Listing, viewings and offers thread 3!

[Fortheloveofscience]

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.

Emaboo keep viewing! Have a plan B!

We arranged a 2nd viewing for the house we're interested in and the secretary let the cat out of the bag that she thought there had been no other viewings. So that's promising! Especially as we're coming close-ish to our auction, we're going online next Wednesday and viewings booked for Saturday.

Yeah I'm seeing other houses, seeing another one this weekend - but it's so hard when you've already seen one you love in a perfect location....grrr

Can I join in? Our flat went live on Wednesday and I am so nervous! Not heard anything, so no interest so far. How long did it take everyone to get their first viewing? We waited until after the general election as were told things were quiet but am now worried things are still quiet! I am so impatient.

Hi Mimim

I'm so impatient and so nervous. Ours goes on on Thursday and I'm bricking it. Also I have an awkward neighbour (basically he was horrible about our daughter having autism and refused to refuse high pitch cat alarms that make her cry in pain) - this neighbour tends to play music loud when he's doing DIY in the sun, but is quiet the rest of the time. I'm worried he'll be playing music when I have viewings....

It's all so nerve wrecking isn't it!

It definitely is! I've been worrying on and off all day, am meant to be studying for an exam on Monday... Neighbour sounds horrible, hope he doesn't play loud music when you're having viewings! I am finding the silence deafening and am worried our flat is over priced, but I think I need to chill as it has only been 2 days!

Hi emma, hi mimim good to have some newcomers to the thread, so many people have had offers and moved on not me.

No news here had a v quiet week. Viewings 22 and 23 were yesterday and today, no news is good news I guess but after so many viewings we're resigned that these aren't going to offer either. Been on the market 9 weeks.

Market in the area is dead, but it'll be a good thing if we do ever manage to sell in terms of negotiating power on our next place.

Science sorry to hear still no progress.

Elspeth You must be getting excited now! Are you planning to attend the auction to see how it goes?

Welcome Ema - is there any regular time when he tends to be noisy? If so can you schedule viewings around it?

Welcome also mimim it's nice to see another flat owner! Where in the country are you? please don't say you are my next door neighbour

Hi Fortheloveof, hi Paul, I'm definitely not your neighbour . I'm in SE London/Kent border. The market seems to be very dead. Where are you?

Yes I'm going to attend......AND HAVE A HEART ATTACK!

I attended the June one for reference and it was thrilling. Not only was it standing room only but people were standing 5 deep and there was a TV crew there. The auctioneer whipped them up into a frenzy. A couple of houses (semi D's!) went for 100,000 over asking! I wasn't even involved and was biting my nails!

Spent today filling a skip with all our crap so am knackered. This is all such hard work!

Elspeth can I ask a few questions about auctioning? I'm wondering if it's an option for us if our house doesn't sell in the ordinary way, what made you decide to go for an auction? and how long was it from deciding to it actually being sold? And how does your guide price compare to the price it would list at ordinarily?

Well firstly I'm in Ireland. I don't know if the culture of selling houses by auction exists as much in the UK. Most of the estate agents around here are auctioneers (not all cos it's a pricey business to put one on). So they do both auctions and private treaty. And they recommended auction to us. I'm not sure what their criteria is, but we grabbed it cos it's much quicker. We got in touch with agents in May and since we wouldn't be ready for June, are in the July one.

On the day you attend with your solicitor, and if someone bids then you go out back with them and you both sign a contract (this is in a fancy hotel as that's where auctions take place) and he writes a check for 10% and that's binding. Neither of you can pull out.

If it fails to make reserve on the day its usually sold within the week by private treaty as the auction is big publicity and there's a lot of visibility of your property.

Viewings only happen in the 4 weeks before, and only 2 set hours a week.

We will be in both local and national papers, with pics. And obviously the internet. And a TV crew apparently!

Guide price is exactly the same and that's your reserve on the day. But whereas you usually end up accepting less on the open market, with auctions if it doesn't reach the guide price it's withdrawn and won't sell for less. So then they'll endeavour to sell for above reserve afterwards. Might not be vastly more but still. It means they won't go under. And on the day the auctioneer usually gets a fair whack above guide as he'll pit bidders against each other in the room.

Oh and the cost is 1000 including vat.

Thanks, that's really interesting. It's definitely not so much of a 'thing' here, but I have seen houses listed that are being auctioned - but the guide price they were listed at seemed lower than similar properties in the area. And seriously cheap too!

Ooh the auction sounds exciting Elspeth although I imagine it will be pretty nerve wracking!

Mimim I'm in West Yorks so some distance from you. Market here also very quiet.

