Listing, Viewing, and Offers Thread 4!

[Nessalina]

The thread in which all our houses sell, and we find the place of our dreams!
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KitKat - I think you've made the right decision.
Gently - at least you will know either way if you do put an offer in, rather than think 'what if' later on. You never know, it might be accepted.

I've got my first viewing this afternoon but I have been ill all night and feel dreadful this morning. I'm tempted to cancel it and crawl back into bed but I hate letting people down.

I also thing you've made the right decision KitKat VSC sound wholly incompetent. If they are this crap at providing one piece of information imagine how awful they will be in a chain Plus, re-marketing your property might focus them a little. What happened to the other couple who picked up application forms, did they ever return them?

I hope you feel a little better by this afternoon heddbach

Gently - no harm in offering if nothing else it will show the EA and vendor that you are serious and didn't just want the viewing for a nose around.

Fingers crossed you can get to the bottom of the building cert issue Frescoed - roll on exchange!

Great progress PickAChew - it's all happening now. Fingers crossed it carries on smoothly for you.

We had a viewing from someone in rented last night, but heard nothing today so presumably no offer there We have another lined up for Wednesday afternoon so just keeping everything firmly crossed. I've also decided that checking the "competition" daily on RM isn't doing my blood pressure or stress levels any good so I've quit. Well it's day 2 and I'm holding firm. One day at a time

Thank you. We had to re-open to viewings really as VSC had by this point passed 4 separate dates that they had said the paperwork would be sorted by, which is an utter piss take in my humble opinion. The only piece of comfort I can take from our time off the market is that because of DD1 sharing her D&V bug amongst us all, I think we would have been unable to do viewings for about a week or so anyway, so I suppose in some ways it was good timing. I had a good glass of last night to sulk with (!), but need to move forward now. EA said they had some details on file of people who had enquired about our house whilst it wasn't accepting viewings, so would contact them to see if they were still interested, but not heard anything as yet so I'm guessing not. Also the EA never heard back from the other couple that picked up an application form, so I'm guessing they've changed their mind too. At this point VSC may still (eventually!) complete the application and submit it and unfortunately it's up to the housing association not me and DH whether their application is successful of not. In a way I hope they just don't now, as I physically can't face the thought of conveyancing with them, and I don't trust them.

Gently congrats on your quick sale. in your circumstances I think I'd make an offer on that house you saw a couple of months ago. I'm guessing you liked it if you wanted a second viewing and if there's nothing else you like on the market then it sounds like it's the best option and worth a try?

Sorry you feel ill Heddbach. What have you decided to do about the viewing?

Sorry you've not heard anything yet from your viewers yesterday Yogadrone. You may well hear from them yet though. If not fingers crossed for Wednesday's viewing. Well done on the RM abstinence! I keep telling myself that continuously looking at all the house's I like on RM but can't yet offer on due to no buyer ourselves is unhelpful, but I can't seem to help myself!

Thanks KitKat, yes they might. It's just vaguely irritating that they phoned EA at midday yesterday saying that they "had to see it today" and making us all jump through hoops and then go silent. You'd think a viewer that impatient would give quick feedback, but obviously not. And I don't want to get my own VSC do I?

What I've found is that people seem to decide what they want to see at the weekend and then contact the EA on Monday. Broadly, if they aren't booked in on a Monday then that's it for the week.

RM is so addictive - it should carry a government health warning If i feel tempted I'm just going to look at things well out of my price range and location - Scottish castles and townhouses in Belgravia are current favourites!

Can i join you all? We've had our house on for 3wks now, had so many viewings initially thought we'd sell really quickly, but then it's tailed off. All the feedback has been that we are too rural (no shit-look at google maps before you come) or too much work. We had a second viewing 2wks ago from someone who then went away for 10d, and since then has been incommunicado with the EA. EA reckons they are still thinking about what to offer. Also had a offer 20% below the asking price from some other viewer, we declined and asked the EA to go back to them to come back with a figure no less than 8% below the asking price and they have also seemed to disappear into then air, no email/phone contact to the EA at all

I think we should drop the asking price, DH reckons that it won't affect things too much (would only drop within a RM range not to a lower one if that makes sense) but I'm loathe to whilst we still could get an offer from second viewing people.

Is so frustrating, if they aren't going to offer at least have the decency to let us know. They are chain free so it's not like they are waiting for something to sell.

