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Original poster

Next door ruining our chance of selling?

147 replies

Helloitsme123 · 06/02/2018 19:39

Came on here for a rant really. We have had our house up for sale for nearly 6 week, 7 viewings and everyone has commented how lovely it is only thing putting the off is next door has planning permission to build 9 houses on their field. Also 43 houses have been approved to go up opposite, we know the people who own the land and they had told us these plans could be in 2/5/10 years it’s just the permission is there. I’m at my wits end! Is everyone out there actually interested in buying a house with new builds going up next door? So frustrating as we’ve seen a house we love Sad

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 07/02/2018 08:00

I do feel for you, it's such a difficult situation.

I also think you can't tell people you're down sizing or want to release equity. It's not really that big a house, most folks need a spare room for friends or family or a home office, you've only been there 18 months, and equity, if any, will be less than ten grand and chewed up in moving costs.

Just say you need to move away for work. It's more believable, as everyone's going to think thr planning permission came through and you're both trying to get out of there as fast as you can.

It's a mix of the timing co incnciding with the new builds and the fact you've only been there 18 months.

Tanxd · 07/02/2018 09:21

As there are many 4 and 5 bedroom houses on sale in your area for the price as your 2 / 3 chalet bungalow.
You haven't had work done but have increased the price by £30k in 18 months.
The land around you is going to be a building site no matter what your neighbours say they wouldn't have gone for planning permission unless they intended to build/sell.
Add all this up.
No one is going to buy it.

Original poster
Helloitsme123 · 07/02/2018 09:39

Thanks everyone for your input. Not going to look or reply any more as think enough people on here have advised me it’s not going to sell but thanks.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 07/02/2018 09:47

It will sell for the right price. Everything sells for the right price. It's just a really unfortunate time for you to have to sell as it will impact how much you can command. 💐

FluffyWuffy100 · 07/02/2018 11:55

I never knew there was so much hatred about artificial grass!

Quite common near me to replace tiny patches of grass in terraced houses with nice artificial grass. Much easier to look after. I would see it as a bonus in a small garden TBH as a small patch of grass is a PITA to bother with.

whiskyowl · 07/02/2018 12:05

If the other houses didn't really impinge on views etc. this wouldn't bother me at all.

What would bother me is the price increase since May 2016, unless the renovation/extension has happened since? £30k is a lot to add in 18 months.

Original poster
Helloitsme123 · 07/02/2018 12:12

After a call to the estate agent, The house is no longer up at £320k

OP posts:
Dozer · 07/02/2018 12:27

£290k seems more like it.

namechangedtoday15 · 07/02/2018 17:55

I don't think you've taken the points on board by dropping it just by £10k but I hope you get an offer. By the way, it's still the wrong floor plan!

Original poster
Helloitsme123 · 07/02/2018 18:31

Hi namechangedtoday15. I have defiantly taken them onboard actually! I asked ths estate agent to drop it to 299, she said she’s going to put it on at 310 for a few weeks even though I said there isn’t much point. I’m also aware of the floorplan, they’ve used a previous floorplan and the guy that does them isn’t in the office, Rome wasn’t built in a day some thing can take longer than 24 hours to sort!

OP posts:
headinhands · 07/02/2018 18:37

Unrelated point but it does make me chuckle when I see signs saying things like 'No More Houses' when there's an application for a new estate. Do these people think these houses sprung out the ground? Chances are their house being built pissed someone off. It's called NIMBY in the trade.

PancakeInMaBelly · 07/02/2018 18:42

I know right headinhands?
If you are THAT concerned about preserving the countryside yould move to a flat in a town. Oh no wait, YOU want to live in the countryside, you just don't think anyone else should? Ooookaaay..

littledinaco · 07/02/2018 18:54

I think you would be better putting ‘offers over’ 300. Reducing to 310 then again to 300 looks like you are really desperate/there is something wrong and is likely in itself to put people off.

You have a lot working against you but it doesn’t mean you won’t sell, you just have to work extra hard on the things you can change.
Things that will put lots of people off;

  • Artificial grass (this can be changed cheaply and easily to turf).
  • The fact you are moving so soon. Maybe have a better reason to inform buyers of rather than downsizing as this doesn’t sound convincing.
  • Bedroom downstairs. Would you consider dressing this as an extra longe/dining room as this may be more appealing.
  • Planning permission - obviously you can’t change this but there are things you can do to try and help not put people off. Have you got a copy of the plans/a map showing your house and the proposed houses? If you can show people when they come so they can see exactly where the houses are in relation to your house and that it’s not as big a problem as they might otherwise think. You can explain that the price of your house is reflected in the fact there is planning permission etc.
Squirreltamer · 07/02/2018 18:56

Whilst I do think the OP paid the new house premium when they bought the bungalow

A 30k increase in 18months isn't a crazy hike if the original house price of 290k was the market rate (no new house premium)

The OP would of made this original offer a few months earlier then the sold date. So you're looking at around 10% increase in that period of time.

