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Original poster

House Selling... any help please!

33 replies

FeeFee832 · 26/08/2019 22:52

Hey Mumsnetters!

I'm wondering if I could get some advice on selling our house. I'll keep it succinct...

Our house went on sale back in April. 15 viewings, one offer, accepted in just under 3 weeks. Chain broke after 4 weeks due to their buyers no longer buying. Went on at £575,000. Full asking price offered.

House back on the market and a few views but no more interest. We then after 8 weeks changed agents and dropped the price to £550,000.

Offer 2, full asking price at £550k. This then dropped out after she lost her buyer (still wants to buy ours but can't get a buyer).

Offer 3, then offered £548,000. This then dropped out after 2 weeks because they didn't like the parking. Only people without a chain and cash buyers. Didn't even propose a dropped offer.

It's now been 4 weeks and we've had loads of viewings but people going for other houses... ours is always the last contender with another option. We've also got 3 people interested but can't proceed right now.

Should we drop our price again to £535,000? Our EA's suggesting not... but I'm so fed up!
The house across the road went on for £550k, on Friday, offered and sold by the Monday.

Help Mumsnet... and please be kind! Sad

OP posts:
lovelyupnorth · 27/08/2019 07:19

Would suggest putting a link up.

Think the market is only going to get slower. Whilst the dreaded B word drags on.

hlr1987 · 27/08/2019 09:46

Just because you can see another house got an offer , doesn't mean that the sale will proceed without the problems you've seen! Ask the EA to make sure viewers are aware that the sales haven't fallen through because of a structural problem with the house that you aren't upfront about.

LittleLongDog · 27/08/2019 09:55

We've also got 3 people interested but can't proceed right now.

What are the reasons they can’t proceed?

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 27/08/2019 10:09

@LittleLongDog they haven't sold their house! Just sitting on the market...

OP posts:
Original poster
FeeFee832 · 27/08/2019 10:10

@hlr1987 it never even gets to survey stage! Sad

OP posts:
sunshinesupermum · 27/08/2019 10:15

It doesn't sound like there's much wrong with your house - only that your 'buyers' can't sell their own.

Your estate agent should make that clear to prospective buyers who ask why it's taken since April to sell. Is the agent the same one who's sold your neighbour's house? Did their buyers view yours?

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 27/08/2019 10:20

@sunshinesupermum so it's not showing on Rightmove as been on since April, if you get an offer and it's at solicitor stages, if it drops out the date resets if the EA contacts RM! So at least it's only showing as being recently back on RM.... but others who watch the market closely might have noticed it comes off and on again.

No, it's a different agent. We've already changed agents once and I don't want to change again, I don't think it looks good?

Just DESPERATE to sell Sad. Would give anything for an offer on our house that would stick! The last people who dropped out because of parking knew this and I feel quite resentful as that's something they knew about all along... she knew I was pregnant and didn't have time for our house to be off market for so long either. I know it's a commercial deal, but can't help but feel annoyed. Why put an offer in?
At least the two other offers genuinely had a good reason for dropping out!

OP posts:
sunshinesupermum · 27/08/2019 10:33

FeeFee832 The people who dropped out over parking were knobs - but there are plenty of those around when buying and selling :-(

I agree not to keep changing agents but you could have it on with two agents at the same time.

What reason do your viewers give your estate agent that they offer on a different house from yours?

Do you need to move before your baby arrives? It just seems as if you are putting yourself under even more stress atm.

Can you link your house and your neighbour's house from Netgalley? Is there much difference between the houses internally?

Alexalee · 27/08/2019 10:48

Doesnt seem like a pricing issue... compare your house to the one over the road and be very honest with yourself as to why that sold and yours didnt... better condition, parking, garden aspect and size etc

LittleLongDog · 27/08/2019 10:59

It doesn’t sound like there’s an issue with your house or price though: just that the buyers can’t sell theirs. Dropping the price by 20k won’t help them to suddenly sell theirs.

Must be frustrating though!

ThorosOfMyr · 27/08/2019 11:06

Do not go with two agents. That always smacks of total desperation in my opinion. Stick at £550 and badger your agent with regular calls/emails. Make sure they are putting effort in to get viewers across the threshold and ask them honestly why they think there are no offers at the mo.