We have seen our dream house as well, just to make things worse there isn't much in the market where we want to be atm, and feel that if we don't get this house am not really bothered about moving at all. Dream house EA knows we are v interested, but said won't entertain an offer unless we are proceedable

Sorry-that's very long-clearly needed to vent

Oh yes Yoga, sometimes I go 'fantasy house shopping' with a 5 million budget or similar on RM. It's oddly addictive. Lol!

Welcome AngelicCurls! It sounds like your house has had a fair amount of interest in the past 3 weeks so that's a good sign. Could your EA maybe organise an open day or something to attract more interest if the viewings have started to taper off a bit? And maybe if no suitable offers within a few days of that then consider dropping the price slightly?

Absolutely KitKat - I imagine myself swimming in my lovely new indoor pool and then having a nice sauna ...

Hi AngelicCurls I understand your frustration. I agree with KitKat, perhaps an open day would be a good move? I don't know what part of the country you are in but there does seem to be a stagnation of the market at the moment. Our EA told us that it is very price sensitive. I also read an interview with the CEO of a large national estate agency (not an online one!) who said the same thing. Basically, people generally aren't making "cheeky" offers but are waiting for prices to be reduced before viewing. My EA's analysis of last quarter says that the houses which sold all sold within 2% of the asking price. Perhaps ask you EA if you believe a similar situation exists in your area?

Yes, I think dropping the price is the right idea, but want to wait and see if the second viewing people offer-just wish they'd get back to the EA either way. We've had about 15 viewings so far, and EA reckoned that wouldn't be the case if it was over priced, yet no offers from any of those is so disappoining (well bar the massively under asking offer)
Think wil wait to the end of the week then persuade DH we should drop it a bit.

I also like a good bit of fantasy RM, although at the moment is just keep on checking our dream house hasn't changed to sstc!

From what you've said Angelic the feedback isn't about the price. Perhaps the EA could make more of the rural landscape in their blurb? Really spell it out so that people are very aware of how rural it is.

Hi all, just catching up. We dropped the price on our flat at the start of this week, and have 3 viewings booked in for the weekend, so fingers crossed. I was hoping to get a couple more but I guess there's still time. We've found a house that we really like, but I don't know if it's worth putting in an offer as we have no buyer. EA said we could, but it's hard to know exactly what we can afford. I'm also really frustrated as I feel like we always have to chase our EA for feedback, they never offer it, and it's all a bit vague.

KitKat I am so annoyed on your behalf! VSC sound like a nightmare, I hope you get another buyer lined up soon.

Gently did you put an offer in? hedbach did you go ahead with the viewings?

Angelic - personally I think if your second viewing couple haven't contacted the EA for what is now 11 days, I think it's unlikely they're going to make an offer now to be honest (sorry), so you're probably best to discount them from the equation. I agree with Yoga that it sounds like price isn't the major issue (although obviously if the house needs work then your asking price may have to reflect that). Maybe a 1-2% price drop is a good idea (partly for the psychological effect - people love thinking they're getting a good price and also because generally people will know that people who are price dropping are usually serious about moving and want a quick sale). I also agree that the listing will need to be really clear that your house is in a remote location so people don't waste your time with viewings if they're looking for something more central.

Update here too. House B has now gone off the market. Apparently the vendors are a bit frustrated with lack of progress (they've been on several months) but also apparently there's currently nothing on the market that they like that's in their budget for even if they did get a buyer, so they've decided to come off the market and maybe try again next year. I'm okay about it, partly because I think we're 90% certain now we like house A more, but it does mean we've lost our 'back up' option.

Even more interestingly, apparently going back on the market has made VSC realise they are taking too long and apparently they have now completed the application! [I feel there should be a fanfare here]. Rather worryingly though, they have confirmed they won't have the deposit monies until December, which is why I wonder if they've been stalling. This also makes me twitchy as I'm very much 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' kind of person, and them not actually having the money to proceed immediately (albeit doubtless much will have happened in terms of moving by December anyway) makes me inevitably wonder if they've counted their chickens before they've hatched, and what happens obviously if their deposit money doesn't materialise. I'm not sure the application will be acceptable to the housing association either if they're not immediately proceedable, but we'll see. However we have another viewing booked in for tomorrow, and possibly another one which EA is chasing, and I want these to go ahead which EA agrees with. And we'll make a decision next week on if we want to close viewings again or not.

Sorry x-post MrsJW. 3 viewings for the weekend sounds good (and it's always helpful to have them in the same time period too as it's easier than cleaning repeatedly)! Good news about finding a house you like. There's no harm in trying with putting an offer in for the house you like. We tried it once even though we weren't proceed able. Sadly it was declined on that basis but I'm a firm believer that you may as well ask and see as they can only say no.

