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Original poster

Listing, viewings and offers thread 3!

997 replies

Fortheloveofscience · 06/06/2017 10:17

We filled up our old one, hoping I'm not posting out of turn by starting the next, it's the only thing keeping me from going nuts with the endless cycle of no viewings - viewings - feedback - no offer - no viewings - viewings etc!

Hope this is the thread where we all sell and get our dream houses. I'm working from home and doing 'backseat cleaning' - nagging my poor OH who has the day off to do everything for our second viewing this afternoon from the only couple to have shown serious interest.

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MissDollyMix · 27/07/2017 07:22

mrspuss I'd say there's either wiggle room on price or the vendor isn't in a hurry to sell and is being stubborn. Either way, it can't hurt to offer! There's one agent around here that doesn't ever seem to be able to accommodate viewings for weeks. The other agents all mutter darkly about how they've taken too much on and can't cope with it. If you're flexible I think you can usually get a viewing within 48 hours, especially if you're in a good position.

Original poster
Fortheloveofscience · 27/07/2017 08:46

WE'VE HAD AN OFFER! Only £5k below our (reduced) guide price, and they're chain free.

Hoping to hear today that they've completed their proof of funds, trying not to get too excited before then but it's the closest we've come to 'sold' since April!

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Original poster
Fortheloveofscience · 27/07/2017 11:12

OMG we've sold - to viewer number 40! So relieved, has been the most stressful 3 months in a long while.

Need to get a wriggle on and find somewhere to move to now, we have a target exchange date of 6 weeks Shock.

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AnnPerkins · 27/07/2017 11:27

Congrats Forthelove!! Fantastic news.

I don't want to steal your thunder but...WE HAVE ALSO HAD AN OFFER!

They started at £10k under asking, EA said no, they increased to £8k under asking so EA put it to us. We said we would accept £5k under FAP and they agreed. Smile Smile Smile

Their buyer is chain free and their sale is progressing, but they said they're happy to wait for us to find something.

So, the house is off the market, future viewings have been cancelled and now we have to FIND A HOUSE!

AnnPerkins · 27/07/2017 11:29

Blimey, didn't see your second post, 6 weeks!

I would bloody love to be out of our place in 6 weeks but it's an ambitious timeline isn't it?

MissDollyMix · 27/07/2017 12:52

Oh hurrah for all these offers! Well done guys!

Now, welcome to the total purgatory of house hunting Wink

I am feeling particularly twitchy and impatient this morning. I am not patient at the best of times but this house hunting is really testing me! Sometimes I just sit there and hit refresh on Rightmove! Is this lack of property a nationwide thing? Is this a problem that others have found? Why is the market so stagnant? Houses are selling like hot cakes here (probably due to lack of supply) but nothing new comes on so no one can move. It's so frustrating!!

LinaBo · 27/07/2017 13:22

DragonMamma neighbours! Smile

Our buyers are moving fast, had survey today and surveyor said it's been a fairly quiet, which she thinks is related to summer hols. She said they should have a mortgage offer on Monday.

We are moving slow - we still need a solicitor, and we're off to Wales this weekend for viewings. Hopefully we will find something we like first time!

Re mortgage: should we start looking now? Our mortgage is going to be less than we have now, which we think will make it pretty straightforward, but will it? Any reviews of First Direct as a provider? They seem to have the best rates around at the moment.

LinaBo · 27/07/2017 13:29

Miss market where we are seems pretty dead, actually. We feel lucky to have had an offer, as most 3 beds around here have been on the market for months - though it's only a handful of them really. I think estate agents are desperate for stock, I've had two knock on my door and one send me a letter.

There seems to be lots more available in S Wales, our search area is pretty big but we've narrowed down from 120 to 17 now. We're trying to view our favourite ones this weekend, we have 4 viewings on Sat so far and trying to view 2 more. I have noticed a lot less is coming on the market lately but I think it might be the holidays.

LinaBo · 27/07/2017 13:31

And congrats for the offers, Ann and forthelove. FlowersWine Fingers crossed for smooth transactions for us all Smile

AnnPerkins · 27/07/2017 13:37

It's the same where we're looking Dolly.

