is too low then the only people who will be interested are property developers like me and I will be deeply suspicious if the property looks good but the price is too low. In this situation I will assume structural problems. In which case any buyer will be looking at creating a rental machine.

The condition for the market is key. On the whole people looking for retirement type properties dont want to do work and will either discount heavily, or more likely in this market, walk away. A family buyer may look at condition differently and may be more interested in size/location for schools.

BTW sungirltan did your wetroom originally have a bath? IME older buyers (and many others) want a bath not a shower, could one be put in your wetroom? If so, include the bathroom dimensions (why dont estate agent details include bathroom dimensions automatically?)and get the estate agent to mention it.

vesela · 10/09/2010 13:56

yes, not just older buyers who'd want baths - I don't even have many baths, but I'd definitely want the option.

sungirltan · 10/09/2010 14:08

there is a whirlpool bath in the main bathroom and then the wetroom is the ensuite

Xenia · 10/09/2010 16:50

Look on nethouseprices.com and see what houses have sold for (not been advertised at) in the same street or very near by to get an idea of what it is worth.

If you are really fed up rent it out and buy somewhere near where you want to be (or rent) if you can afford it.

sungirltan · 10/09/2010 17:25

thanks xenia. we've ocnsidered renting but are worried the type it will appeal to (young single guys) might trash it

nottirednow · 10/09/2010 19:48

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sungirltan · 10/09/2010 20:58

hey nottired - all the screens are the same just some are frosted glass and some are clear. the glass panes have a gap at the bottom of about 4" which means the salty wind bites the plants at the stem and kills them.

think you are right about the baths though my mum just ripped hers out and swapped it for a big cubicle that can have a seat

LadyBiscuit · 10/09/2010 20:59

sungirltan - I think if young single people can afford the level of rent you're going to charge, they're unlikely to trash it. But then I suspect prices are going to stay level or go down in the foreseeable future so it depends how much you need the cash

fruitstick · 10/09/2010 21:54

We have just put an offer on a house at 15% under asking. In my opinion (and I have looked at A LOT of houses over the last 18 months), the agents have over valued it to factor this kind of thing in. I think they will settle for 10% under.

I track property bee on rightmove (which tracks changes to listings) and the majority of new listings are actually price reductions or sales that have fallen through.

We went through a period last year of houses being snapped up before they even reached the open market but that has definitely passed!

sungirltan · 10/09/2010 21:54

yeh perhaps. it was something we discussed if cash got tight but tbh i think i want to sit it out and wait for a sale - renting it out is just delaying the inevitable :-(

120 · 11/09/2010 10:00

Can I join? Put my flat on the market mid August, midway between what the estate agents wanted to price it at. All was going well but the management company have just put scaffolding around the whole mansion block so they can tart it up. Really has changed the lovely feel when you come into the courtyard, but the estate agents think prospective buyers will see it as a bonus as they won't have to live with the builders or pay fees, and it will all look fab. I'm not sure if they have convinced me!

120 · 11/09/2010 10:01

fruitstick where are you? We're in East London and I have a feeling property prices in London are a little more resistant than in some other areas of the country

lovingmomof3 · 11/09/2010 11:29

My house has been on the market for 3 months, its a big victorian semi detached house with loft extension i put it on for 175 950 and 3 months due to my impatient ex ive had to knock 10 grand of it. I have lots of patience and i know it takes longer than 3 months to sell a house but i wish i could get more people in to view as viewers come in dribs and drabs x

dejavuaswell · 11/09/2010 12:09

I viewed 2 rural properties this morning with an ever-so-slightly grumpy DH in tow.

They were on offer at almost identical prices but OMG what a difference in what we would get for our money.Shock

House A had more rooms and bigger rooms and the whole house looked to be in better repair than house B. The only advantage of house B was that it was 2 miles closer to a supermarket than house A - 6 miles v 8 miles.

To me house A was worth at least £40K more than house B but as I said they are nominally at the same price.

fruitstick · 11/09/2010 12:30

We have exactly the same issue. The house we have offered on is 2000 sft. The house across the road is under offer at same asking price with same agent bur is 2600 sft and needs less, although still considerable, work.

The under offer one has bigger garden and double garage too. It makes no sense.

Frizbe · 11/09/2010 19:37

Ours has been on the market for two weeks and so far nothing....my friends house (smaller 3 bed) went on market on same day as mine and has SOLD Grin so I'm very happy for her, as she can now move onto the house of her dreams! despite what the media are saying the market is slowly picking up, I've seen two more houses sell quickly in the last week too, so I'm holding out hope for some viewings soon here.....