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Original poster

Trying to sell - totally fed up!

136 replies

Gabity · 03/01/2011 23:40

We have had our house on the market now for 7 months. We are desperate to move. DH bought the house 3 years ago on a whim Hmm just before we met. We are now married complete with baby and dog. We are looking to move to the country side beside my parents and are so fed up waiting.

Please please, can you have a look at link to house and tell me what you think? Be brutal and honest. We will do/change anything if you think it will make a difference?

Had 4 viewers in 7 months and not a sniff of an offer. Obviously can't do anything about the area, its not great, but is okay. Quiet and excellent schools/parks/shops/train station close by.

As you can see we are now 20k below home report value and really can't afford to go any lower.

our house

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dizzeelizzee · 05/01/2011 21:28

We are the only 4 bed on the road and the number 13 was a repo.

We had three valuations and took the average which was 145K and have dropped by 10K in the last 10 months.

We are currently the cheapest 4 bed semi in the area.

I think we are priced correctly, especially as I dont think anyone expects to achieve full asking price these days.

LeonardNimoy · 05/01/2011 21:35

Gabity - I too would wonder at the lack of pictures of the outside/garden. I have to say I wouldn't give a toss about your dining table or the colour of your towels though Grin I don't think other serious buyers will either (we are completing on our purchase this week, so I have been a recent serious buyer, if you see what I mean). I would get a floorplan up on the website as your bedrooms are good sizes. Personally I don't like the "fixed price" or the bit about the home buyer valuation being £20k more than the asking price. It would make me thnk you are likely to be an unrealistic vendor, but I appreciate it all works differently in Scotland and I have no experience of your buying system.

northerngirl41 · 05/01/2011 22:32

First problem is your estate agents - call up and do some mystery shopping and you'll be horrified by the response.

We had multiple problems selling our last flat despite it being in very, very good nick, in a nice area, lots of checks background checks/guarantees yadda yadda. Countrywide were utterly useless and we did some test calls to see what happened. No calls back, no schedules sent out, emails not responded to...

Suggest changing the agent and see if that works.

Original poster
Gabity · 05/01/2011 22:36

Ahhhhhhhhhhh we have got a viewing tomorrow!!!!! Its not one of you feeling sorry for me is it?

Right, you have seen the house, give me and tips and things to do tomorrow before they arrive! Pretty please! I'm so excited!!!!!

Just in from work just now and Oh has started the cleaning today but got so much to do before they come tomorrow!

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lalalonglegs · 05/01/2011 22:41

Clean, tidy but not weirdly so. If you have pets get rid of them for the morning (do you have pets? Could they be causing a smell?) I honestly think that the house looks fine, not anyone's dream home perhaps but obviously in good condition, nice room sizes and nothing offensive about the way it's decorated. Too late to replant the garden Grin?

Good luck.

Original poster
Gabity · 05/01/2011 22:46

Thanks la la. Yes, the dog is being dispatched first thing along with the baby later! I have worried about the doggy smell but have had friends over who assure me you can't smell him.

I have dared to look at the houses for sale in the area we are after (had given up hope therefor given up looking) and there is an amazing house just perfect for us, so maybe it is fate?

Or more probably they either a) won't turn up or b) still have a house to sell themsevles!

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lalalonglegs · 05/01/2011 22:50

STAY AWAY FROM RIGHTMOVE

awubble · 05/01/2011 22:51

Hey Gabity,

I don't know why but that sale doesn't seem to be recorded in a few places i have looked. Daft question but was it a recorded sale or a some transfer between entities (family, business or similar) ?

The sales they do record im pretty sure are recorded without prejudice and still a useful tool for sellers and buyers.

Anyway, as long as your house is getting on the most used web sites and in the local rags i don't see what else you can do really except review your position.

You could consider some 'odd' things to do with it. I mean if it appeals to first time buyers, maybe market it with 2k cash back or "with free new tv, sofa and fridge" etc.

Have you approached the local authorities to see if they would consider purchasing ? Might be worth a shot, they always moan they don't have enough properties.

