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Original poster

Support thread for house sellers

992 replies

Spirael · 06/09/2012 10:33

Just what it says on the tin, really! I'm sure there must be other stressed house sellers out there? Hopefully we can band together and get some small joy of (hopefully?) seeing our houses sell so we can get a move on!

This is a thread of hand holding and mutual support for the EA dealings, weeks of silence, frantic house tidying, no-show viewings, silly offers and tough decisions. This is not for house bashing and price slating. There are plenty of other threads for that! Wink

I've been trying to sell for a year now. Had a surge of viewings earlier in the summer making the right noises, but all has gone quiet for the last few weeks.

However, we have a viewing booked for later this afternoon from someone who has sold their house and is able to proceed - wanting to move before Christmas. Currently swinging between pessimistic and optimistic, while trying not to look at the house we want to buy!

Anyone else out there? :)

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RCheshire · 02/10/2012 14:08

With the two places I sold recently I was very lucky as I think I only had 3 viewers between the two places who hadn't yet sold. The others were old first time buyers, sold>renteds or downsizers who didn't need to sell to buy. Lots of viewings from people who might take 3/6/12/forever months to sell their own place would have annoyed me.

CuddyMum · 02/10/2012 14:08

The other feedback I've had lately is from older couples who feel the house is too big for them. Do people actually look at floor plans, room sizes etc.?

16muddypaws · 02/10/2012 14:10

We have the opposite problem with our garden we are next to a vacant plot of land that couldn't possibly get planning permission so are not overlooked at all - several of our viewers have said they are worried that it MAY get built on = there;s no pleasing some people - they'll probably go and buy a house that is overlooked on all sides!!!

CuddyMum · 02/10/2012 14:11

You just can't win can you?

Original poster
Spirael · 02/10/2012 14:42

That's a shame about your viewers, CuddyMum! :( Hopefully they'll realise they need to compromise some of their requirements and reconsider.

No particularly exciting developments here, though our various viewers are still messing us around.

The Hot Couple apparently seemed really enthused on Saturday and were discussing making an offer, but since that time their phone has been perpetually engaged so the EA hasn't been able to reach them.

Disorganised Man cancelled the viewing yesterday at short notice (grr!) but rearranged to this afternoon at 3:30pm. Same time as Scottish Woman is meant to be viewing.

However Scottish Woman has just called to say she's been delayed by bad weather (what bad weather?) but has rearranged for 4:30pm this afternoon instead.

Fortunately we've left the house tidy and the EA are doing the viewings, so they're the ones running around to be in the right place at the right time to show all the appointment-adverse viewers around!

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CuddyMum · 02/10/2012 16:06

Hope it goes well Spirael - you seem to be getting closer to an offer.

Toomuchtea · 02/10/2012 16:48

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CuddyMum · 02/10/2012 17:22

The last house I sold was on a quiet but main road, with a shared drive and opposite a pub. We used to guess which of those "problems" would be in the feedback. Hence we swore never to buy a house with a shared drive on a road near a pub. So we bought in a cul-de-sac with its own drive etc and can't sell the bugger!

TunipTheVegemal · 02/10/2012 17:24

My old house was down a footpath in the middle of a city, with no car access. I don't blame people for being put off by the lack of car access/parking, but I don't know why the lack of parking often seemed to come as a surprise to them given it was mentioned specifically on the specs!
Luckily for me the agent was the one doing the viewings because I'd moved out by then. He really earned his commission, poor bloke.

MisForMumNotMaid · 02/10/2012 18:23

I had a really lovely little cottage that photographed very well. It was tiny 1 bedroom and a landing upstairs, big lounge/ dining room, small kitchen/ entrance hall and bathroom downstairs. I had 117 viewings with one agent before changing agents. Loads of people were perplexed by why it was so small upstairs when it looked big in the photo. The price reflected the size, but people where convinced the agents must have forgotten a bedroom or two in the details. It was very thick walls and masses of sloping roof that ate up the space.

Our buyer who I was convinced would offer is very quiet. DH works with her but in different areas of education and she said thank you for letting her view, introduced another of her DC to him and then went onto say how well the DC are settling in our area but she's seen a job elsewhere she might apply for!

No viewings on the cards for us at present.

Toomuchtea · 03/10/2012 08:56

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Original poster
Spirael · 03/10/2012 09:40

Nothing yet... Someone was definitely at the house yesterday though, as the post was moved and some doors I'd left open were shut.

