STRESS surrounding house sale

[Bumblebee28]

Hiya

I just need to vent. Has anyone else had their house on the market this year? And has it made them SO anxious?

We decided to sell our family home 2 months ago. Had all the photos done, selected the agent who seemed to really have passion for the house and thought it would 'sell quickly' (how gullible am I) and it went on 4 weeks ago. They hyped up this 'open day' by appointment only they were having and I believed that there would be loads of interest.

Right Move stats initially were great but this didn't translate to viewings. 4 booked for the open day, 2 cancelled. And in the past 3 weeks we've had 4 viewings booked (all since last Saturday when I sent a rather frustrated email to them). Had two booked back-to-back today and was in the final few minutes of getting the house ready and, guess what, a call to say BOTH appointments had cancelled. I put the phone down and burst into tears. I am so anxious about it all. I feel I have been played. My expectations were too high and I'm taking it so personally. Everyone tells me the 'right buyer will come along' but I just am starting to really lose faith. Everyone says my house is beautiful but this doesn't seem to translating well.

I know it's a difficult month and our house is in a higher price bracket so that All has to be taken into account but I could really do with hearing from some other mums who have been through - or are - going through this. If anything, just to get some tips on how to 'let go' as I keep being told.

HELP - This is not as fun as I thought it might be at all.

:-( :-(

I'm afraid you have to be patient. I put a flat up for sale last November and finally completed in July. Apparently the market's cooling down anyway. I know, it's a bummer

I'm not a mum so maybe you don't want to hear from me!

August is a terrible month at any time, but the market is awful at the moment. Since we bought our house, nothing else in the same price bracket has sold, and only 1 other house in our search area.

We took our house off the market as things are so slow and the agent said we needed to reduce by 10% . We are renting it out instead.

Selling is stressful. The constant tidying, waiting for viewings, not getting feedback is hard. But don't take it personally if they don't show up. People are flaky.

Agents lie to get your business. Agents are useless a lot of the time. Agents lie to buyers to get a sale. Agents just want their commission.

What was the feedback from the viewings you had? Also, what reasons did the others give for cancelling? I expected my agent to get this info as it could give some reasons.

Have a look at the ‘sellers roll call’ thread, you’re definitely not alone - I could have written this post. Approx 10 weeks on the market for us, price dropped 6 weeks ago. I flick between wanting to reduce again to give it our ‘best shot’, and wanting to take it off the market and stay put.

Pretty similar here Bumblebee

Valued by 3 agents, went with the one who seemed keenest despite having to pay all their marketing costs up front.

Listed at their valuation (all 3 the same) and checked it wasn't overcooked by comparing other similar properties and by working out the price paid 8 years ago + work undertaken + appreciation calculated through the Nationwide house price index.

The response has been distinctly underwhelming. 12 weeks on the market and I had one viewing. Three weeks in my agent told me to reduce by 10%.

I really don't understand what is going on in the market. My neighbour sold in 8 days (11 viewings) and will be making a large profit. She has owned her house two years !!

That gives me comfort that it is not location.

I took mine off the market two weeks ago and have no idea what to do next.

Prior to doing that I have spoken to other agents and asked friends to review my listing and tell me honestly what might be wrong. The feedback I have had is that my marketing is not great, but actually it has much more to do with my price range. Apparently houses up to £400k are selling very fast in our area, between £400k & £500k things are tighter but over £500k the market has stalled. There is now an over supply situation and nothing is moving.

Hiya all,

Thanks for your responses. It means a lot and has helped to take the sting out of it.

My house is on for 595 and, although I haven't done as much research in terms of comparison to some of you, I am keeping my eye on other properties in this price range of the same or similar criteria and they're all still there too.

It's just so bloody soul destroying isn't it? And, for me, it's the not knowing where it's going that is frustrating. I live in the SW of England. I 'think' my plan is to see how it goes up until the end of September and if nothing has happened by then, think about pulling it. To me there seems like absolutely no point in having it on during winter.

I'll have a look at that other thread you guys mentioned too.

Honestly all, thanks. I've been in floods of tears today - as the double cancellation seriously dulled my optimism BIG TIME!

X

Don't get too down Bumblebee

I was in a similar position about 15 years ago. I withdrew my house and remarketed it the following year. It sold quickly and we found a dream house. The timing was all perfect.

Unfortunately I had to leave that house following a bereavement and relocation, but it taught me to believe that when the timing is right things will work out !!

Hi Bumblebee

We're in the south east and same story here. All the 4 bed detached at that price just aren't budging... they almost need to be amazing price and amazing condition.

Our house listed at £425k after all the sales patter.eventually sold after 4 or 5 months at £375k. We didn't get much real interest until we dropped below £400k.

A couple of similar houses on our street sold at around £400k a year ago. I think it's just the market resetting itself. Even though it's selling well below the level others have - it's still grown in price about £100k in 4 years which is pretty ridiculous really.

We're also getting a steal on the house we are buying so happy (or will be when we complete). So it's not all bad.

Hope it goes ok for you and you manage to budge the house.

Pretty much everyone is reducing where I am. Knock off 20k and see what that gets you.

