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Original poster

Would this put you off buying property?

68 replies

LuxyHugs · 20/10/2020 12:49

Just trying to see and probe possible problem areas why my house isn't selling. Its physically in near perfect state, and the price is lower than what a lot of houses around have sold at.

We put the house back on the market after 11 months of buying it. Would this put you off of buying it altogether?

Lower half of the stairs doesn't have a banister and there is no handrail on the wall.
Would this put you off in any way?

After being on the market for about 9 months now and lowered the price before, its getting hard to understand why its not selling and a fresh perspective would be appreciated.

With the market naturally slowing down nearer Christmas we will wait before making changes, but plans are likely to go with a new agent, new pictures and lower price at the same time. So its all fresh come January. Fingers crossed i guess.

OP posts:
mklanch · 20/10/2020 12:52

hi, do you have a link to the house?

emmathedilemma · 20/10/2020 12:53

It wouldn't put me off but I guess anyone elderly or with children could be put off. Although it wouldn't be a showstopper if I was either of those things and really like the house if it could be resolved quite easily. Have you asked for feedback from the viewers?

FairFriday · 20/10/2020 12:54

The timing wouldn't put me off - it happens a lot around here - and the bannister can be added.

Maybe the market is just very flat and it does tail off in the run-up to Christmas.

Are you desperate to sell or can you wait it out?

What might put people off - bad catchment area for schools, proximity to something industrial, police station, graveyard, prison etc.

Potential planning permissions - transport, new houses etc.

Heaps of work to do and the price not reflecting this.

Dosnt the estate agent have any ideas?

Flaunch · 20/10/2020 12:55

I’d think there was a big problem with a house that was up for safe again after only 11 months. I’d probably think the neighbours were arseholes and not even view it. Why do you need to move again so soon?

chipsandgin · 20/10/2020 12:56

It wouldn’t stop me buying a house as presumably it’s easily rectified, but as someone who has permanent knee damage from a fall down stairs which didn’t have a handrail or banister I’d be changing it the day we move in!

Ellovera2 · 20/10/2020 12:56

It wouldn't put me off but getting a mortgage can be tricky if it's a quick resale.
We bought our house after the previous owner lived here for 6 months and the solicitors had a tough time convincing the mortgage company there wasn't something majorly wrong.
Luckily we were assigned a new case worker half way through and she didn't realise until after completion 😂

RedMarauder · 20/10/2020 12:57

Yes.

I would think there is an issue with the neighbours that couldn't be discovered by visiting the property at different times of the day.

onlyk · 20/10/2020 12:58

Put up a link as people can give you a real opinion on the house.

ihatethecold · 20/10/2020 12:59

Whats the real reason you are selling op?

mklanch · 20/10/2020 12:59

the only this that would put my off is if you are asking alot more than what you purchased it for. ive seen a few houses on the market that were only purchased 6-12 months and the new owner wants 100k+ more having done no improvements to the house

ohidoliketobe · 20/10/2020 13:00

Could you fit a handrail?
I would bea bit cautious about the period of time and be asking the agents for your reason for moving so quick, assuming you have personal reasons rather than issues with the house/ neighbours type of thing I would be fine with that.
Have you any viewings and subsequent feedback from agent?

PointyMcguire · 20/10/2020 13:00

Wouldn’t necessarily put me off, but in your shoes I’d be looking at how it stacks up compared to others in your local area. Also not sure if it’s relevant but flats and properties lacking a decent time seem to be having a harder time due to covid so this might also be a factor.

PointyMcguire · 20/10/2020 13:00

Ha sorry that should say “lacking a decent garden”

AriettyHomily · 20/10/2020 13:02

Why are you selling so quickly?

Yes no banister would put me off, you could put one in easily, and a hand rail. Are they some floaty fancy stairs, incompatible with children? Or do you have a neighbour who doesn't want you to drill into the party wall?

unmarkedbythat · 20/10/2020 13:03

Lower half of the stairs doesn't have a banister and there is no handrail on the wall.
Would this put you off in any way?

Yes, but if that was the only thing I was bothered about, I liked everything else and I could afford the house, it wouldn't stop me offering. DH is a qualified cabinet maker and worked on sites for years, it's something he could sort without too much bother. Although he would bloody need to sort it the day we moved in.

I suppose it might well put me off viewing it if there were plenty of other properties of the right price, size and location.

Poppingnostopping · 20/10/2020 13:18

I suppose it would make me wonder why you were selling again so quickly- neighbour, location issues? I would be asking the agent very carefully about reselling within about three years really, because with selling costs it doesn't seem very sensible. Of course it might be because fab new job has come up on other side of the world, but I'd want a good and truthful answer to that (I hate it when agent make up blatantly untrue stories!) That reason would also feed into how keen I thought you were to move and how desperate you were (in terms of dropping price).

JE17 · 20/10/2020 13:19

It wouldn't necessarily put me off but I would definitely ask about why you were moving so soon after buying. I'd be worried that it was due to the neighbours.

Original poster
LuxyHugs · 20/10/2020 13:20

I feel really uncomfortable about putting my address on a forum. I'm not talking the house up in any way, that wouldn't help me. Carpets are new, so is the bathroom, walls are all either newly painted or wallpapered, kitchen is in a good state, even if not brand spanking new, and garden is tidy with a patio area, terraced.

The house is walking distance (5 minutes) from a primary school. Not on a main road. In residential area.

As many people are asking me for my reason to sell. Yes it is because of the neighbours unfortunately. Is it very obvious that its for that reason given the time its taken to be back on the market?

OP posts:
Pringlemonster · 20/10/2020 13:25

I would assume neighbors

Fink · 20/10/2020 13:33

For a house to be on the market again so soon I would assume the owners had a problem with it, whether neighbours or something else. To counteract this, I would expect EA to put a line in the description about 'selling due to family relocation' or whatever. Since this is obviously missing (as it is in fact a problem with neighburs) I would think most potential buyers are seeing red flags.

orangenasturtium · 20/10/2020 13:34

The handrail wouldn't put me off but I am fairly sure current buiding regs require a staircase to have a handrail except for the first 2 stairs.

A quick sale after 11 months would put me off. I would assume there is something seriously wrong. I was going to say, if there is an innocuous reason, like relocation for work or you bought the property to develop and sell, put it in the details but I see there isn't.

Yes, it is obvious that there is something seriously wrong with the property.

ChelseaCat · 20/10/2020 13:41

OP what is the issue with the neighbours? Is it something you can be honest about to any potential buyers?

JuliaJohnston · 20/10/2020 13:45

Well, most posters guessed it was because of problem neighbours, and it turns out they were correct. So most potential buyers will reach the same conclusion.
How bad is it?

PointyMcguire · 20/10/2020 13:46

Ah just seen you’re selling due to the neighbours. That would absolutely put me off I’m afraid.

anniegun · 20/10/2020 13:49

There are many reasons people have to sell up soon after buying including jobs, health, divorce and money- that will not be a problem. Also having to put up a handrail will not be a deal breaker. You might want to change estate agents and make sure you are really on top of pricing in the area - things could well have changed over the last few months