Just watching my phone obsessively now, waiting for the EA to call with the feedback! I'll chase at lunchtime if I've not heard anything by then.

After having to obsessively keep the house immaculate for a week, but with no more viewings until the weekend, DH, DD and I had way too much fun last night and this morning leaving our possessions in the most (hygenically) messy state possible. Grin

I didn't make the bed this morning, I threw all the cushions off the sofa across the room and I left my towel hung over the banister! [rebel]

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Original poster
Spirael · 03/10/2012 11:05

Ok, we have some feedback but nothing immediately exciting...

Hot Couple turned out to be Elderly Couple and are concerned about the slight hill between us and the shops that are 100m away. Unfortunate, as they loved the house aside from that!

Disorganised Man turned out to be Dodgy Man and spouted stuff about it being a buyers market and everyone should accept offers of 75% if they want to move and other rubbish. Apparently he's made stupid offers on and been refused 7 other houses in the area, which he seems to want to buy and flog.

Based on that, I'm inclined to refuse any offer he makes, even if it is within our acceptable levels (more likely it'll be insultingly low) as we're not required/desperate to move (yet) and he strikes me as a prime candidate to argue over the survey and gazunder at last minute! So not worth the hassle.

Scottish Woman apparently really liked the house and seems to be our best (only?) chance of getting a proceedable offer. She's relocating for work, so needs to move quickly and likes that we're looking to go into a chain free property. So fingers crossed she makes an offer and it's a good one!

Though I'd be interested to find out what happened with the other house she offered on... Hmm

Aside from that, I guess we're relying on the Weekend Couple!

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Toomuchtea · 03/10/2012 15:06

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CuddyMum · 03/10/2012 15:11

At least you have had a little feedback. I am still awaiting some more feedback from the weekend but as it's Wednesday I'm guessing I may not hear anything. I am remaining hopeful and continue to try to leave the house tidy before I leave for work just in case! No more viewings lined up just yet though. Hope Scottish Woman offers.

CuddyMum · 03/10/2012 15:30

I often wonder why people don't give feedback and refuse to answer the EAs calls. I would rather just know and cross them off the list so to speak.

Original poster
Spirael · 03/10/2012 16:12

No go for the Scottish Lady. :( Apparently our drive would be too awkward to get her campervan on and off. Hmm

However we do now have another viewing booked for 6:45pm tomorrow. Bath time again, argh! But they are FTB with financing in place, so...

So much for my messy days until the weekend! This many viewings though, surely someone's got to give us a good offer eventually! Wine

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CuddyMum · 03/10/2012 16:16

Well that's a new excuse! Your viewings are coming thick and fast - surely an offer will be made soon :)

Toomuchtea · 03/10/2012 17:46

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CuddyMum · 03/10/2012 17:51

That's fab news TooMuchTea! I hope they offer a good price.

MisForMumNotMaid · 03/10/2012 18:00

Oh I hope it's a good one. Have you got your limits worked out?

Original poster
Spirael · 04/10/2012 08:57

Sounds promising, TooMuchTea! :) Hopefully you'll be able to negotiate a good offer with them.

Totally agree how the lack of feedback is annoying. Fortunately we've been lucky that our EA has managed to (eventually) extract feedback from most people that have seen the house. Unfortunately they're all saying it's lovely, priced right and just giving some random reason why they're not offering.

Tidied the house again this morning, had to put all the cushions back and move my towels, boo... Got a bit more time after work too in order to make it really sparkle before DD and I go up to Tesco and run up and down the travelators for a while!

Still, at least we are getting viewings now. Major sympathies to anyone who isn't! We've had more viewings in the last month than we have for the previous 14. While things are stressful having to prep for each one, it's not as soul destroying as wondering why no-one is interested at all. :(

All I can think of that's changed is that we've slowly reduced the price by £5k over the summer (

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Toomuchtea · 04/10/2012 09:16

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Original poster
Spirael · 04/10/2012 12:05

Oh big surprise... Our viewers for later have cancelled. Angry

I may just stop allowing after work appointments, it's a pain in the butt for us and no-one ever seems to actually attend them anyway!

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CuddyMum · 04/10/2012 12:19

That is a very poor show. Do people not realise the time and effort we put in before a viewing?