@Hasthemarketsplit - Thanks for that. I'm really sorry about your bereavement.

@JustLurk1ng @peachypetite - We are in no rush to sell as it's a downsize thing, as both adult kids have left home. I'm sure a reduction will be something that the agent brings up soon and we'll decide what to do at that time.

I guess I've been surprised at just how emotional it has all made me. Didn't realise how much it would get to me.

Am trying to just concentrate on other things now - am currently watching trash TV in order to cool off on my right move addiction.

You’re selling your family home, so it will be emotional. It’s hard to be dispassionate. Much of the market has cooled, and personally I don't think much will happen before next spring - too much uncertainty over the economy, interest rates and Brexit, and people are sitting tight.

If you aren't that desperate to move I'd save yourself all the stress and wait until the spring.

It is really hard and really stressful. We put ours on at the beginning of August last year, dropped the price by 5% in October and eventually pulled it off at the beginning of April. At that point we'd had around 20 viewings and no offers, all feedback was the same - small third bedroom, yard not big enough, concerned about parking. We live in a 3 bed terrace in the centre of our village, all of this stuff should have been fairly obvious from a good look on Rightmove.

At the start of May we relaunched with a different agent, had 3 viewings within 10 days and accepted an offer. Unfortunately the chain collapsed 4 weeks ago, I had to get viewing ready again in one afternoon just before we went on holiday. We had one viewing and accepted their offer. This agent has been 10x better at getting the right people through the door and getting offers. It shows that their sales people are individually commissioned. We've bought through our original agent and my experience is that they just don't follow up on viewings & offers well at all, once the offer is accepted though they work their arses off to push it to completion which is useful.

@zebrapig - Although were in no hurry I am committed now. That's the kind of person I am. I make a decision and want to move on. I'll keep it on until the beginning of October.

@zebrapig that was meant for @peachypetite!

@zebrapig - thanks for sharing. When you had it on over the winter did you have viewings? It's so funny isn't it because I am just under the understanding that - as everyone is on Right Move - they all see the properties on their search so it doesn't really matter too much about the agent. But from what you've said switching agents got your sale.... it's all food for thought for me. Thanks so much.

Hi bumblebee. I totally get all the feelings you are experiencing. Ours has been on since May and we have had viewings nearly every week. We've also had all the frustration of tidying up and then people cancelling or not showing. What helped was giving ourselves a deadline of September, no offers by then and we would take it off the market, go on holiday and try again next year. We've just had an offer although not exactly what we want so negotiating. Fingers crossed we can get what we want to be able to move.

I put mine on the market in March last year. In July after NO viewings. I switched estate agents. New EA took their own photos and had an open day and we had NO viewings. The price hadn’t changed as it was £20k under anyway as I’d wanted a quick sale. Then one day in September, we had one viewing who offered the asking price and we completed in December. Was so stressful but worked out in the end.

We had one in December and then nothing until towards the end of Feb. Other than that it was steady Aug - Nov and really picked up again in March. We had 16 viewings, 1 second viewing and 5 cancellations with our first agent (I kept a spreadsheet!). When we switched agents we actually went with one that contacted us by phone and asked to come up and see us, the obviously wanted our business but there was no pressure to sign at all.

It was quite telling when we started viewing how they all followed up on viewings. The one we're buying from (and we're originally selling with) we're awful. It should have been obvious when we viewed that we were very keen but the only follow up we got was an email asking for feedback. When I phoned to put the offer in there was no-one from the sales team available so I had to wait for them to call me back. The vendor was abroad and hey couldn't get hold of her and I had to pester for them to keep trying. It doesn't surprise me that they didn't get us an offer.

@peachypetite - Am so glad that you have had that offer and hope you can negotiate and get to a point where you are all happy.

Yes. I think our deadline is end of September/early October. Take it off and then re-list with another agent in Spring. Really hoping it doesn't get to that point though. X

@bettyboop1000 - Oh gosh. I can feel now how those months made you feel. How horrendous! Am so glad it all worked out - I guess it's just that being patient thing isn't it - that I struggle with!

I know - the thought of taking it off and going through this all again next year makes me feel so anxious. And who even knows what the market will look like then?

We have managed to get what we want! So pleased. How is it going for you?

Hey @peachypetite - I am so happy for you. It's so nice to hear some positive news!

We had a viewing on Monday which the estate agent said went well and the viewers were very complimentary but, despite the agents chasing, no feedback. So have put that to the back of my mind. It's really annoying though. Had another viewing yesterday from a London couple looking to move this way. That was late yesterday afternoon - no feedback yet.

They also called me to arrange a viewing for next Saturday.

So, we are getting some more consistent viewing requests than we have had. Which is good I suppose. I just want someone to absolutely fall in love with it. But I have to be patient don't I.

I also stuck an advert on gumtree this morning - as someone said I should do that. Now that's all I'm doing today - gotta let go.

Xx

We’ve twice sold in November/ December and completed in the new year. It would seem people look to move at that time to be settled by the spring and be able to make school applications.
Keep on with the marketing and be aware of the price changes in your area.