Page 3 | Listings, viewings and offers thread 2!

drspouse · 2017-03-15T10:19:27+00:00

We've filled up the old one! (maybe someone on a mobile device could add a post with this link though?)

startingblocks · 18/03/2017 16:58

Sorry posted too soon!
We've got quite a few viewings this afternoon but nothing may come if it who knows.
Wonder if we'll get feedback today or on Monday.
Good luck to everyone else with viewings etc.

PoochiePie · 18/03/2017 18:15

Reading this thread has made me feel a smidge better about our situation!
We have been looking at switching our 'online' agent (who does accompany viewings) to a traditional one. However we suddenly have 2 viewings by the online agent, and one of the EAs we are considering contacted me to ask if he could show the property to one of his vendors who just sold and is now 'frantically looking for something'. We agreed on the basis of would give him commission it it sold to them; but not signing in to a contract.

The annoying thing is he put on his email 'I hope this shows how proactive we are', but I was actually planning on going with the other EA because they have had a lot of sales in our price bracket in our area. So now I'm unsure if he's the better agent, or if he's just desperately trying to keep his chain together/win our business!

Also the sudden influx of interest via the online agent (who is fixed fee; not %) makes me anxious to take it off with them! Trying not to get my hopes up too much, but it's really hard!

Original poster

drspouse · 18/03/2017 20:36

NO VIEWINGS.
Not one.
12.00 was a no show (so that's 2 out of 4 so far).
4pm having put off from 3pm "realised they had something on" and asked to change to 5.30 one day later in the week. No you cannot, I said, we have two small children and you do not want to look round while they are going to bed (and we won't let you). So they are (supposed to be) coming at 4.45 the same day (we will probably arrive home from nursery/after school club/work while they are still there but that's not a bad thing).

Is 50% no show rate normal?!? I know it's not the EA's fault.

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HalleLouja · 18/03/2017 20:54

Poochie we made the traditional agent agree to allow us to keep the online one as well on the contract. Though unfortunately the online viewings seemed to dry up when we went with the online one. The traditional agent was really keen to sell our house though.

DrS I would let them come at 530 if they are interested in the house. You can adjust the routine for one night if needed. Each to their own though.

The house opposite ours which isn't in such a nice position but has been extended a lot downstairs but not upstairs has been put under offer for about £100k more than ours... We still can't find anywhere to buy so probably going to stay put for the time being. We saw a house today with lots of potential but we won't have the money to make it what we would like....

SquinkiesRule · 18/03/2017 21:02

You may just have to let them come at 5.30 if you want it sold. I know I took Dd out for milkshake unheard of treat just to motivate her into cleaning up toys and getting her in the car when we had a viewing, it was the lady who bought the house too.

Original poster

drspouse · 18/03/2017 21:39

I think I might have been more accommodating if they hadn't already rescheduled twice, once with just an hour to go on the grounds that they'd "forgotten they had something on this afternoon".
There also is really nowhere to go that we can drive to - I pick them up by car but anywhere open at that time is either a country pub miles away, a supermarket 1/2 hr through rush hour traffic, or we'd have to drop the car at home and drag the DCs into town on foot/buggy for tea (15 mins walk there/back)
I suppose it's getting light enough now to go to the park but I don't really fancy taking two exhausted and hungry DVD to the park at 6 pm in the rain!

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Notanotherpawpatrol · 18/03/2017 21:54

I don't know. A viewing only takes 15-20 minutes, I'd just keep them in the car till the viewing was over or literally drive round the block. It's infuriating when they reschedule, but if you want to sell your house you have to be bendier than flexible!

Notanotherpawpatrol · 18/03/2017 21:55

No 50% no show isn't normal, but i think again this is what a traditional agent takes care of, phones them and reminds them during the week etc.

chalkyc2 · 19/03/2017 06:52

Hiya - I've been watching this thread for a while - we've now been on the market for 5 whole dispiriting months and I'm close to giving up! No viewings this weekend. I've been less than impressed with my agents - but - the photos they took of the house are lovely and I don't want to change them! If the price is too high - well - we might as well abandon move plans as we can't afford anything decent for less.
We are in a fairly niche location - a little village on the outskirts of London - no train within walking distance and limited secondary sch options. Argh what to do?!? We have had one lowish offer from someone who hadn't sold their own property and one couple who loved it but wanted to pay substantially less.

Notanotherpawpatrol · 19/03/2017 07:55

What are the agents doing to sell the house? Are they actually working or have they stuck it on rightmove and forgotten about it?

Notanotherpawpatrol · 19/03/2017 07:55

It sounds like it might be time to give notice and find a new agent, they aren't the only ones to take good photos, there will be others.

chalkyc2 · 19/03/2017 08:09

Yes I think you're right. I need to dig out the paperwork as I assume I need to give them notice...

Original poster

drspouse · 19/03/2017 08:27

Our agents are saying allow an hour for viewings. Don't think they'd be impressed if we were outside the house champing at the bit in the car! Plus my two would scream the place down (especially the 2yo) if we were sat still in the car for even 15 mins.