Anyway..best of luck to you and yours.

awubble · 05/01/2011 22:53

lalalonglegs Wed 05-Jan-11 22:50:55
STAY AWAY FROM RIGHTMOVE

Why ? i would have thought if you wanted to sell a house then having it advertised on the most visited property portal would be usefull...no ?

awubble · 05/01/2011 22:54

Gabity !!!

Twigs in a vase !

Get it done...now !

dizzeelizzee · 05/01/2011 22:56

Whats wrong with rightmove??

They arent the agents, just an advertising site..

Original poster
Gabity · 05/01/2011 22:57

lala I have stayed away from it sooooo long, but can't help myself now.

awubble No, he bought it through Countrywide. So don't know why it hasn't shown up. Yet he says that the guy he bought it from bought it from his father in 2004 and that shows up? Strange.

Had thought about approaching local authority but this wasn't a 'council' house as such. Its called a 'Scottish Special' not entirely sure who they were built for, some private housing assossiation maybe? Anyway, they must have sold them all off as they are all privately owned now.

Have said to the estate agent that when they are talking about property to potential buyers if they seem like they would be interested to offer white goods, tv and sofa!!!

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Original poster
Gabity · 05/01/2011 22:58

awubble not right now, but in the morning! its on my shopping list Grin Grin

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Original poster
Gabity · 05/01/2011 22:59

Think I have to stay away from rightmove as its the place to fall in love with houses. You then get even more fecked off when you can't sell your bloody house and the perfect house is staring at you from a computer screen! No?

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Original poster
Gabity · 05/01/2011 23:03

Do you want to see what i'm currently lusting over? Needs a lot of work, and not quite as isolated as would be perfect but just look at the character and garden compared to this place and a really great price.

i want!

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lalalonglegs · 05/01/2011 23:04

You do realise it's the equivalent of just looking around Pronuptia (you happened to be passing) because someone has asked you on a date a fortnight on Friday Grin? Good luck again.

Yeah, definitely get the twigs Wink.

Original poster
Gabity · 05/01/2011 23:07

Grin Grin A girl can dream!

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lalalonglegs · 05/01/2011 23:07

Bloody hell, do all the estate agents in Scotland go to the same lousy school of photography?

I do like a doer-upper though and amaaaazing garden.

awubble · 05/01/2011 23:17

Lala ..i see ! ...and i agree !

Gabity, that place looks lovely. Maybe you should stop looking until you know you won't be dissapointed....

If you are really going for it, then cook some bread before the viewing too.

Hope it goes well !

LeonardNimoy · 06/01/2011 09:00

Love the clock over the bath in the dooer-upper! Why would you have a clock over your bath?! Grin

PlanetEarth · 06/01/2011 09:27

The interior looks a bit soul-less to me, especially the living room. Maybe a few plants, or more pictures?

bamboobutton · 06/01/2011 09:38

agree with others that the outside lets it down, needs a paint job.

and get it up on rightmove, 4 viewings in seven months!! in all the years i have been renting i have never ever looked on individual estate agents websites, it takes too long when you can look on rightmove and see hundreds and hundreds of houses, filtering to your requirements.

i regularly go there for a dose of property pornGrin

Original poster
Gabity · 06/01/2011 10:24

It has been on rightmove from the start. Think just about every estate agent uses it now?

Livingroom doesn't look soul-less today, it looks like fecking toys r us. Blush what am I going to do with all DDs crap toys?

Its only 10.20am and i'm knackered. House is looking spotless though, working 2-6 so DH and DD better keep it tidy! Viewing at 7pm!

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Fortress · 06/01/2011 10:50

Good luck Gabbity for the viewing tonight!

LisasCat · 06/01/2011 10:51

I have nothing to offer with regards advice, but I really wish I lived in Scotland now! I cannot believe what you get for your money. We live in a small village, not massively desirable but it's got a good school and a train station, about an hour's drive from the outskirts of London. And the Scotland house being sold would be about £250-£300k, the Sheffield one probably £350k, and the dooer-upper at least £400k in my village. Aaaaaargh, we're going to be renting until I die, I just know it!