Trying to sell, but "area" seems to be a problem

[mimmymouse]

We have been on the market just on 2 months. Had a good number of viewings. Have, however, lost a sale and a potential sale due to the "area". Not one person has had bad feedback about the house.

The first incident: a charming neighbourhood child swore at the viewer when walking past as she and the agent walked back to the car. Not much I can do about that, as I wasn't there to identify the child. (Not that I know most of them anyway.)

Second incident involved an actual sale, which was absolutely gutting, was once offer had been accepted and we were finally looking at properties! This was a convoluted affair as the buyer had complicated mortgage issues which were, eventually, resolved. This took more than 2 weeks. Once she had her money in order, we accepted her offer. 2 days later she pulled out due to the "area", even though she had weeks to check it out. According to the agent, she drove down our street with her Dad one evening and saw some of our neighbours drinking in their front yard. Her father then instructed her not to buy the house in such an "area". I mightn't like it, but they weren't doing anything illegal drinking in their own front yard. (It was during that one sunny week in July.)

A most recent return viewer wants to buy the house, but her daughter believes it to be in an undesirable "area" and is advising against it. I had no idea I was living in such a hole.

What can I do? Our house is immaculately presented (my agent's words, not mine!) We do everything we can to be available to viewers. But there is not much I can do about my neighbours or their behaviour.

We live in a lovely Oxfordshire town. There is no crime. Good schools (which we live close to) and a wonderful town centre. Close to both Oxford and London. House is lovely - just too small for our growing family. Granted the neighbours aren't royalty (some are council tenants), but they are, on the whole, very nice people. Their kids are too noisy and their dogs bark a bit, but I understand that happens all over the country - especially in summer holidays.

What else can I do?? What can I do about the "area"?? We're running out of room!

I think if a buyer falls in love with your house, they will overlook any negatives - it's what I did. However, your home has to stand out or be priced right to "compensate" for any perceived difficencies. Also if you are in a catchment area for a good school make sure that the agent highlights this where relevant. I viewed over thirty homes in person before I bought the one I'm in and I don't remember the agent mentioning the fact that the primary school down the road is rated "outstanding" by Ofsted, even though I was viewing with a young child..

I don't blame your potential buyers to be honest, sorry. It is hideous having unpleasant neighbours. We bought our place from an old lady who didn't inform us how horrible our neighbours were and it is ruined our happiness in this home. If we have any hint of such when we buy again we will run a mile. I think you may just have to lower price expectations.

Drinking in your front garden is hardly hideous behaviour

Unfortunately OP some people are snotty about Council tenants, I hope you can find a buyer soon.

TBH I wouldn't buy a house where the neighbours drink in the front garden. Then again I may be snobbish but I don;t want to see that! I makes an area look like Shameless!

Theres your answer OP,Some people are just out and out snobs.

I appreciate your honesty, all of you!

I agree, Yankee, I wouldn't buy a house where the neighbours behaved like that. However, I'm not buying....

Lowering the price isn't much of an option now. We already did! Also, there is a house just around the corner which has lowered it's price by over £30K and they still aren't selling either. Rats. It seemed an obvious solution.

BettyDon, if I had known then what I know now, we wouldn't have lived here either.

I suppose, as Sueq suggested, I just have to wait for someone to love it. I hope we don't wait too long.

Thanks again.

It's a toughie. We bought eventually as the nice old lady said she had happily lived here for 25 years. She forgot to mention the last 6 months when nasty neighbours moved in and she realised they were drug dealers !

Commiserations..I have been in this situation. You just have to hang on in there, someone will love it. Might be worth waiting until the autumn when there is less 'street life' to put people off? I bought my first flat in October as was astonished when half the neighbourhood spent the first hot night of the following summer sitting out on their front steps til midnight. It was fine actually - lovely friendly down to earth area in SE London - but I might not have bought the flat if I'd witnessed it at the viewing stage!

and was astonished, not as was

Hang in there. We had similar issues when selling our previous house which was on a busy road, oppostie a council estate. We never had any problems living there, the neighbours were all very friendly and nice, but there was a lot of negative feedback about the street from potential buyers. In our case it took a bit longer to sell than we'd hoped (9 months in the end - with 2 sales that fell through) but we held firm and in the end sold for the full asking price to a couple of first time buyers who fell in love with the house and were prepared to overlook the "undesirable" street in order to have it.

Can't afford to buy ,so rent, but been there done that. most people are not snobs but just want peace and quiet which is admittedly hard to have in built up areas but for 9 nice quiet neighbours the tenth is a nightmare and spoils it for everyone else yet they seem to get away with it. weve had to move 5 times in 6 years because of disability discrimination towards us, and when we reported it in one place we got even more abuse,and assaulted, noise problems and anti-social behaviour. Im not surprised people get put off. But we all can't afford detatched cottages in the middle of a field in devon. and yes, we all have to tolerate and live together, but some of your viewers may have disabled children or others, people with autism, and noise and things can be really damaging to them. speaking from experience. Hope you sell your house, but may be easier in the bad weather when the world is quieter. and maybe try and have viewings early or later when maybe kids aren't outside (hard to do I know, too.)

If there is an physical problem (rubbish in gardens for example) you could say to the neighbour that you are going to the tip anyway and would it help if you took the rubbish with you.

If the houses look uncared for you could buy some cheap containers and say that you bought more than you expected and would they like to have the container for free.

If there are kids who just are hanging around and looking bored give them a football and suggest that they go to the park to really enjoy a good game.

If the parents are behaving badly, as you go past/bump into them could you suggest that you all go to the park. Perhaps then you could mention it is much more difficult to sell your house as you thought. Do they have any suggestions about improving the area to stop the swearing etc.

I agree with the poster who suggested waiting for Autumn. It has to be before the illuminated Santa come out, though!

Some excellent suggestions there, thanks very much!

I think the Autumn is fast approaching.... but so is my due date! (Due mid October) I had hoped to move before our family expanded. (We're happy to rent for a while in order to facilitate a speedy move. See, we really are trying to sell!) We had tried to sell two years ago in the winter to try and avoid the issues with the neighbours.... Sadly, the offers we had were so low we simply couldn't afford to sell for that price. Confused247, your story gives me hope!

Thunderbird5, I'm sorry to hear about the discrimination you've suffered. It is not, as far as I'm aware, an issue with any of the potential purchasers. I hope you're living somewhere comfortable and friendly now and can remain there happily for some time.

Jollydiane, suggestions of that order have, indeed, been made!

Sincerely appreciate your advice. Thank you all.

Mimmy, this may sound a bit harsh but to be honest if you tried to sell 2 years ago but the offers were too low why do you think they'll be better now? Prices have fallen and are still falling.

Not harsh - a perfectly reasonable question. The agents tell me that in this particular area things are quite different from when we tried to sell last time. Sale prices in the area reflect that. Also, we've made some improvements in that time as well.

Oh mimmy how annoying. What about picking a time when there is lots of activity and get a bin bag and clear up any mess. A child is bound to ask what you are doing, say something like ' I like to live in a nice clean street I'm sure you do to'. 'Can you point to any bits of rubbish I have missed?' Oh thank you your'e so helpful.

The point being you are trying to lead by example and engage the children. Other residents are likely to see you and maybe comment to or at least notice.

That's a great idea. Rubbish isn't really a problem, but that idea can certainly be applied!

Just hang in there for a buyer who likes to swear and drink tinnies in their front garden .

Sockitandsee: two things.

(1) That is hilarious!

(2) LOVE your name.