That's good MrsJW - 3 viewings in this climate is not to be sniffed at. And, as KitKat says less cleaning to do having them close together!

I also agree with KitKat that it's worth making an offer on the house you like, or perhaps just making it very clear to their EA that you are going to offer once you have a buyer. We did that with the house we are hoping to buy and I think it worked as they have stayed with us despite our buyer dropping out.

Ha! I knew your putting it back on the market would kick them a good kick KitKat. Definitely sounds like they were delaying to buy some time. I guess that could be a good thing - means they aren't as incompetent as you feared. Are you going to take it off the market again?

I have an odd update. Just when I've decided to be all zen and "whatever will be will be" our vendor walks into his EA and mentions the possibility of doing a part exchange with us. VEA (vendor's EA) says he is "getting jittery" - which I totally understand as it's been 7 weeks now since our buyer dropped out. He is "in property" and apparently has done it before. It would be totally and utterly wonderful for us, so I'm not allowing myself to dream that it could happen.

We also had two viewings back-to-back today so fingers crossed yet again!

We're getting a bit fed up with our EA. Out of the last 6 viewings (not counting today) we've only had feedback about one. We don't even know if the others even turned up! EA was supposed to ring today but didn't so we're going to have to follow up tomorrow too. Our contract expires next month so I think I shall be telling them that we have no intention of extending it.

KitKat It looks like a kick up the rear-end was what they needed but I would be wary myself because if the reason they were being slow was because they were trying to delay it till December, then why didn't they just tell you that? At least then you'd have known where you stood and could make a decision based on knowing all the facts. I still think you are right in going back to more viewings though. You may well get another offer from someone who's in a better position to proceed.

MrsJW Good to hear that you've got 3 viewings lined up for the weekend. Best of luck.

Angelic That really is so frustrating. Why don't people do their research properly before deciding to view. Anyone who's in the same boat, trying to sell, must know the effort that (most of us) put in prior to a viewing, only for it to be a total waste of your time.

Yoga That's bad news about your EA. They charge us enough as it is, the least they can do is a little bit of work for their money. Do you have any good reports of any other local EA?

My update is encouraging. I felt better by the afternoon and the viewing went ahead. The good news is they liked the house and want to arrange a second viewing. They want to look at the possibility of extending the kitchen (it is slightly on the small side but there is plenty of potential to extend). I'm a bit wary though, even if they do put in an offer, how much below the asking price they would expect to go in order to add the extension. I'm probably over-thinking things too early. However, they haven't sold their property yet, it's been on the market for 3 months with no offers, so they aren't really in too great a position. And breathe....

Good news about a second viewing heddbach , although if they do offer I would be wary of accepting it if they haven't yet sold their home.

I think we'll either move to our Vendor's EA, or offer joint agency to vendor's EA and our current one. Vendor's EA have said they'll match the rate for joint agency so it wouldn't cost us any more but could potentially open to a new set of viewings.

Yes, definitely good to have the 3 viewings on the same day. Easier to get the baby out the house. I'm hoping they may still get one or two more - sometimes they forget to tell us if people are coming at the same time. Fingers crossed someone offers on it though!

KitKat I think if I were you I'd be hoping that someone else puts an offer in, just to show VSC that you can't mess around with these things. Yoga part exchange sounds good! But otherwise hopefully one of those viewings will work out.

I have formally written to terminate our EA's contract when it expires next month. I found out today that if someone downloads the "property particulars" they get the original asking price, the original (incorrect) floorplan and the old photos. Coupled with the lack of feedback that was the final straw

Evening all!

Ooh a part exchange would be great Yoga. Do you have any idea how serious he was or was he just mooting the idea? I don't blame you for wanting to terminate your EA's contract though. It's very poor that all the property details are either outdated or incorrect. And the lack of feedback is also poor. Are you going to go with your vendors EA now like you thought?

When is your second viewing heddbach? Good news that they liked it though, even if they are not proceedable at this point.

Any more viewings for the weekend booked in MrsJW15?

Had a viewing on our house this afternoon. Apparently the couple really liked it and have requested an application form. I'm feeling a bit cautious about getting too enthusiastic at this point though as we've had two previous couples pick up an application form. One was VSC, and one was a couple who then never filled it in and the EA never heard from again.