And we did take 45 mins to view the house we are buying so I don't want to rush them.

They text us to remind us of viewings. I assume they are doing the same with buyers? They are a traditional EA. So yet again not v impressed.

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Original poster

drspouse · 19/03/2017 08:30

The photo problem is that we're moving at the end of April (so it will be empty), and we're away for 2 weeks before that. So very little chance to take photos before it's empty and doesn't look good.

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Original poster

drspouse · 19/03/2017 08:31

Oh sorry notanother the photo comment was to someone else but I have the same worry!
I know our agent is emailing out property details, because they send them to us (oops).

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PartyintheKitchen · 19/03/2017 08:39

That's tricky chalky, have you had a candid chat about the price with your EA? Are there any house locally for sale?

Drspouse, I think I'd suck it up and take the viewing. In the last thread a pp had to do similar for a viewer that had cancelled a few times and they ended up offering asking or near it.

My DH has asked me to relax about the sale. How does everyone manage the stress of it? I can't seem to think about anything else at the moment. The EA had a launch at our house, where he goes through the property with his colleagues so they're all prepped for viewings. Some said they thought it was a little overpriced. He has viewings in the diary this week so he'll feed back if buyers are saying the same. Then we can decide if we need to reduce the price at all. He said to be patient, houses are selling but it's not a snap them up market. I hate this.

Notanotherpawpatrol · 19/03/2017 08:51

Ahhh, Drspouce, i thought you were with an online agent. I'd be having words with them then, a 50% no show is just not on! We've been on the market for 8 weeks and have only had 1 no show with 8 viewings.

Notanotherpawpatrol · 19/03/2017 08:55

Party, i am in no way relaxed about it! I have dc4 arriving in 3ish weeks and have nowhere to put her clothes, her bedding, her nappies, etc. We need to sell so we can buy our gorgeous bigger house that we desperately need.
I've had to buy a new moses basket for her so it can be stored under the bed out of the way during viewings, new bedding as i cant get all the baby stuff down from the loft and i cant search for it all up there. She literally has 4 outfits that are all currently in her hospital bag and other than that, nothing.
Stressed out is not the word!!!

chalkyc2 · 19/03/2017 09:37

Yeah I've spoken to them but they valued it and if they had valued it at any less we wouldn't have put it on the market. Niche location, and slightly niche house - a 5 bed semi with a 300 ft garden. There's a 3 bed detached in down the road with a smaller garden on for £25k less, and a 4 bed detached close by for £50k more. Argh! We don't need to move urgently but it would make life easier for school drop off etc.

SchnitzelvonKrummsverylowtum · 19/03/2017 19:17

I'm not enjoying this house selling business. The house was advertised on Thursday, and we've had four viewings. No feedback from two yet, one said they didn't like the area and another said it's over their budget. You know the area and price before viewing. Why bother viewing if you already know it's not suitable for you?!? We have another viewing tomorrow, and hopefully I'll get some feedback too.

I'm finding it doubly stressful as we also have to sell my parents house to get the house we want!

Tiredemma · 19/03/2017 19:27

Ive had a man view my house today who pulled out a compass in the back garden and complained that it wasnt "south facing enough". There is very little I can do about that. Was almost like it was my fault!!

Just a Q- what could cause a house to be on the market for almost 10 months? Ive seen a house that has just been reduced. Its more modern that I would normally like but im trying to think with my head and not my heart (space, schools etc). its just slightly over my budget- not sure what the issue is with it being on since May 2016.

Notanotherpawpatrol · 19/03/2017 19:42

There could be many reasons, we're at 2 months and it's just because the market is slow. The agents may be rubbish or there could be another reason. The one we want has been on the market since 2013 because it's a big family house without a family friendly garden, in an area where there aren't great schools. Not a problem for us, we have e feral children who will love a stream and hill in the garden and we will home educate so schools aren't a problem.
Take a look and ask the agents, they're usually quite upfront about these things.

startingblocks · 20/03/2017 15:10

Afternoon everyone. So we had 10 viewings on Saturday, the first lot of viewings since we put the house up for sale last week.
Today we've had no call from the EA, no feedback.
So I'm wondering, a) if I should even bother calling them to chase for info if it's going to be bad news now anyway.
I think out of courtesy a call would be nice but maybe I'm expecting too much?

And b) there must be an issue with the house/price if after 10 viewings in one day we haven't got a sniff of interest. It's weird.

Hoping there are some good news stories among us soon.

donkey86 · 20/03/2017 15:25

Definitely chase them. I've had feedback from three of our four viewings so far, but I've had to ask each time. It's annoying, but better than not knowing.

Original poster

drspouse · 20/03/2017 15:28

TEN! They must have had feedback from some of those. Obviously others may not say anything.

Most of the EAs we've looked at have standards on how soon they will give you feedback. We've only had feedback from one viewing (we only had two - the other they chased but no reply) but I think they say it's within 48 hours, for every viewing.

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