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Original poster

Going mad trying to sell our house - anyone else??!!

23 replies

Chunkychicken · 05/02/2012 18:40

We've been on the market since the summer, & whilst I recognise that this is not a hugely long time, I'm getting to the end of my tether!!! We have tried different agents, different prices, different photos, floorplans, and anything we can think of in the house to boost appeal. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone is in the same boat? I'm sick of having our perfectly lovely house rejected every couple of days!!!

OP posts:

Ladymuck · 05/02/2012 18:43

Are you getting sensible feedback?

We're at the opposite end: no problem in getting buyers for ours but there is little suitable on the market for us to look at, and anything that comes on is sold within the week or there is something definitely wrong with it/not reflected in the price.

scurryfunge · 05/02/2012 18:44

We have had ours on the market since the end of December. We've had 5 viewings and 2 who wanted the house but couldn't get mortgage / finances together. Why do people view an express an interest knowng they can't afford it?

Original poster

Chunkychicken · 05/02/2012 18:52

We've had 9 viewings since end of Dec but feedback is silly...'not a new build' for a period property, 'on a busy road' etc. All stuff you know before you agree to a viewing really!! So frustrating!!

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Ponyofdoom · 05/02/2012 20:56

I had a gorgeous property that I thought would sell within weeks- it took 7 months to get a decent offer. I just think there is a lack of money and confidence all through the house market. Chunky, I have been and viewed properties where it was clear what it was like from the brochures, but sometimes you really have to see it in the flesh, eg we viewed a place that was near a main road so we figured there would be road noise but when we actually experienced it that was a different matter altogether.

Original poster

Chunkychicken · 06/02/2012 19:06

I could understand seeing a house near a main road & not liking it, but to say that's why you don't like it. Or seeing a house advertised as 'period' then saying its 'not a new build' as to why you don't want to offer. If they were upfront - kitchens too small, too expensive, too close to x, y or z, I could understand but its really stupid reasons. Plus we've got new double glazing, so no road noise so shouldn't that be a good thing, not a reason not to buy?? Why bother coming to view it if they're going to dismiss it out of hand? I'd rather have fewer viewings & genuine feedback that so many daft or downright rude people through the door...

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Succubi · 06/02/2012 19:10

Just put our house on the Market (mid January). We have had quite a few people to view but to be honest they all (bar one) came across as time wasters. Do you think there are people who just look at houses for a hobby/something to do at the w/end?

Original poster

Chunkychicken · 06/02/2012 19:16

No idea Succubi could be for some, but some were 'desperate' for a house according to the agent but its totally inappropriate for them. I understand looking to get the 'feel' for the place (we're not first time buyers obviously!!) but I try to always give genuine feedback. Too much work to do, not enough central heating, didn't like the layout upstairs etc. Things you can't always tell from the particulars. Just wish they'd think a bit before viewing.

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pinkappleby · 06/02/2012 19:27

Do you really wish you had fewer viewers chunkychicken? Having no viewings would be really depressing. I viewed the home I am in now before ours even went on the market, so I was non proceedable at that point. 3 Weeks later I had sold ours and got my offer accepted.

Near a main road feedback probably means 'the house was not special enough to make up for the road noise' and the new build comment probably means that they didn't fancy the maintenance on an older house. You have to read between the lines. Besides, some people may not wish to give honest feedback as they may not wish to get into a debate about it e.g. road is not too noisy, but we have double glazing...........

neenewps · 07/02/2012 16:07

We are on the other end. We are desperate to buy and can't find anything that's suitable as there isn't much on the market right now in this area.

It's quite stressful and frustrating.

buggyRunner · 07/02/2012 17:44

We sold and just been told our cash buyers want a mortgage- we were meant to exchange on the 17th!
Apparently they applied for it 2 weeks ago- I am in actual tears! Dp and I have just had the 'if they pull out we'll do..." conversation.

I wouldn't be so upset but I've been getting my dd round to the idea of moving and if we don't then I'll have a lot of explaining to do

scurryfunge · 07/02/2012 17:53

That's rotten buggy runner. I would be livid.Why do people faff around so much?

buggyRunner · 07/02/2012 18:01

I just don't get it! I mean we rushed round trying to find somewhere- accepted the offer in late November- so why now?

Im petrified of their survey too- don't know why?

scurryfunge · 07/02/2012 18:04

People use surveys as an opportunity to drop the price.

JoJoMummy321 · 07/02/2012 22:34

We have been on the market since September and it's a nightmare. Viewings are slow but steady however no offer yet. It's a period property, a conversion in a town house layout, so not for everyone but we had hoped it would sell quicker.

