Perfect house - but we're not yet on the market wwyd?

[LittlePickleHead]

We tried to sell our flat a few months ago. EA valuations (3 of them) all came in at 280k to sell at 270k. We had two offers of £250k within about 10 days (we weren't in a position to accept) so after about 5 weeks when the viewing had slowed down we decided to take off the market and save up the extra so we could accept £250k. Plan is to sell in spring.

I love our current area but there ar really only two parts of it that I'd really love to live, both of which seem to be out of our price range. I'd given up thinking we'd have a chance of living there and we are considering other areas.

BUT just this evening the perfect house, in the right area, in budget came on the market. We'd be in a position to buy it if we sold for £250k now but obviously with not even being on the market we are at a major disadvantage. I don't want to be rash, but I've had property alerts set up for over a year for this area and in that time only 2 other properties in our budget have gone on the market.

So what should we do? Nothing and hope that another one happens to come up in spring? Speak the agent and say that if we get our offer accepted we'll instruct them for our flat? Even though I'm confident we'll sell for £250k next year, it's such a bad time of year at the moment for selling. I really wouldn't go on the market willingly right now, but for this house maybe it's worth it?

Or do you think we are kidding ourselves and don't stand a chance?

So wise ones - thoughts or advise?

What have you got to lose by putting it on the market just now and holding out for £250k? Houses can sell at any time of the year.

I suppose my fear is if we go I'm the market and we don't get the house for whatever reason, it's a lot of hassle and bad timing (situation is more complicated as I'm currently pg and also have school applications for dd1 deadline in jan, so ideally we'd wait until after both these things to move)

But I think it's worth it for the (very rare) right property

Go back to your original EA and say you could now sell for £250k, do they want to get back in touch with the people who offered and see if anything comes of it? The market is slow and they might not have found anywhere.

That is a good idea! (apart from the fact that they were rubbish and their fees are way too high but maybe we'll just have to suck it up!)

It is common practice ... give it a go.

Yes Littlepicklehead, the 2 offers you received from the viewers at £250k were probably because they were a) offering what they thought your flat was worth and b) thinking about the stamp duty threshold. I would check with your estate agent to see if either of them have found anyway else and if not, say you will accept £250k now . If you have a definite offer, you will be in a much better position to then go and view the house you want Good luck