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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Selling frustration thread anyone?

114 replies

kiely32 · 19/08/2017 20:49

Anyone want to share their selling frustrations as I feel the need to sound off and I'm sure I can't be the only one!!
My list of frustrations so far...
But first I will start with a bit of info on the house. It's a 3 bed mid terrace in Hertfordshire. The house has been renovated to a high standard but has no driveway - or potential to create one as We are down a steep bank.
We only put the house on the market 3 weeks ago.
So far we have had an EA show people around when he hasn't even seen the property himself.
Cancellations that we haven't been told about - three times!
Having to chase feedback.
On the open morning I waited outside for 30 mins for text to say the viewings had finished, for the text never to come!
Windows being left open by the EA.
And my number one frustration is that when I have finally received the feedback I am told all 7 viewers loved the house but really wanted a driveway 😠

OP posts:

Nasreen · 27/08/2017 12:20

MAJOR frustrations here.

House been on the market for almost a year. Had a handful of viewings, that is it. Now with agent number 2, so we will see what happens. Price appears right, lots of property for your money, close to M6, Manchester. Liverpool and Chester, good schools; so why is it taking so long?

Just cannot wait to get out of this godforsaken 'town'..it's depressing the hell out of me. Also, trying to relocate from the NorthWest, to the SouthEast (is that even possible???) In fact anyone who has done it successfully, please could you get in touch? I moved South to North be live with OH, but after 10 years, I am sick of it here. Plus my family are south and I want to be closer to them again.

Any uplifitng words would be appeciated.

bastardsthelot · 27/08/2017 14:29

Nasreen where abouts are you? I'm that sort of area. We've had major selling/ buying issues and we also swapped EA twice we accepted an offer back in late may and offered on one a week later, solicitors are a pain in the arse and dragging their feet but I couldn't recommend my current EA enough for pushing sales and good follow through.

Nasreen · 27/08/2017 16:18

Hello Bastardsthelot

I am in Winsford, Cheshire. No issue with Cheshire, loads of issues with Winsford!!

Where are you moving to? Which agent worked for you?

bastardsthelot · 27/08/2017 16:54

I'm at the other end, I thought if you was close I could recommend you my EA, we're in Haigh still staying here just upsizing. Love the area.

Littlewhistle · 27/08/2017 17:11

Mine's been on the market for a year now. About 10 viewings. Feedback from "we really wanted a garden" when it states clearly there isn't one to "the house was very cold and dark"........... Yes I'd just come in so the heating hadn't warmed up and it was 4.30 in October.

Two typed of house sell around here - a) complete wrecks that are dirt cheap b) ones that are decorated in a very modern style

Unfortunately mine falls between these categories

KittyMcAllister · 27/08/2017 20:48

Ooh can I join?

We have had our house on the market for just over a week and had 7 viewings. No offers yet. It's a three bedroom end-of-terrace, 2 bathrooms, good living space, good gardens & ample parking. Close proximity to outstanding primary school.

The feedback we've had so far is that the bedrooms are too small (that's why we're moving!) and that it's too close to a busy road (you can't hear this once you're in the house). It's frustrating because the EA really talked it up and said it would sell v quickly so raised our expectations!

We have an offer in on a house that we love, vendors are happy with this but it's still on the market until we sell.

So stressful having to get the house ready for viewings as we have dcs age 7 and 5 but what I've read of the thread so far the stresses are only just beginning!

freelancedolly · 27/08/2017 21:16

Kitty you've only had it on for a week, hold your horses!

I had an offer on my place a week ago, rejected it as it was a bit low, and they STILL haven't come back and said yay or nay to increasing it. They are 'pondering' apparently. They replied after two days saying "when was the boiler last serviced?" (unbelievable; what a ridiculous question.. luckily I was able to say that the boiler was new in February - not that that nudged them to come back!). It's all so frustrating.

thebear1 · 28/08/2017 07:57

We have been on since April, no offer yet but in an area where the market seems slow. Feedback so far has been about things out of our control. Thinking about taking it off but do want to move.

freelancedolly · 28/08/2017 08:59

Mine's in London and the market is very slow but everyone's dropping their prices (I've dropped mine by 13%) and things are selling once the prices are dropped. I desperately need to sell mine to clear a bridging loan!

Good luck everyone.

KittyMcAllister · 28/08/2017 16:35

More feedback that it's too small (there are floor plans on Rightmove!)

Hoping that September brings more serious buyers (not for the one we want to buy though!)

What are people's experience of open days? Good idea or not?

tethersend · 28/08/2017 16:46

Can I join? Am selling my mum's house (she recently died), also in Hertfordshire. Tiny 2 bed Victorian terrace, great location but small garden and steep stairs.

Has been on the market since July, have dropped the price already as was massively overvalued by EA. It's on with Tepilo and they are completely useless. I may as well have wiped my arse with £1000. Going to change to a local agent and hope for the best, but I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing.

tethersend · 28/08/2017 16:50

Feedback so far (from a handful of viewings) is:

-it's untidy (its empty)
-the windows are to small (original Victorian windows)
-it's in the wrong place (err...?)

