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Original poster

Advice Welcomed on Sale of My House

267 replies

goodbyestranger · 26/12/2020 18:33

I get on well with the agent who says he doesn't think a price reduction is a good idea; that the price is right. His view seems to be that the house may take a while to sell because I just need 'the right person'. The obvious problem is no on site parking but there's plenty on street parking nearby: I've parked on the street opposite for forty years (for the last twenty with a large VW nine seat people carrier) and there are a number of other spaces just a few steps up the road. A similar house with parking sold for £200k more a couple of years ago and another where parking could be created, assuming planning permission and c. £20k to create, sold for £50k more this summer. A smaller house with a small garden and no comparable views and no parking and much, much further from the beach sold for £125 less a few weeks ago. It's a ten minute flat walk along a National Trust path to the incredibly beautiful beach and the buses to both local schools (one a comp, the other a top co-ed grammar) stop at the door. I've brought my eight DC up in this house - admittedly a bit of a squash, but they love the house even so. I can't create any on-site parking, it just isn't there. The other possible issue is the extension I had to build in 2006 to accommodate the family as they grew. It's not the best looking extension ever but all that could be done within the confines of very strict planning controls in the area (AONB - Jurassic Coast) and is a really lovely room inside. The village community is vibrant and welcoming. Advice on how to proceed welcomed.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73186305#/

OP posts:
Original poster
goodbyestranger · 27/12/2020 12:04

friendlycat yes we are right on the lane. The house is built down, so people can't actually look in unless they're two feet high or ten feet tall. That makes it deceptively private. Other houses of the same age front on to the lane with their rear built into the hill, which would be a major no no for me too because the only windows you can open would be those on the road. We just throw open all the windows at the front - no need for the back windows to open except for the one in the smallest bedroom. At least at the rear of the house there are fields so even the back of the house has green behind it, not other houses and people.

OP posts:
Original poster
goodbyestranger · 27/12/2020 12:08

I'm super keen to get on with all this stuff but I have four of the DC here all claiming they want to be here until past the New Year (this has to do with not wanting to go back to their new Tier 4's rather than loving me :)).

OP posts:
Candleabra · 27/12/2020 12:13

@goodbyestranger

I'm super keen to get on with all this stuff but I have four of the DC here all claiming they want to be here until past the New Year (this has to do with not wanting to go back to their new Tier 4's rather than loving me :)).
Get them roped in to help!
MustDust · 27/12/2020 12:15

Make the most of them being there and get them to help shift things that they don't need, 2 can share an upstairs room and one can have the new master suite downstairs. Send them out to buy oversized cosy throws, valances, cushions and plants - plus a nice little bistro table for outside the new master (I may have me tall moved into your house, sorry). One trip to TKMaxx should do it all! Shift the table into the lounge/diner and the small one into the kitchen. Make them earn their keep!

MustDust · 27/12/2020 12:16

Moved, not me tall!

MustDust · 27/12/2020 12:16

Try again, mentally moved, I need a brew!

PegasusReturns · 27/12/2020 12:19

Only on mumsnet would 40k be a limited benefit

40k is a limited benefit in the context of a mortgage for adults who have (all?) been to university and have careers (or chosen not to) and are presumably capable of working and forging their own way in the world.

OP you don’t have to sell the house you’ve lived in to give your DC £40k. It is unlikely to change their lives significantly but is going to have a huge impact on yours.

With 8 DC and the youngest at university presumably some of them are well into adulthood and managing to support themselves without your money. I know this isn’t why you started this thread but I’m pretty shocked your DC would want this for you.

Bluntness100 · 27/12/2020 12:19

Could you add images or comments on where to park? I have looked at street view and can’t work it out to be honest, there doesn’t look to be anything a few steps away and where I can see the red car I’d not be keen to leave mine.

Maybe the issue is it looks inacccessible

Thimbleberries · 27/12/2020 12:33

I think what is making the beds look unmade and unloved is that the pillows are under the duvets! Change that round, add more decorative pillows as well perhaps, and then the beds would look more dressed. I agree about the extension bedroom - maybe make it into a sitting room and/or sofa bed type arrangement. And make the other three bedrooms more distinct.

The flow of photos is a bit strange, couldn't quite work out where everything is or how it related, as there were outdoor photos mixed in with indoor.

But it looks like a lovely house.

landoshalo · 27/12/2020 12:37

40k is a limited benefit in the context of a mortgage for adults

In that context any amount of money is limited unless the house is purchased outright but 40k is a damned good deposit to have, especially when it's handed over by a parent with no strings attached.

OP, moving to Scotland is something I've often considered but is it where you really want to be - it's likely to be a long way from your children and moving so far from all your friends when you are a single parent can be extremely hard. Do think of yourself in all this.

PegasusReturns · 27/12/2020 12:48

In that context any amount of money is limited unless the house is purchased outright

Well that’s the only context this thread is about Hmm

thelumberjack · 27/12/2020 12:49

@PegasusReturns

Only on mumsnet would 40k be a limited benefit

40k is a limited benefit in the context of a mortgage for adults who have (all?) been to university and have careers (or chosen not to) and are presumably capable of working and forging their own way in the world.

OP you don’t have to sell the house you’ve lived in to give your DC £40k. It is unlikely to change their lives significantly but is going to have a huge impact on yours.

With 8 DC and the youngest at university presumably some of them are well into adulthood and managing to support themselves without your money. I know this isn’t why you started this thread but I’m pretty shocked your DC would want this for you.

This above.

I'm surprised that your DC would allow you to sell your home and move many hundreds of miles away purely for their benefit.
It's a massive sacrifice to make. You would presumably miss Dorset, the coast, all your friends and your own children hugely. You might end up feeling very isolated. I know this isn't the point of the thread but you really don't have to do this. I don't know of a single parent, particularly a lone parent, who has sold their home to give their DC deposits.