Where we have sold is moving. We have sold in three weeks, so did our neighbours last month. It's a new development with new building going on all the time but obviously a desirable place to live at the moment.

The village we want to buy in has very little though. We know quite a lot of people there so will put the word about that we're looking. Maybe it will prompt somebody to get moving.

AnnPerkins · 27/07/2017 13:38

Thanks LinaBo Smile

PickAChew · 27/07/2017 13:48

I think I'm going to join this thread. Have our first valuation, this afternoon. Worryingly, DH is in charge of the final tidy round while I've disappeared the boys from the house.

Keeping it clean and tidy for potentially months is going to be our challenge.

Dowser,. I'm pleased you've had a sale. We're not a million miles from you iirc and selling in the same price bracket. There's always half a dozen houses for sale in our street and only two per year seem to sell. Many of the houses up for sale are empty and need gutting, though and some of the ones that do sell go for a very low price at auction.

DragonMamma · 27/07/2017 21:50

We haven't seen anything we like in ages, the market for 4 beds around here is almost static. God knows how long our buyer will wait.

Having not sold before, what do you do after you've accepted an offer? We are using a panel solicitor so that's fairly straightforward?

Gizlotsmum · 28/07/2017 07:04

Looking at 4 houses today ( and DH is doing another this evening). Hated the one last night. I don't think they really want to sell ( getting divorced) couldn't get in the back garden and it needs a lot of work ( is priced low but not as low as it needs to be in my opinion.)

Original poster
Fortheloveofscience · 28/07/2017 13:45

Congrats Ann - great news. Yes I know, timeframe is a bit mental. We've already had a call from the EA to book in the mortgage valuation for the beginning of August!

Booked in to see 17 houses tomorrow, hopefully we'll like one of them. A real range from new builds to empty fixer-uppers.

It's been really strange calling round the EAs, the market is so odd. So many of you are having trouble finding onwards purchases, but pretty much everyone here seems to have their eye on somewhere but can't move forwards. As a proceedable buyer, the EA's were bending over backwards to book us in and I've been told by most to pretty much ignore the asking price. Hopefully we can get a good deal to make up for the relatively low offer we've had on ours.

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drspouse · 28/07/2017 14:54

Two EAs have been round now. Do we go with the one who says "can't believe you're having problems selling on your street" and suggests leaving the price as it is, and the one who gives cautionary tales of overpricing and says the market is "strange"?

Original poster
Fortheloveofscience · 28/07/2017 15:28

The market seems very price-sensitive at the moment. We dropped by £15k and had an offer at £5k below guide price within a week. The same person could have viewed it at the old price and offered lower, but didn't (and neither did anyone else).

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Gizlotsmum · 28/07/2017 17:38

Dr spouse can you afford to drop the price slightly?

drspouse · 28/07/2017 18:19

We started at £250 and are now at £245 which both suggested starting at, though the second said maybe £242.5. These would all be fine. The only offer we've had was £215 IIRC.

Gizlotsmum · 28/07/2017 18:26

I'd stick with the 245 if you can wait

drspouse · 28/07/2017 18:51

We can wait - it's quite cheap for us to keep the old house, not so much to sell at a discount. It's just annoying.

Gizlotsmum · 28/07/2017 18:57

Oh totally get that. Hopefully a new agent will get new viewers and a better offer

drspouse · 28/07/2017 20:13

Oh we think so too, it's just which one!

Gizlotsmum · 28/07/2017 20:54

Good luck. My head is spinning from viewing houses today. My heart loves one but not sure about location, my head can see the benefits of another.. which probably means neither is the right one!

boobyooby · 28/07/2017 21:47

We've had 2 offers from 2 different viewers today, one very low and rejected and another registering an interest about 10k short of where we need to be, but they haven't sold yet anyway.

Awaiting call from our agent tomorrow I guess but could do with everyone's positive thoughts and vibes .... didn't realise this would be so stressful

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