House sale quandary...

[Mum4Fergus]

Looking for advice to help me support DP come to a decision. His ex marital home needs to be sold, It's been pretty much vacant for nearly a year now...and in all honesty it's an utter shit tip

Jeez, fat fingers lol so yeah, the shit tip! Quandary is this - do they (ex wife and DP) throw money at it (we're talking £1ks) or reflect the condition in the price?

How do they get along?

I'd be very wary of undertaking any works just for them to fall out and dispute who is paying for what. Because leaving works half-done is worse than having the place a tip in the first place.

If they do get along, then it would make sense to at least tidy the garden, fresh coat of paint inside where needed, that kind of thing.

Be worth going there and getting rid of all junk. He'll have to do it anyway, so be better if viewers don't have to see it. Even if he decides not to spend any real money on the place, then a good tidy up and clean is essential. And costs very little.

If it's only a grand worth then not sure that can be reflected in the price. They should tidy it up so it's clean with no crap lying around and just put it on the market.

Reflect in the price if the house is otherwise in a desirable location . People love a do-er-upper and often price the discount < than the time and cash cost of doing it up

Tidy it up so people can view but ultimately they're probably best off selling it as a doer upper. Hopefully they can price it to encourage lots of interest.

How do they get on? Well that's a story in itself...she is other end of the country so (in my opinion) is expecting my DP to deal with anything /everything at the house, estate agent, repairs, viewings and the likes. He has no financial interest in the property whatsoever....

I think a clear out (honestly, you wouldn't believe the state she left it in) and general repairs would suffice, that said, I know if I rocked up to view it I wouldn't get past the hall as it stand just now

He has no financial interest in the property whatsoever....

So why is it his problem?

Good question Senua! I guess he feels obliged...and I think if left to his ex then it will still be sat empty for another year...I think he feels it's just the final piece of the break up (none of his doing), but it's a fair point ...

It surely if it's her house then it has nothing to do with the break up and it's not his problem? Also you say it need money to do it up - if it's not hos house then it's not his decision and not his place to spend money on it???

I think I'd price it very low to attract a developer or someone who wants a cheap doer upper. Then if it doesn't get any offers, reconsider doing some work on it.

She has verbally agreed to pay him for any work he does and any thing that is needed for the repairs...

If he gets involved in any form, let alone organising repairs, it could take alot of his time and energy and then he'll be involved/blamed if its for sale for ages or getting low offers etc.

Personally Id suggest he lets her get on with it. If he has to do something, I would suggest he hires a cleaning company, gets rid of any rubbish, mows the lawn. She can put on the market at a saleable price and it should go quickly.

I don't understand if it's not his house why you are asking about the sale price and if he should spend money on it. No of course he shouldn't and it's nothing to do with him. It can lie empty for the next decade and it still won't be anything to do with him.

Lol I totally agree Bluntness, I really do! But he's it in his head that he doesn't want to be perceived as being 'the bad guy' in all this and I'm not sure I can convince him otherwise-that's why I'm looking to try to support him...I'm probably better in Relationships than Property 😂

Are they actually divorced? Not just separated?

And you know for a fact that his name is no longer on the mortgage?

Are you sure you are getting the full story from him here? Clearly they have split up but have they come to a financial settlement as part of the divorce? Because things could get very messy if he is still linked financially to her in any way or is not actually divorced yet.

Not his house, not his problem surely. If he has no financial interest then he should spend no money, time or effort on this.

Not his problem

Definitely divorced and have seen Solicitor letters and settlement cheque.

Then there's no benefit at all for him to involve himself.

It will be money, time, and hard work that could more usefully be put into creating a new home for the two of you.

Time for him to look forwards, not back.

I know...now to convince him 😊 thanks everyone x