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Original poster

About to go on the market!

52 replies

whatsthatnow74 · 22/05/2020 12:41

Question is, are there any buyers out there?

We have a lovely house in a popular location (we’re selling for school catchment reasons, long story). Under normal circumstances I’d expect it to sell pretty quickly, but not sure about now.

I’d be interested to hear how others are faring at this time.

OP posts:
Cornishandnotaprick · 22/05/2020 12:45

I was just going to start a thread with the same question Blush

Winnipegdreamer · 22/05/2020 13:12

We are currently looking but one of us is earning 20% less so I’m assuming it would effect what we can get for a mortgage Confused

youngestisapsycho · 22/05/2020 13:13

We just bought a house today!

Cornishandnotaprick · 22/05/2020 13:17

That makes sense @winnie. I really don’t like the house I live in (it’s too small for us!) and am desperate to sell but I think we’ll wait until New Year 2021.

Am pondering whether to buy a new build and do part exchange? (The house I love is a new build)

Such weird and surreal times :(

Cornishandnotaprick · 22/05/2020 13:18

@youngestisapsycho congratulations Smile Wine

HappyDinosaur · 22/05/2020 13:22

We've been viewing several properties, it sounds like quite a lot of people are still keen to buy judging by what we've been seeing and hearing while looking.

youngestisapsycho · 22/05/2020 13:36

Thanks Cornish!

snowspider · 22/05/2020 13:38

I think if you feel your house would normally sell quickly then worth giving it a go. My house was back on the market post Covid this week and I accepted a good offer from first viewer. Now to see if it goes through, risks are higher now than sometimes but there is a luck element too I do think that houses that are move in ready may fare better at the moment.

CMOTDibbler · 22/05/2020 13:38

I'm just about to put my parents house on the market. A neighbour asked to view it as they are interested, and they sold theirs after it had been available for viewings for 3 days.

Cornishandnotaprick · 22/05/2020 13:47

Wowzers this is all so exciting!

Rightmovenewbie · 22/05/2020 14:35

Ours went live yesterday and we have a viewing tomorrow !

imausernamenotanumber · 22/05/2020 15:11

We’ve not even got on RIghtmove or had the photographer round yet and have a handful of viewings lined up already! We’ve specified that at the moment we’ll only have viewers who are in a position to proceed (ie nothing to sell or have a sale agreed) so hopefully it’s not just people coming out if interest. I admit I was/ am a bit nervous about trying to sell right now and took the agents claims that they’ve been surprised by how busy they are with a pinch of salt. But I’ve seen places listed and sold within a few days since lockdown was eased. Obviously remains to be seen whether everything proceeds but I’m a (extremely) cautiously trying to be optimistic.

Original poster
whatsthatnow74 · 22/05/2020 16:51

Ooh, sounds quite positive from what some of you are saying. Expecting to go on the market by middle of next week, photos etc done today. Really hoping some suitable properties come up for us to buy now!

OP posts:
boredboredboredboredbored · 22/05/2020 17:18

A house came up for sale yesterday on a road I love so I was swooning over the photos. Less than 24hrs later it's sold 😫

HappyDinosaur · 22/05/2020 17:21

Wow @boredboredboredboredbored that's amazing, I guess if the house and price are right things will continue!

Cornishandnotaprick · 22/05/2020 18:01

I love this optimistic thread! Smile

sunglasses123 · 22/05/2020 18:10

Good idea to state that only buyers able to proceed allowed to view. Do make sure the EA is clear on this. There are such time wasters around and people have a lot of time on their hands at present. If its well presented its worth having a go. If you need to look at part exchanging for a new build you can always do that at a later date. I think when your house is listed the first 1 week is key especially as people have nothing else to do at present!

See what the feedback is. A good EA will weedle it out of people.I have sold two houses recently (one my DF's). His house went in a flash last year (West London and very desirable area).

Ours took about 4 weeks to sell but not one person said it was too expensive. We had comments like 'its too big!', 'the garden isnt overlooked and my wife would be scared - she likes to see neighbours', The most stupid one was a viewer didnt like the dog.....

Maybenexttime08 · 22/05/2020 19:12

We've had 7 viewings since lockdown and one offer (though sadly not proceedable). Still, nicely surprised by the interest in the last week.

DeeplyMovingExperience · 23/05/2020 08:11

We have just gone on the market and our estate agent said new protocols mean that agents will be spread much more thinly and will be vetting interested parties very strictly before allowing them to view. They will not be allowing viewings to any parties who are not proceedable.

Any potential viewer will have to demonstrate that they are either cash buyers or have a sale agreed on their existing property with evidence of exchange before they can arrange a viewing.

The agent said any other position is now considered time wasting. If they're not a serious buyer, ready to go, then you ain't seeing nothing.

Loofah01 · 23/05/2020 14:24

There's a pot of pent up buyers ready to go after being shut away for a while - it's partly why I don;t expect an immediate and catastrophic slump that some seem so keen on.
Lots of sellers will want to get in on this so the market should be pretty good at the moment. It might fall off as peoples belts tighten after being furloughed etc but for now, get among it :)

S0upertrooper · 23/05/2020 15:42

A question to those who have property on the market. My property was taken off during lockdown, it's empty and I've left the country, so keen to sell.

For a few reasons, we don't have a great relationship with the EA but I contacted them to ask how they were going to conduct viewings as they will not be entering the property with the client. I'm concerned a viewer may damage something and I have a cleaner who pops round to keep an eye on the house and have to consider her safety re CV.

I was told they would be 'complying with govt advice'. Can anyone enlighten me on how your EA are conducting accompanied viewing please?

DeeplyMovingExperience · 23/05/2020 15:58

I suppose it depends on the size of the house and ability to follow social distancing. I am a little bit wary about any potential viewings in our house and accept that I will have to be careful about putting away anything that could be easily pocketed.

Damage is a different issue, but viewers aren't supposed to touch anything.

GrumpySausage · 23/05/2020 16:06

We bought a house yesterday! And from my constant stalking on Rightmove there's plenty coming on since lockdown lifted.

StylishMummy · 23/05/2020 16:13

We had a ridiculously cheeky offer accepted yesterday - were over the moon! Sold pre covid (only just) and are buying a much better house than we thought we could afford. Round here lots of 'probate' sales going live although not covid related as we're very low case/death numbers here. Not many buyers as estate agents were absolutely pouncing on us when we asked to book viewings

GrumpySausage · 23/05/2020 16:15

To answer your question @soupertrouper, when we viewed the house we have just bought, we were told to bring masks and gloves if possible (we had gloves but no mask), and that the vendor would open all the doors in the property before we arrived and allow us to walk around unaccompanied and he would wait in the garden. We were asked to avoid touching anything too.

We were also asked to confirm we or anyone else in the family had no symptoms. We were also advised not to take out children if possible.

It was very surreal.

I think if a property is empty too, you don't need to follow the same precautions regardong masks and gloves but the agent will stand outside.