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Original poster

House won't sell due to area

39 replies

FairyAnn · 31/10/2020 10:48

We've had our house on the market since the start of the year. Granted, Covid and lockdown stalled things a bit but since then we've had dozens of viewings and they've all said the same ...

"Love the house but don't like the area"

There's nothing we can do, is there? We can't force our neighbours to tidy their gardens or improve the area in any other ways.

It's just so frustrating Sad Has anyone got any success stories of selling a nice house in a rough area?

OP posts:
marthastew · 31/10/2020 10:49

I think you have to lower the price?

lastqueenofscotland · 31/10/2020 10:56

How bad is the area, I live in an area with a horrific reputation nationally, locals realise this is about 30 years out of date thankfully, but houses tend to sell in days

Bluntness100 · 31/10/2020 11:00

If folks are viewing it’s not the area. Everything sells for the right price. You’re over priced and need to drop it.

If you really want to sell post a link and folks can help advise.

Ickabog · 31/10/2020 11:02

Surely those viewing know the area, so it's possible they're using that as an excuse. How bad are the neighbours gardens?

DaddysGirl36 · 31/10/2020 11:05

I had to lower the price twice & then take a reduced offer by 8K. A landlord bought it. You might have to rely on that. Check out houses nearby that have sold & compare them, I was finding houses more in need of work were selling better as they were cheap as chips & with a lick of paint & cheap carpets they could be rented quickly. Landlords are often cash buyers too

Original poster
FairyAnn · 31/10/2020 11:05

@marthastew We have, as low as we can go. We can't go any further or we won't be able to buy anything in the area we want to move to

@lastqueenofscotland That's the thing, it's not the worst area in our city by a long shot. Just looks a bit rough, don't know how else to describe it without being rude to the people who live round here.

But, for example, there's a caravan on someone's drive that has green mold growing on it. And another leaves big see-through bags of rubbish on their garage roof. Stuff like that.

OP posts:
Original poster
FairyAnn · 31/10/2020 11:09

Ours does need some cosmetic work doing, which is why we lowered the price.

But we have a huge garden, 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms, which is more than similar priced houses round here

OP posts:
Sunshineboo · 31/10/2020 11:13

This is one where you may have to accept that you won’t be able to sell at this time.

The reality is that houses will only sell if the price is what the vendor is prepared to let it go for matches the price that buyers are prepared To pay.

It would appear that buyers are not prepared to pay the amount you need to move to an area more of your liking. So I guess your choices are;

  1. stay where you are and make your house what do you want it to be.
  2. Reduced price more and rethink where you want to move to

it’s horrible - i have been where you are in this. houses Have an emotional element that most of the transactions don’t have. wishing you luck!

Bluntness100 · 31/10/2020 11:16

The thing is op. How much you need to move and how much the house is worth are not related. If it’s on too high and it’s not selling because it’s over valued, which is overwhelmingly likely to be the case, as everthing sells for the right price, then you kind of have to accept you can’t afford to move.

Whatthebloodyell · 31/10/2020 11:16

It’s always price. People aren’t going to pay a price that you NEED them to pay if it’s too high for the area.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 31/10/2020 11:18

Price. I’m afraid it’s almost certainly that - unless the market in your area is at a total standstill - it does happen.

I honestly wouldn’t bother posting a link here. You’ll only have umpteen MNers telling you that decluttering, putting nice white linen on the beds and tidying away any nasty, messy books, will do the trick.

snowspider · 31/10/2020 11:22

Sadly the price has to fit with the area and neighbouring properties and it sounds like you will have to drop the price or stay where you are. It will sell, but only to someone who sees a great home for the price they pay
if they can afford more they will look in a better location.

Strawberrypancakes · 31/10/2020 11:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaggieFS · 31/10/2020 11:28

Presumably you went through a similar though process when you bought it and the house was on at a price which meant you felt it was worth it?

What's the average percentage increase for your area and are you going much beyond it?

Hard to accept as it may be, as pp said, what your house is worth is unrelated to what you need for what you want. You may have to adjust your aspirations.

Or be brave and post a link here asking for helpful (and cheap) ways to make your house more saleable if there really is scope to command more within your area.

Original poster
FairyAnn · 31/10/2020 11:35

Thanks all. Will take onboard what's been said. We've just reduced again so will give that a chance but then will seriously look at reducing further if need be.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 31/10/2020 11:40

Would you be able to rent it out whilst your rent elsewhere?

Inaseagull · 31/10/2020 11:45

You said it needs some cosmetic work doing. If people are maxing their budget to buy a house, they won't have spare cash to do work. Could you tackle these issues, then maybe you could achieve market value?

JoJoSM2 · 31/10/2020 12:19

People are coming to view so clearly prepared to live in your area but won’t buy the house unless it’s cheaper than a similar property on a smarter-looking street.

howsers · 31/10/2020 12:21

Surely it's the price?

howsers · 31/10/2020 12:23

We can't go any further or we won't be able to buy anything in the area we want to move to

Then you have to wait or perhaps rent. A buyer has no obligation to pay the price you need.

Iseeyoulookingatme · 31/10/2020 12:26

I live in a rough area, and I sold my house in a day. My next door neighbours gardens are overgrown and one side has a fridge freezer and sofa in the garden. Both are renters either side. I sold as I priced at a reasonable price and my house was staged for sale. People viewing in your area more or less know what to expect.

Original poster
FairyAnn · 31/10/2020 17:01

Good points raised by all! Just did a search for similar properties within a 1mile radius and now we have reduced, we are the cheapest, so here's hoping!

We're already under the estimated market value by about £15k so maybe our recent drop will help?

Since posting this morning in a grump, we've just had another viewing, so fingers crossed! Smile

OP posts:
PresentingPercy · 31/10/2020 17:26

I wouldn’t buy a house with messy neighbours. It’s just not a pleasant environment and people may feel they can do better for the money. Let’s hope your new price does the trick.

bilbodog · 31/10/2020 17:34

I would also tidy up the cosmetic things that need doing to give yourself the best chance of selling. Good luck.

HaggieMaggie · 31/10/2020 18:16

If its cheap enough it will probably sell to a landlord who will rent it out to one of the many desperate families who cant be choosy about the area.