Not sure what happens now with VSC. I'm hoping the housing association will give some indication on whether they would even accept an application form from someone who didn't have the deposit monies yet. I also don't really trust VSC anymore, and am wary that deposit money will become a bit like the paperwork, and it'll always be 'it'll be sorted next week' again about the whole thing. And then December will creep into January, and then February etc. I would have trusted them more if they had just admitted from the outset they didn't have the money yet.

KitKat I understand your reaction but immediately asking for the forms is so positive - fingers crossed the new people get those forms back quickly! I don't blame you about VSC. You would have trusted them more if they'd been honest up-front

We haven't heard more from our vendor-to-be - I suspect he's hoping that one of the viewings we've had this week will lead to something and he won't need to progress the part-ex idea. We have had some feedback now and it's all positive and we seem to have been at least 6 people's second choice in really close toss of the coin type of decisions. It feels a bit like coming 4th in the Olympic Games!!

Yes, we'll probably go to vendor's EA - they've offered us a short term weekly rolling contract as they know that if we lose our purchase there is nothing else we would want to buy and we'd just stay put.

Yeah I'm trying to positive Yoga. I think the estate agent who phoned to give me the feedback yesterday was a bit surprised I wasn't more excited, but I'd rather protect myself a bit from the disappointment if it doesn't lead anywhere really, and we've been messed around quite a bit now by viewers / perspective purchasers. The forms were put in the post to them yesterday so they should (I think) get them tomorrow, so if they're really serious and keen to progress I expect we'll hear something back next week sometime, so watch this space! In the meantime I'm going to keep anxiously checking Rightmove several times a day to see if the house we want is still on the market.

How bloody irritating that your house has been second choice for about 6 couples now Yoga! It's irritating but I guess on the positive side your house is obviously appealing to a lot of people, so I'm sure it has to be someone's first choice soon. The vendor's EA sounds good. I also suspect that it would make conveyancing easier if both you and the vendor of the house you want have the same EA, as obviously communication would be more straightforward. So you know when they are going to be around to do pictures / put the new listing up?

Good evening everyone. Dh and I are first time buyers, we’ve viewed a house last week that won’t work based on our circumstances but we’ll be viewing another house tomorrow and based on the pictures, description and location, we’ll definitely be putting an offer if everything is just as it seems.
I’m excited and scared at the same time because things are going faster than I thought but would like to join you here

Mind if I join? Dh and I recently accepted a job offer to relocate from Alaska to England. We are looking for a home within commuting distance to Sunbury. We have 2 DDs (ages 3 &1) so schools matter.

Following along on this thread has been very insightful. The process of buying/selling is different than the US in a lot of ways.

Just catching up with a any news on your offer Gently ? Great to have offers on yours so soon, at least you’re in a good position for buying. Good news on your second viewing Hedd here’s hoping they come up trumps, or least that it’s a sign yours will sell soon. Any decisions on price Angelic ? We dropped ours, and had a pair of offers within about a week, I think. We actually got what we thought we’d sell it for originally, just a different pricing tactic.

Any news from your possible part-ex Yoga ? Fx for you, sounds like a change of EA would be good whatever. Hope your thursday viewers are a bit more serious and organised than the VSC Kit I know what you mean about not getting too positive - after a while it feels like it’s better to only believe anything once the ink is dry on a contract! Any news from your viewings MrsJW ? Batching them together is helpful, I spent much of the summer hanging around in the park waiting for viewings to be done.

Welcome tohave hope you found a lovely house today. Wow Pam that’s quite a big change! My brother is in the US, I’ve been very jealous of the role a realtor plays for buyers and sellers over there. I think we’re just all very exposed over here, it’s not a great system. Good luck!

Well, we’re just chugging along with conveyancing paperwork, etc. Our buyer’s last survey was done on Thursday, so I hope we’re pretty much beyond any surprises, but who knows. I should probably take myself over to the in the chain thread properly, I hope you’ll all be joining me there soon.

Well we've reduced to another RM bracket, in a bit of in for a penny in for a pound moment. We really want the house we've seen, so are hoping the reduced price will draw some more viewings and an offer. We wanted to reduce by less but EA said that reducing within a RM bracket wasn't worth it as would just drop it down the search results, not sure if I totally buy that but tbh of we get the new asking price we would still love. It's gone on as a fixed price, we would accept a couple of grand under that but less than that and we'd stay

Already half making plans to decorate and stay put for a couple of years if the dream house sells, as there is just nothing else we have seen