The decluttering, cleaning, vacating, pandering, nailbiting antics of the stressed out house sellers

[Spirael]

Starting a new thread, since our old one was almost full!

Anyone suffering the stresses of trying to sell a house is welcome to join us; anyone here to tell us our houses are crap and/or overpriced is not.

Yay... we are in good company. Apparently, the mansion where Gianni Versace used to live has also taken a price cut!

uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/gianni-versaces-stunning-home-drops-20-off-asking-price-114115902.html

Well, strangely another local agent has called me to say that they have someone who wants to view our house next week. Apparently, they have viewed two cheaper (and not as nice IMO) properties down the road but want something bigger (that's me!). I have asked my current EA if they are prepared to let me go with another agency but keep my current commission rate the same as sole agency! Am awaiting his reply (hopefully tomorrow). Bugger it - I need to do something.

The living room is partly transformed with new bright accessories and cushions and hopefully the rug will arrive on Monday! No more boring beige and brown for me! :)

Ohh, good luck, CuddyMum.

Thats good news Cuddymum

Tau your house looks fab. It would be twice that price here in Dorset.

My second viewing couple really wasn't a second viewing as the husband didn't come to the first viewing. She loved it and he didn't so I guess they will be a no. Another viewing tomorrow.

Congrats springlamb on your result and good luck everyone else on your viewings! Wow! It really looks like things are hotting up with all the viewings!

I thought I'd pitch in for some advice as I'm in a bit of 'doldrums' with selling :(.

The long and short of it is I'm pondering whether I should sell my house myself. I've had 4 viewings in the last 2 weeks - all of which were at the weekend (2 on Sunday!!). The EA asked me to do it which was okay, although it does make me anxious as find it difficult to be economical with the truth

All those who viewed said they saw it online, so it's not like the agent works for the viewings or calls in any markers. So it got me thinking that perhaps I should dispense with these guys, who aren't helpful in the least. Even the photos aren't great!

And as I haven't been able to find another agent (I interviewed 2 others) who seem more on the ball, maybe I could do it.

Any tips, advice, ideas, please? Thanks

Hi Millie. I found this site:
www.uknetguide.co.uk/Homes_and_Gardens/Article/How_to_Sell_Your_House_Yourself-100045.html

You may have seen that already of course.
We are trying to sell our house via an online estate agent, whihc means we have to do the viewings too. That suits us better since we both work from home, but so far we've had only one viewing through the agent, and one from a person we know personally...
We've had to redo the floor plan - it was just plain wrong-, we've had to rewrite the description (it was horrible and had errors too) and we've also taken new photos, because the other ones made our house look poky. We've even lowered the price to something that we think is more rational...

The only thing the agents do is uploading the details on house selling pages, which I reckon we could do ourselves... so I do wonder what we are actually paying for!

I think the EPC has to be done by a qualified person. so you would have to pay for that.

I'm not sure about conducting viewings myself (I really don't like it at all) and would prefer to pay the agent fees if I'm honest.

I'm going multi agency tomorrow and have agreed the same fee with both agents (the same as my sole agency fee).

Who knows - will this work? I've not had a viewing in ages so I hope so.

And I also hope my new rug arrives in time for the photographs!

Can I join you? Our house went live a week tomorrow and so far we've had only two enquiries. One viewing on Sunday seemed very promising but today the agent tried to chase them for some feedback and they haven't replied . These people are in rented and ready to go. They rang up within 2 hours of the house going on Rightmove. During the viewing they kept saying how well presented and bright our house is!
The other prospective buyer cancelled the viewing half an hour before the appointment after I spent the whole morning of my day off cleaning and tidying up
Really I have a bad feeling about selling this house. I think it's going to be a total waste of time. We're with an online agent too but I don't think it's their fault at all. They seem on the ball (although their description was awful and I had to spend ages improving it).
To be honest I think the house market is actually worse than it's said
To be. People realise how expensive it is to move and they're just holding on to their savings I think.

Bimbabirba - chin up, its only been a week. Perhaps post a link of your rightmove page and we can help you if we think there's any way to improve it?

New agent is here taking pictures etc. Lovely sunny day! Here's hoping for some viewers soon :)

Welcome BimbaBira - a week really isn't a long time at all. What area are you located in?

Yay... we had a third viewing.
Again, it was someone we know - at least my partner knew her- but she had seen our property on internet. She was very quiet, but my partner says she was always like that, so at least it wasn't necessarily because she hated the house... Couldn't get any idea what she was thinking, so we'll have to wait and see.

We also had a local estate agent over, but they are so much more expensive!

Also saw the stats of how often our house was viewed on Rightmove.. lots higher than average! But since I posted the link here, and on Facebook, and emailed it to all my relatives, those high stats are probably not because potential buyers have looked it up so often!

I have linked

Oops posted too early.
Was saying that I have linked in "chat" when it had just got on the market to get some feedback.
Here it is hope it works

Got some feedback from the buyer today and he said they're still considering our house and that it's beautiful .

I think that link didn't work but this should be fine

Your house is fab Bimba - similar to mine. Like you say, people are not willing to take the plunge and upsize. The houses that move quickly are all in the region of 250k.

Hope you hear back soon re your viewing Tau. I agree agents fees are big bucks. I still don't think I could conduct my own viewings though - too stressful! It's hard enough doing the cleaning beforehand.

Thank you Cuddy!
I'm like you, I think. I get very nervous with viewings. DH on the other hand took to it like a duck to water!

Lovely house, Bimba. I'm surprised that it's so relatively cheap.. I though Cambridgeshire was expensive. Over here it might be more between 5 and 6 k.. but I could be wrong... I don't tend to look at that price range. Not unless I own the lottery anyway! ;-)

I don't find doing the viewings at all stressful, CuddyMum. Actually it's the only fun part of the whole selling process so far.... showing people around and answering their questions about the house...very enjoyable!
But that is another thing I worry about if we go with a local agent; we might have to leave the house at random times so viewers can come over with the EA... now that would upset me! We both work/study from home. Where would we go? Just hang around in a nearby shop?

Bimba, is that a mirror on the wall in your sitting room? What sort of mirror is that? Can't see it very well, but it looks gorgeous!

bimbabirba Your house is lovely. Great for a family. I would like a bigger garden though.

DH and I have been viewing a few houses. We are going to view a house for a second time and though was a bit outside in the car but once in I really liked it and have a good feeling about it. I would link but you know me and my links. The couple were also using an online agent and they were really lovely and helpful. It was freaky how much we had in common. It had the most fantastic garden, one third of an acre, veg plots and trees and even a pond. DH liked the fact you could walk out the back gate to the pub. We would put an orangerie on the back and maybe a loft extension.

Cambs is not all expensive. The rule of thumb is how close your house is to the centre of Cambridge. I'm 5 miles out so prices are high but not outrageous.
Tau. Yes it's a mirror! I've had so many compliments over it. I bought it cheaply 10 years ago off Ebay as an antique mirror and got it refurbished by a local man who loved doing it up. No one could tell me how old it is or where it comes from though. I think it would look stunning over a Victorian fireplace and our next house has to be a period property!

Sailorsgal - that house sounds perfect! Do you have another offer on your house yet?

No not yet! We have a second viewing tomorrow. Fingers crossed. There is a couple where the wife really loves it but the husband has taken some convincing as he would like a double garage. I think we are realistically priced for the area so hopefully not too long now.