We are in Scotland so have the home survey and have dropped our price to see if this helps.

Such a long wait and so stressful!

choux · 08/02/2012 00:08

Chunky - you didn't say if you've dropped the price? If you've been on the market for several months and are getting viewings but no offers perhaps it's time to look at the price. If viewers think it's overpriced then photos, floorplans, decluttering etc won't get it sold.

Have you discussed the price with the agent? How does it compare to other homes in the are which are on at that price?

Ladymuck · 08/02/2012 09:13

We're at the other end too. Had an offer on ours several weeks ago, but there is nothing suitable to move to. I even went to look at a new-build in desperation . And yes, my feedback would have been "don't want a newbuild".

londonlottie · 08/02/2012 09:29

A bit like on the other thread though ChunkyChicken it might say it's on a busy road but only when you see the road and see how it feels to stand in/outside the house can you know whether it's for you. I hated having to give feedback when we were looking because often the honest answer was 'it just didn't feel right'. But you are prodded by the EA to give something more concrete than that and often say things that in themselves wouldn't be a deal breaker but along with the fact that I walked in and just thought "don't like it" made me decide against.

Original poster

Chunkychicken · 08/02/2012 13:36

We've dropped the price 3 times. On at 150k in the summer. Switched agents to get more interest, dropped to 145k & no we're on at 130-160k with a 3rd agent but making it clear that we def DON'T want the top end. Don't know what else we can do!!! If its over-priced, wouldn't the feedback be 'its too much money'??!!! I'd rather have the 'it doesn't feel right' feedback than make up bullshit excuses. Why come to look at an old house if you want a new build? No new build would be as cheap as our house - we're the cheapest house in our area, with 3 beds, garden & off-road parking. There are better areas, but there are definitely worse areas and why not tell the truth - 'don't like the area?'

7 months, 1 reasonable offer but the stupid women decided to offer somewhere else before giving us a chance to even say whether we'd accept it/estate agent cock-up.

It's a good house, we've done LOADS to it & are getting fed up with tidying all evidence of us actually living here away 3 times a week for idiots to not even consider what they're getting for their money.

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Quenelle · 08/02/2012 17:29

So would you consider using a part exchange company if you're desperate to move?

Just asking because I've been reading about them this afternoon. We want to move but our house is on a new development that hasn't been completed yet. No second hand houses have sold yet in two years because there's too much competition from off-plan. Our only option is to PX but I don't want to be limited to newbuilds. If you use a PX company rather than a developer you can buy an older house.

Apparently PX is on the increase because the market is so bad. Just wondered if anyone has considered it...

frostyfingers · 08/02/2012 17:38

We had a viewing today - and having been told by EA that they are "proceedable" it turns out their house isn't even on the market, grrrr! At least I didn't waste the effort of cleaning and getting the house warm as I had friends round for lunch after.

We had a classic a while ago - it is a late 80's red brick house, the photo on the front is a giveaway, and it's also described as "built in 1988, with later extension" - it's not avantgarde, flashy architecht fancy house, just fairly plain red brick under slate. Viewees said - "oh, we didn't realise it was modern red brick", and that was before they'd even come inside. I was speechless!

Original poster

Chunkychicken · 09/02/2012 23:02

Can't afford a new build, even on part exchange!!! (Or rather, can't afford a BIGGER house as a new build - would be okay if we wanted less sq ft.) Need the equity from this sale to afford the next rung up. We bought just before the peak, so it didn't cost us much less than we're selling for, & we've spent THOUSANDS doing necessary work/paying down the mortgage. Also, we'd lose a fortune in redemption fees etc on our mortgage...

However, I'm sure they're a good idea if you really are desperate to move & can afford to take the lower than market value they prob offer.

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Quenelle · 10/02/2012 10:25

Unfortunately we want to move to a town that has much higher property prices so we probably couldn't afford to take such a hit on our house.

Have to sit tight for a few more years I suppose.

I hope you all have more luck soon.

Original poster

Chunkychicken · 11/02/2012 14:16

It's frustrating isn't it frosty? It all feels so pointless & such hardwork for someone to spend approx 7 mins judging you/your home. Fingers crossed for you.

Quenelle that's a tricky situation to be in, so feel for you. The stupid thing is, the house we have is just about big enough, but we thought we'd try to sell before extending our family & I'm on maternity leave & to give us time before my DD is at school. Unfortunately, I'm not getting any younger & its taken so long to go nowhere, we're seriously thinking we should just stay here!!! Typical. Good luck with whatever you decide.

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