KatyaZamolodchikova · 27/12/2020 12:51

I think the pictures need re-organising, and relabelling - other listings have the photos named ‘bedroom one’ etc so it’s much easier to know which room is which. I found it difficult to imagine which rooms were where in the layout upstairs. There are a LOT of garden photos compared to inside photos for me, and while garden space is important I’d prefer to fully understand the inside space better.

I agree with everyone who said office space would be a huge selling point too, either the extension or the outbuilding. Personally I’d never go for a bedroom on the ground floor, and particularly not one with doors from a safety perspective but I imagine that’s less of a concern where you are!

Original poster
goodbyestranger · 27/12/2020 13:07

Pegasus none of the DC are putting pressure on me. I may have understated how keen I am to move to Scotland. The DC are very clear it's my choice (four would prefer me to stay, four would prefer Scotland, do I can't lose :)).

Bluntness the parking is a tricky one. Lots of conversations about the best way to approach it but the fact is I've had no problem and as you drive along the lane various widenings are obvious. But village life is political and I have nice neighbours and wouldn't want to make them cross by implying I think any particular place is 'mine'. That's the issue.

OP posts:
Original poster
goodbyestranger · 27/12/2020 13:10

People are being very kind on this thread. Fact is I love both places but am really looking forward to the move - hence why I'm impatient to sell and seeking/ very glad of advice.

OP posts:
PegasusReturns · 27/12/2020 13:15

OP I’m pleased to hear that.

Certainly the thing that shines through in this thread is that you love the area in which you live, the coast, the views. You seem to have an affinity with the village and know people well. That’s a lot to give up.

You don’t have to answer but I’d consider if all things were equal (I.e. the sale of the house wouldn’t generate cash for your kids) you’d still move. If the answer is a resounding yes then go for it and I wish you well.

If not then really think about why you’re doing this - it’s not the norm to give up your house and way of life to give your DC a house deposit.

SinkGirl · 27/12/2020 13:17

Honestly OP, I love it. If it were near us and in budget I’d be snapping it up! We have unusual circumstances as we have disabled twins and unlike most people, big open plan spaces don’t work for us. We need separate rooms. That extension would be a godsend to us - we would make it into a living space / play room and the fact it has a bathroom and opens on to the garden is such a massive selling point. I also love the big bathroom (although would want to try and get a stand-alone shower into it as I have gotten used to mine).

The kitchen table definitely detracts from what a lovely and good size kitchen it is. Definitely replace with a smaller one if you can. My main issue would be a lack of a dining table that’s not in the kitchen (we keep our twins out of the kitchen as not currently safe), but I think we could fit one in the lounge especially if we used the extension as a play room / main living space.

Lack of off road parking would also be a concern due to safety - I would definitely make it clear in the description that there’s ample off road parking on a safe road as that would convince me to at least have a look.

But mainly wanted to say that there are families like ours that need something different from the norm so I definitely would not take the extension down! If nothing else it’s a great place for home working, for guests to stay etc.

MustDust · 27/12/2020 13:19

Bet you'd never mentioned giving the dc money now though! Have they critically looked at the photos? Try taking some yourself from different angles and see what you think shows the rooms off best and post them here as I'm super nosy

GreekOddess · 27/12/2020 13:32

It's a gorgeous house!

If I was buying it I would be considering switching the living space and kitchen around. Your kitchen is the same size as mine which suits us a family of 4 but might be considered small by some. However that's an issue for prospective buyers to consider not you.

I also think the beds look odd (I don't like divans) but you're not selling the beds I'm just mentioning it because I noticed them. Agree with others perhaps get blankets that cover the bases.

The lack of parking would be a complete no for me but that's because my last house didn't have any and it did get tiresome looking for a space after work.

I think you should see if you can market your house to people living in cities. With the increase of people working from home the countryside and coast is becoming more attractive to buyers.

Fungster · 27/12/2020 13:41

Your home is beautiful, just beautiful! I would definitely remove the three beds and turn the room into what would be considered here a "family room": bookcase, comfy sofa, armchair. Less formal than a living room, and easy to use as another sleeping space if necessary.

As an aside, we sold a few years ago and had to wait for the "right buyer". Our sale price was just under a million dollars, so obviously that limited the prospective buyers' pool, and the house had some period features that have fallen out of favor recently. I despaired of ever selling and wanted to cut the price, but our wise realtor persuaded me to stay the course. He was right! The right person did come along, as I'm sure it will for your house.

Bluntness100 · 27/12/2020 13:53

Maybe that’s the answer then op. Maybe a comment in the listing saying ample parking available along x road, steps away from the property.

I’d look at it and think it would literally be impossible to park anywhere close, unless I abandoned my car on the road, risking it getting hit. Likely it would put me off viewing.

A pp asks an interesting question, if it wasn’t for the kids would you still be wanting to sell? If there was no financial pressure? This house has been in your family a very long time it seems.

Bluntness100 · 27/12/2020 13:54

Also, sorry, is there beds in the summer house? Is that also a bedroom?

RandomMess · 27/12/2020 13:58

I can't wait to see the new photos once you've redone the rooms!

Countmeout · 27/12/2020 14:20

Scotland will be colder. I understand wanting to help the children but Would be concerned about giving up a beautiful home, maybe you’ve found something equally beautiful, sorry if I missed that.

landoshalo · 27/12/2020 14:43

@PegasusReturns

In that context any amount of money is limited unless the house is purchased outright

Well that’s the only context this thread is about Hmm

No it's not, the OP isn't talking about buying a house outright for them.