I know, it's a hideous time to try to sell a house in the first-time buyers' bracket of the market. But 18 months in, we really have to sell soon - am seriously concerned about DH's mental health with the increasing strain of our current living situation (and mine too TBH).
To cut a long story short, we have two tiny houses, bought when we were both single, the larger one (2 beds) 200+ miles from where we both work. DS was born last summer, and while smaller house is near work it is only 1 bed. It will sell in a flash (location, also SE with buoyant prices). But 2 bed house (North, terrible housing crash) has been on the market for 18 months now. We can't live in 1 bed much longer with DS now 9 mths, but can't buy a bigger house near work until we sell 2 beds, as it has all our equity in it.
I'd really welcome tips on how to sell our larger house, as we are getting to the point where neither of us can cope any more. (Please don't suggest renting either of them; we've been through every possible scenario and it won't work. Nor can either of us, let alone both, change jobs.)
Plus points.....
Really sweet 2 bed Grade II listed terraced cottage with no structural work to be done and lots of character features. 5 mins from railway station, 20 min commute to major city.
Both village schools Ofsted "outstanding"; state secondary the best in the LEA.
Sitting room and main bedroom really good size, nice woodburning stove downstairs in fireplace. As well as two bedrooms, there is a newly renovated watertight basement with storage room and small study. New part-fitted kitchen in character style.
Enclosed part-walled cottage garden, and parking.
Dead quiet and private.
Good professional rental potential (though not for us in current circs)
Minus points.....
2nd bedroom really small - single bed or child's room only. Currently unfurnished as we use it as a drying and ironing room.
Bathroom even smaller. Decor fine but a bit tired.
Kitchen is not fully fitted and has some open shelving.
No fence between our garden and neighbours, and they have right of access on the path across our garden to get to their front door. (watertight division legally so no problems on that score).
Listed building so no more room to expand the property. Loft extension a no.
Could probably do with a lick of paint and some tarting up of woodwork, etc, but currently all very tasteful colours.
We've just reduced the price for a second time, and we'd take a lower offer still, but we can't afford to take much more of a hit, or we'll never be able to buy again. (or that's what it feels like)
Any suggestions of small, relatively inexpensive things we can do to find a buyer? I'd be so grateful, as we are both getting quite desperate now.
(and if you would all be a bit un-mumsnetty and not too harsh on me..... this has been very hard for us, and getting harder as DS gets bigger.)
THANK YOU!
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PLEASE help me to sell my house!
beanlet · 20/04/2011 21:20
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Sorry to say this, but you may need to change EA and reduce the price.
Tbh, if its affecting you both so much (and I can empathise) then you will have to take a hit to sell it 
We changed EA's and dropped our asking price by £20k. We got an offer at the new asking price within 3 days.
Houses are selling if they are priced right. There are houses near me (Derbyshire) that have been on the market since last Spring. They are nice houses but are not selling because they are on for too much.
I have noticed the same thing in the area where we are moving to - the houses that havent reduced their price are still on the market after 18 months -2 years.
Bear in mind you will be in a good position to offer/buy when you are able to...you will be able to make cheeky offers! We did and it was accepted!
Good luck
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