Support thread for house sellers

[Spirael]

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!

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? :)

Not really - am now l

Oops! Am now looking at Sharnbrook but that would mean moving schools, a longer journey to work, a bigger mortgage and heck no chippy or Indian!

One of the girls wants to go to Sharnbrook anyway but I worry that I will be forever driving back to Olney. Saying that I am always driving back and forth to Harrold and Sharnbrook for dance. However, it offers a huge garden and masses of countryside. But - no Indian!! Anyway, it's not like I've sold yet. Just keeping options open. I wonder what tomorrow's viewing will bring.

Well husband and girls all really like a house in Sharnbrook. I ring up to arrange a viewing and typically that too went under offer today despite being on the market for over a year!!

Some of the houses we looked at last time we were looking were in quite a state of clutter and of disrepair. Our flat actually looked quite neat and clean to me when we got back, even though not all the rooms are as "done up" as they could be.

We have been working very hard to tidy before viewers come. I have now had a friend offer to store some boxes in her basement, so that will get rid of more stuff for us (and hopefully make rooms look bigger). Also took some paintings down and shifted some around, hoping that will make rooms look bigger, and am crossing fingers for viewers this weekend (3 arranged!).

I am starting to think once we get more stuff moved out of the way to storage, I need to change the front room carpet. To a cream one I guess. What does anyone think about that? Carpet starts at about a third the price of laminate. And the buyer might not want laminate, so why spend all that? I have admit I personally would rather buy a house with no flooring so I can put in my own, and cream carpets put me off, but I don't think I'm an average type of person.

I don't think I'd go to the trouble of putting in a new carpet to be honest. Good luck with your viewings this weekend.

Our front room carpet is very very shabby. If we weren't moving, it would be due to be changed anyway. I wonder if that is putting people off. Can't just leave bare floorboards, though, because it's a block of flats and someone lives under us.

Thinking about renting, too, if nothing happens sooner. In which case some kind of new carpet or floor would be necessary. And I will be in the same boat as TooMuchTea, needing pet-friendly rental with garden where ever we go.

We asked the EAs about changing carpets when they valued our house and they all said not to bother but I can see why it would seem a good idea.
Cuddymum I feel your pain about houses becoming STC. DH was telling me to stop getting my hopes up about the house we want to buy as we can't afford it and it might sell so I had been trying to focus on another house which looks good but is in the next village. I had a look this morning and it's STC after being on for months! Am really worried we won't find anything if we do get a buyer (and we have cats to think of too!).
The house went on Rightmove last night and we have 2 viewers on Sunday! Not sure when we are going to do the last of the tidying but at least it will focus our mind. Will have to do a tip run before then. Hope they are not too excited about the "ornamental pond" mentioned in the brochure which is more of a health hazard swamp...

We changed our manky living room carpet for laminate, moved the furniture around and updated the pictures online. We then had a rush of viewers over the next couple of weeks, one of whom's offer we've accepted.

Could have been any number of reasons causing the viewings (the market does seem to have picked up lately!) but I like to think it's because we did the floor and it made the room look nicer/bigger/more modern. :) Mostly because otherwise I'd weep at the money and time we spent on it-!

Really sorry to hear the house(s) you were admiring went to Sold STC, CuddyMum. :( I wouldn't completely blank them from your radar though, it's worth keeping an eye out in case they come available again.

Also, it's likely some people are waiting until spring now to get their houses on the market, so hopefully there'll be lots of even better properties at that point. :)

Hello again....I am encouraged to hear some of you have had good news and I continue to cross my fingers for the rest of you!!

We drained all the water from all the tanks in dads loft last week...was quite pleased with my forward planning...until dad's neighbours knocked on my door. Turns out thier cold water tank that feeds thier heating system is in dad's attic!! Ex-council four in a block type flat/house so the tanks been there since house was built but I had NO idea! Of course mum and dad must have known but they are not here to ask.

This means we cannot drain down the water systems without interfering with their supply so have turned all the radiators up to number 3, opened the loft hatch to allow some heat to rise and checking on the house at least twice a day. Good job I live two doors down!

We now have completed schedules and home report (Scotland) and are good to go...just waiting on the estate agent bringing the for sale sign.

Thanks again for all your advice...I am sure I will be back for more if we get any viewers...I am showing them round and have never done that before!

vent needed - we are a family of 5 living in a 2 bed terrace. I do not want some single, child-free person telling me it's not really big enough for her. And if I can live without a place for a dishwasher why can't she!

Bugger - I didn't get back from work in time to get the dog!! So the viewing is taking place as I type avec pug!! I hope they like dogs.

House number one that went STC yesterday is back on Rightmove today! However, we are now seriously considering a change of area and did a nightime drive by of a large bungalow in Harrold (still in Sharnbrook catchment).

Good luck Bentneck :)

cuddymum - good luck on the viewing...i am sure your dog will be on his best behaviour!

toomuchtea - thankfully we pay water rates through our council tax...in scotland the local authority is legally obliged to collect water and waste water charges on behalf of Scottish Water. Which is probably why all these ex-council houses have one tank in the loft serving more than one household.
But it is interesting that you have come up against this issue yourself.

Same position Cuddy - the only house we liked/is big enough and in the right place has Sold STC, argh, and I'm not hopeful that another suitable house will come on the market soon - we've been watching the market for over a year and there's only been two or three suitable houses come on the market.

So, even though our house selling is going well with a fairly steady rate of viewers and another second viewing tomorrow, I'm feeling really disheartened about the whole process.

Anyway, onwards and upwards - hope you get some viewers Bentneck!

Sunset - hope you're viewings go well on Sunday.

Good luck with your second viewing Graven.

I wonder what today's feedback will be (if I get any).

I meant your - doing too many things at once!

Hello all - sorry for being AWOL - I hope all is going well. Sorry not had chance to catch up on the thread - I had my baby four weeks early and we've just got home from hospital now he's beaten the jaundice / packed on the pounds. I can't promise to keep up with the thread as before when time rich and preggers but you're all being sent good vibes for quick and positive sales xxxx

Congratulations! Hope you are both well. What did you call him and how heavy? :)

Congratulations! Glad to hear you are both home safe and healthy