Just want shot of it, TBH. How should I price it to encourage offers? OIEO the very lowest we'd accept? Or guide price a bit above the minimum we'd accept?

Original poster

kiely32 · 28/08/2017 17:08

If you do want a quick sale maybe you could put it on for a fixed price? Something like £*000 - fixed, realistically priced for a quick sale. I have been told by EA that offers over, offers in the region of... mean nothing to the buyer and that they will still come in under that price.

OP posts:

tethersend · 28/08/2017 19:16

That's what I'd thought kiely, but have one agent insist on 'guide price' and another strongly advise 'offers over'

Ttbb · 28/08/2017 19:27

Estate agents at the worst.

Ttbb · 28/08/2017 19:28

Is he explaining parking properly? I assume that you have parking permits or sonething.

tethersend · 28/08/2017 19:48

I think Tepilo basically employ a sixth former to open the door and stand there while you look round. No conversations about offers, schools, interest or anything seem to be taking place.

IndianaMoleWoman · 28/08/2017 21:13

I filled in an online valuation form six weeks ago with Tepilo and they are STILL ringing/texting/emailing me despite the fact that we went with a local EA and sold it three weeks ago (I have told them this!) I didn't go with them because their valuation was insane (£25k more than we're selling it for; we went with the highest valuation from three local agents).

I was told that pricing strategy should reflect the local market. If things are selling fast and there's lots of interest in your house type, go with offers over. If you have a price in mind that that you want/need to achieve, go with offers in the region of something a bit over that price. If you really want to get rid, put it at the minimum you'd accept, fixed price for quick sale and market it as such.

Original poster

kiely32 · 29/08/2017 07:06

Ttbb - no parking permits, to be fair there isn't really the need as only residents park here. The busiest time is the evening, when everyone is home from work, I am usually home around 8.30pm and can always get parked. It may not be directly outside the house but within a 1 minute walk away. The EA says he is letting people know this but still they think it's an issue. I think I would be better off doing my own viewings - the EA is managing to get people through the door - though it wouldn't be possible while the kids are off school.

I don't know how you guys have managed being on the market for so long! I feel like I am living in a constant state of anticipation of having to get the house to showhome standard! Well at least the kids are getting better at keeping their rooms tidy 😁

OP posts:

Greyskiesover · 31/08/2017 18:12

This is just the thread I need!
Have been on the market for 3 months. Am already the cheapest 4 bed within a few miles of the city near where we live, and one of the cheapest 3 beds. Estate agent doesn't understand why we have had no offers; I have kept it so clean and tidy and spent about a year doing all the little odd jobs on it, decorating etc. before putting it on the market. In last month have only had one viewing (about 12 in the 2 months before that). I want to reduce again as I am just so fed up but DH, understandably, wants to stick it out at current price.
Do you think reducing within a Rightmove price bracket is worth anything?

fialor · 09/09/2017 21:22

Grey skies over, I would suggest you change your EA if you can for a more proactive one.
We were on the market for a full three months with one EA, one viewing in the whole 3 months. Changed to a more proactive one, three viewings in less than two weeks. One offer (sale fell through, long story), had three more viewings, another offer and now going through the sales process. A good EA is worth their weight in salt, never mind gold.
I hope you get a good going, fx.

Original poster

kiely32 · 10/09/2017 07:32

Grey skies - I would have to agree with fialor. I would suggest looking for an EA who has similar properties on their books, a lot of our viewings are where the EA is showing them 2-3 other properties in the area. I guess people call up interested in one and the EA talks them in to looking at all of them. If yours offers the best value it would be good to try and sell it in this way I think.

With regard to the rightmove bracket, we did this. We saw a huge spike in online viewings but before things have actually been slower since we did it! Down an average of 2 viewings a week to 1. I think this is due to the time of year more than anything else.

Source yourself a good agent - look to see who has the most houses on rightmove as they will be having the most enquiries going through their office. Ask them about the price, I guess it comes down to whether you want a quick sale or more money...

Best of luck! Xx

OP posts:

KittyMcAllister · 13/09/2017 22:19

After a month of lots of viewings, largely positive feedback but no offers, we've decided to move down a Rt Move price bracket to just under £250k. We're worried about losing the one we're interested in if we don't sell, but they've apparently had no other offers (luckily it's the same EA).

Hauntedhouse2017 · 13/09/2017 22:58

Kiely here! Name change in honour of the house I want to buy, kids think it looks haunted 😂

I don't know where you are Kitty but the market here is dead! We moved down to 425000 a couple of weeks ago and even though our rightmove views sky rocketed we have only had 1 new viewing since 😢

I have noticed a lot of 1/2 bed flats coming to the market near me so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that those people will soon be looking for a bigger property 😁

KittyMcAllister · 13/09/2017 23:19

We are in a suburb of a large Northern city. Agree market seems dead. Hardly any houses added on Rt Move around here but some appear to be selling. Whereabouts are you haunted?

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