Are you suspicious of a house that's not sold quickly?

[changedmynameagain87]

If it's been on for a few months, does it make you question "what's wrong with it?".

Ours was on the market for a year. It was empty for longer than that, one of the couple had passed away and I gather from neighbours they'd meant to leave to the son but he wasn't interested.

It had questionable decorating decisions, artex all over, osb cladding in the living room with a stuck on fireplace... it was also listed on the property sites with the wrong postcode so searching by area wouldn't have brought it up. I wasn't about to tell the estate agent that though.

It was however structurally and electrically sound, came up with only minor flags on survey. We settled on a purchase price of £96k, it was listed as offers in region of £105k. House 10 doors down in better nick but same layout went for £130k last year. (This is the north, check out our amazingly cheap property - these are 3 bed semis with gardens)

I could absolutely see why people passed it over but it fit our bill of needing work but not beyond our capability/budget. I love bringing it into its full potential and I still feel like we got a total bargain for seeing past the mad decor.

I too would assume overpriced.

Over priced.
4 beds fly off round here, one 4 bed no garage ( big no no next to a country park where people need storage for bikes canoes etc as buy for this reason ) I'm not particularly picky but even id only buy if it was reduced. This been on a month most sell within 24/48 hours! Not took the hint yet! Priced 20 k over next doors that sold with a garage conservatory and a better garden. OIRO 220 so wants more too ! No chance only an outsider with no local knowledge or research of our markets would pay that.

Ok we've offered £645k which they'll probably stick two fingers up at but it needs a new kitchen, painting and decorating the entire house and new flooring everywhere. Hope they come back with an answer quickly.

Forgot to add, we'll be cash buyers, no mortgage. Hope they accept

I'd have offered £630K (ie 10% under) with a view to going up to £645K if they didn't accept. Sorry - too late

A few months would be priced too high, over a year would indicate too high a price and an unreasonable seller.

Our house was on the market for 2 and a half years. There were lots of things that might have put buyers off (very large garden, for us a selling point, but for other people too much work; and a bit of an odd layout) but I think the real reason was that the estate agents photos just didn't do it justice.

It also was a tad overpriced but we just offered what we thought it was worth. Fortunately the vendors accepted.

Good luck O/P!

I would always just ask the EA if there has been much interest in the property as i can see it's been on the market a while.

Sometimes they'll say it's because a sale has fallen through - then I want to know why (i.e. has something nasty turned up on a survey).

Sometimes they'll waffle on about 'no real interest' or 'only a couple of viewings', which I then take to mean 'overpriced'.

If they say there's been lots of viewings but no offers, then I ask what the feedback has been so far - usually they're fairly open and will say the people have commented on poor access, nowhere to park, and so on.

In short - I'd be suspicious but I wouldn't let it put me off - it just shapes the questions I'd ask the EA!

They rejected. We've upped our offer but that'll be our final one. Stressed. Out!!

DS found a lovely house but was put off buying it as the M60 ran past the bottom of the garden !

Shame Rainsbow, but obviously it wasn't to be. You'll find the right place eventually!

Not houses that have been on the market a long time, but I am suspicious of ones that come up as under offer/sold and then reappear again.

There's one I went to look at. On paper, fantastic. in a small village, on a regular bus route, big house. It was out of my budget at £525K but then went down to £500k. Had a look around and didn't like it so much. But now it's back on again at £460k and I'm torn between why it's not sold and the fact it's a lot of house for the money.

not in my town... market is very very slow. rural area. must things stay on for a year or so. all lovely and well priced but they don't shift quickly that's for sure