House prices went up about 5-7% per year in the past 2 years so the 10% increase in asking price isn't a crazy figure. This areas sold prices seem to follow this figure.

I looked at the plans for the new build houses and to be fair they're a decent size, detached with 2 parking spaces... But the neighbours are all objecting saying they want terraced houses and starter homes ?!?! The only new builds by me have shared driveways for one car or a bike rack!

Original poster
Helloitsme123 · 07/02/2018 19:07

I suggested offers in the region of 300 but she said people tend to ignore it.

I personally am not changing the inside of my house, there is nothing wrong with it. People saying the door in the front room etc! It’s a bloody front door for goodness sake, as a buyer myself I wouldn’t even think where the front door is I just walk through it! I have had a lot of viewings over the past few weeks and the only thing putting people off was the planning permission as I stated at the beginning of this thread. Really feel it’s gone too far into picking my home apart!

OP posts:
PancakeInMaBelly · 07/02/2018 19:12

Really feel it’s gone too far into picking my home apart!
Well, if you want it to NOT be your home any mire, i.e. Sold, then you might want to adjust your thinking on that....

PancakeInMaBelly · 07/02/2018 19:13

"any more"

Original poster
Helloitsme123 · 07/02/2018 19:16

At the end of the day I still live here! I’m not going to pretend it’s not my Home because it’s up for sale? Seems like it’s just full of people that are so argumentative on here! I was just seeing if anyone else had a similar situation and had sold. Not advice on moving my front door and laying a lawn in my back garden jesus! Hmm

OP posts:
BringMeTea · 07/02/2018 19:19

I think OP is getting a hard time here from some quarters. I haven’t seen the house so can’t comment on that but give her a break eh? It is shitty bad luck for her re development and she did say she wanted to vent in her OP. Let her vent!

PancakeInMaBelly · 07/02/2018 19:20

Well then people viewing will pick up on that, and not feel like it's "theirs", which is what you need them to feel if they're going to overlook the planning issues and put in an offer.

I've viewed places with vendor s like you OP and run a mile, as they're the kinda vendors that throw tantrums if your survey comes back with issues and refuse to negotiate it in a business like manner.

It's a business deal, they're not your guests!

RippleEffects · 07/02/2018 19:22

I didn't see the inside of your home but i've bought and sold many houses. Some rather querky. I think homes sell as do houses. Some people buy the lifestyle, others the bricks and mortar. Its swings and roundabouts.

It is your home. You can explain everything that's there and why it works.

My one bit of input would be to suggest you add as many details as possible to the sales particulars about the planning permissions for the surrounding land. It'll help stop viewings for those it's an absolute no too and clarify the situation to those with a realistic outlook.

Original poster
Helloitsme123 · 07/02/2018 19:23

Funny your talking as if you know me personally pancakeinmabelly? I would certainly negotiate if a problem came back on the survey!

OP posts:
Original poster
Helloitsme123 · 07/02/2018 19:25

Thanks, finally some useful and cheerful advise not people wanting to bite my head off for having a rant! @bringmetea and @rippleeffects

OP posts:
littledinaco · 07/02/2018 19:40

I personally am not changing the inside of my house, there is nothing wrong with it

No one is saying there is anything wrong with your house. You are in a difficult position due to the planning permission so you may need to go the extra mile in terms of the other things you can control.

I have had a lot of viewings over the past few weeks and the only thing putting people off was the planning permission
So you might need to do things to mean people overlook the planning permission as they fall in love with your house over all others.
You’ve had some really good suggestions. No one is criticising your house in terms of it being a lovely home, just in terms of what is likely to make it sell/what will put people off.

Original poster
Helloitsme123 · 07/02/2018 19:45

I came on here for a rant about planning permissions! I’m just not going to reply any further, it’s all got abit ridiculous and In my opinion slightly personal saying vendors like me people run a mile, I’d have a tantrum etc when people on here don’t even know me! But anyway thanks everyone once again for our replies

OP posts:
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