Oh gosh PaulDacres I thought you were in Liverpool, which poster is that then??? I made a comment on the previous page about being on the other side of the water which must have made no sense to you at all!!!

We have had no viewings for 3 weeks now. The market here seems very quiet - a few houses are selling but really only the very keenly priced ones, plus one really lovely and very big one on one of the two best roads in the area, which would be like hen's teeth to find. The bog standard places like ours are just hanging around .

Hi all! Been watching this thread with interest.
We are in process of waiting for the right house. I'm only looking in a mile radius so it's really hard. I'm really lucky on location but I can't extend anymore ( live in a bungalow that was previously extended far to much to have the roof lifted and I would never recover that cost ) so I'm looking for a 4 bed or 3 bed detached so it gives me the option to go up. We're waiting for the house, then whacking ours on the market. Bungalows go like hot cakes round here. One on my road sold in less than 12 hours last week so I'm not worried as we have the biggest plot on the estate, across the road from ofstead outstanding school, walking distance to a local Mall and country park so I get families or retired market. But no bugger wants to move out the area ! I'm wanting to go a mile down the road nearer my secondary and the local country park as - as my boys grow older they will make more use of this for the water sports, my youngest has 1 year left at the primary so if one comes up we will have to drive him in . Hoping to move next year but keeping an eye out now.
I'm actually dreading moving. I love my house we are just all on top of one another and I'm down sizing plot to upsize in house. Saw one last week, 4 bed no garage or conservatory but the garage had been converted, for Offers in the region off ( I hate this ) 225 but next door sold for 205 with a conservatory and a garage and a larger porch, more kerb appeal. I wouldn't offer over 200 but the guy is not in a rush to move so I know I would be laughed at so not bothering .

Welcome mum

I have NO idea how to estimate what to offer, can anyone help? Is there a formula somewhere?

We're likely going to offer on the "head" house, if the 2ns viewing on Tuesday goes well. But haven't a balls what to offer.

It's on at 365, but in a rural area which means you can't really compare with neighbours houses as half of them are farms and the other half either tiny cottages or fairly ordinary houses. And this one is much bigger square footage - I think about 2800sqft or something.

Oh and also houses only sell every two years in areas like that.

So on the website when you look at what houses in the area went for, they're a vast mixture of prices going back to 2010. One things for sure though, it's by far the most expensive house for sale there in years.

How the hell do we price it??

Thanks. I think I need to find out if people value garage over floor space, I would want a conservatory as most on the estate have them. That would probably bring in line with that price or at least 215 . I'm waiting it out to give me more negotiation on it, if it sells I wouldn't be too upset. I was really emotional at the start but I'm a lot more level headed now been looking for a few month seen various properties .
House is only worth what buyer wants to pay. I won't pay that price to sit in shade on a north facing garden

Elspeth I wouldn't have a clue re yours! I use land registry and if it's rural and rare house sales your not getting an local comparison!
I suppose it depends on how much you love the house on offers to secure it or take the risk , can you find out how much interest it's had via EA ?

Apparently we've been the only viewing!

But in fairness it's only been on about 2/3 weeks. So they could well hold out for FAP.

I suspect the price is reflective of the house being built by an architect about 15 years go and apparently was featured in Homes and Gardens once. But frankly that means sweet FA to us!

It's a bit tired looking as they raised a boisterous family in it, the boiler looks old and so do the bathrooms. Bedrooms would need to be repainted. Utility room looks pretty gloomy. But they could say those things are not essential to live in it, right?

I personally think it's worth 345 but I imagine with the whole architect deal they won't let it go for that. And it's a bit cheeky to offer 20k under asking, isn't it?

Mind you, 345 is only just over 5%.....gosh I don't know! We want it though. It's next to a school and both the house and garden are big enough for our needs.

I would offer 20k less, but if your planning a survey that should flag up the boiler and bits and bobs that could help you re negotiate, on mine if I offer 200 k that would be just over 10 %. I would actually go lower saying to start negotiations for yours. 3 weeks and only you in a rural setting ( sounds gorgeous) may give you extra bargaining power as buyers aren't fooding forward. Do you know the vendors situation are they desperate to sell ?
Even if it's livable cost up to fetch it up to date and also factor that in,

Hello all, no feedback from Thursday's viewing and none more booked. Sigh.

Still quiet here as well.

The vendors are moving into the city to downsize as the last kid is going to university there. But that presumably means they need a fair whack as a house in the city would cost a bit. Doubt they're in a massive rush, tbh. Gah!

I might pick my auctioneers brains, he's a canny one.