Also it will sell when it sells. Try not to be in the mindset that you must move before baby comes etc.

Unfortunately the dreaded brexshit is making it rubbish to sell though.

Alexalee · 27/08/2019 11:14

Dropping 20k could make all the difference if it means any of the people trying to but yours and sell theirs can drop their price by 20k and get theirs sold

rzasoshp · 27/08/2019 11:32

Disagree with others no need to drop your price yet, it’s likely to pick up soon as we get more certainty on brexit in the coming weeks and I’m sure more buyers will come out.

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 28/08/2019 00:22

I feel desperate @ThorosOfMyr 😂

OP posts:
RedWineForMePlease · 28/08/2019 07:23

Can't add much to what others have said, but in a very similar position myself!

Had 2 buyers drop out for non house related issues, both made full asking price offers.

Similarly have 3 people interested but , like you, need to sell their houses first.

Still getting a slow trickle of viewings but hoping there is a bit of an uptick now summer is over but the big B word seems to be making people nervous.

Very frustrating, but agree don't drop your price just yet. Patience is a virtue they say (and I'm really not very virtuous at the moment!)

lastqueenofscotland · 28/08/2019 07:36

Have you looked at faster sales companies like Express and Springbok?
The fees will likely be more than an agent but they could be worth speaking too. It’s just aggressive marketing strategies and “sales people” rather than estate agents who work there. Could be worth a shout?

lovelyupnorth · 28/08/2019 07:45

Having tried to view a house with Springbok I wouldn’t go there truly awful to deal with.

Els1e · 28/08/2019 08:43

I was in a similar position a few years ago. The house had 3 buyers over a 9 month period and for various reasons, not connected with the house, they all fell through. It was all getting a bit stressful and frustrating so decided to give ourselves a break and take the house off the market for 6 months. Did that, put it back on with new agent and it sold within the week and that time it went through to completion within 8 weeks.

cheesewitheverything · 28/08/2019 09:23

My best advice would be to hold your nerve on the price. It's obviously priced well as you have people interested and lowering the price probably wouldn't make a huge difference. Everyone gets back from holidays in September and it should all move along better, I think. You just need to hold your nerve though and I know how hard that is because I've sold and moved several times in the last few years and I know that desperation you get. It's one of those really stressful situations because you have no control over it at all, so all you can do is keep the place looking good inside and out, and wait for the phone to ring. You totally have my sympathy right now!

Alexalee · 28/08/2019 09:51

You dont have to reduce the price... just tell the 3 buyers who are selling their houses that you can take 20k less to give them more flexibility accepting an offer on their houses

Original poster
FeeFee832 · 28/08/2019 15:36

Good advice! Smile thank you all... EA saying we should see how this week goes as it should start to pick up.

Is anyone else trying to sell right now?

OP posts:
justdontknow45 · 28/08/2019 16:03

Me ! I could cry as we had some viewers who loved it but saw one up the road and went with that instead - ( cheaper but we have done the work this needed up grading ) Feel like crying today ( PMT too Hmm) hoping it picks up as only had 3 viewings but nothing much else moving so I know it's not the price/house.

Alexalee · 28/08/2019 17:08

Justdontknow...
Nothing moving... except the house up the road that sold.
Selling houses is a competition if there are multiple around you and the only way to win is being better or cheaper

Robs20 · 28/08/2019 17:24

Really good advice from alexalee about suggesting you could be flexible with the price you accept to give your buyers some wiggle room with offers they accept. I think you will have to hold out - don’t reduce the price, you’ve had plenty of interest. The problem is the price of your house means you are attracting up sizers (is that a term?!) in a chain. We have just accepted an asking price offer in less than a week of being on the market BUT we are selling a 2 bed flat in london (everyone viewing was a ftb).

justdontknow45 · 28/08/2019 19:40

Mine is better, plus more expensive/better postcode.
The one they bought has been Reduced and sitting empty since January ( 50k less than mine ) but same bedrooms so potentially they can add value doing the work we have already done - good luck to them, good investment if that is their plan.

Mine is right, but it's only worth what someone is willing to pay at the end of the day.

Three in my price bracket, we are the most modern of all and biggest of all, can't do anything else to make it better to stand out but thanks for the advice.

We haven't been on long, so if the others go before mine that's when I'll worry.

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