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Original poster

Selling my house

82 replies

MrsBallen · 22/02/2022 22:10

Hello.

Just wondered if anyone had any advice or opinions.

I've got my house on the market at the moment with Strike, an online estate agent. I was considering a private sale but figured I needed to get it on Rightmove so this type of estate agent was a good option for me.

It went on the market 2 weeks ago. I had quite a few viewers in the first week but not so many in the second week. Two people have made offers but neither of them is ready to proceed as they haven't sold their houses yet. My house is not a first time buyers house, it's a 4 bedroom family home.

I am starting to worry because of the lack of viewing requests. I spoke to a couple of estate agents before settling on the online one. However the estate agents that I spoke to have come back and tried to get my business by saying I should have sold my house by now and they will put my house on the market etc etc.

It's really stressful and I don't want my house to be on the market forever! I thought houses were selling really well at the moment. My house is in very good condition, it's clean and well maintained, nice area, good schools nearby, and reasonably priced compared with other houses in the area. So I don't understand it. Is it still too early to start worrying?

I don't really want to change estate agents as this will just cause me more stress and worry. Just looking for some opinions from people who have been through this recently.

OP posts:
Mildura · 23/02/2022 09:32

It's always a puzzle when people who clearly don't have great experience in property transactions entrust the sale of what is likely to be their largest financial asset to a free online service.

“It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money — that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do.”

comfortablyfrumpy · 23/02/2022 09:50

There is one with Strike near me.terrible photos abd despite everything fine here selling in days, that one is sitting.

I know EAs charge a lot, but a good one really will no worth it

EMOH · 23/02/2022 10:18

Don't be disheartened, if this estate agent is not working for you just changed, even if there is a fee involved. My husband and I previously had our house listed with H U N T E R S (H). We were with them for 3 months, had some viewings but no offers or any feedback from the potential buyers, which we found strange. So we change to P U R P L E B R I C K S (PB) so we could be more involved with the communication with the potential buyers. The first weekend of viewings we had four offers and we agreed on one of the offers, so sold after the weekend. The estate agent for PB helped us to negotiate the final price which was really helpful. The only thing with PB I would advise, would be for you to use your own conveyancing solicitors, theirs is pants and very stressful to communicate with. We will sell again with PB as we loved using the online account we had with them to communicate with buyers, we loved how the estate agent still worked alongside us, but we will not use their conveyancers again, we will use our own (which we had to do mid selling our house even though we had to pay a conveyancing leaving fee). We saved thousands by using PB, whereas if we had stayed with H it would have cost us £6k plus in fees. Saving that amount allowed us to have extra money to decorate our new home and even have a short holiday away. Selling a home is stressful, my husband ad I kept each other going. Good luck.

comfortablyfrumpy · 23/02/2022 10:41

@comfortablyfrumpy

There is one with Strike near me.terrible photos abd despite everything fine here selling in days, that one is sitting.

I know EAs charge a lot, but a good one really will no worth it

Argh I meant to say, before my keyboard intervened...

There is one with Strike near me. Terrible photos and despite everything here selling in days, that one is sitting.

I know EAs charge a lot, but a good one really will be worth it.

70kid · 23/02/2022 10:52

A lot of estate agents charge a flat fee to sell
The three that I got valuations from all had a set fee varying from 2k - 2.5k
I sold my parents house within a day of it going on right move

Kite22 · 23/02/2022 21:09

@Chestofdraws

If you’ve had two offers why not accept one? That’s normal. It goes into a chain. Putting a rule you won’t accept unless they’ve already sold is going to make it very difficult for you.
Not normal at all.

Nothing to do with today's market.
It has never been normal to accept an offer and take your house off the market unless the people making the offer are in a position to proceed. I agree with Whinge. When we last sold almost 19 years ago we had two sets of people who loved our house and made "theoretical" offers and we thanked them but said obviously we would continue to market ours until they had accepted an offer on theirs. Neither had sold when we received the offer from someone who was proceedable. It would have been daft to take our house off the market at the time of their offer as they weren't in a position to move forward.

Original poster
MrsBallen · 23/02/2022 22:26

Ok thank you all for your input. I have taken it all on board and my DH and I have talked and decided to give it 2 weeks and if nothing has happened then we are going to go with a traditional estate agent.

I suppose it was worth a try at least. The Trust Pilot reviews for Strike were really good.

In answer to a question, yes I got 3 valuations and they were all pretty much the same.

Here's the link.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119752838?utmcampaign=property-details&utmmcontent=buying&utmmedium=sharing&utmmsource=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

OP posts:
ReviewingTheSituation · 23/02/2022 22:43

The layout would be a problem for me. Having to go through the lounge to get to the kitchen would put me off, and I wouldn't view.
It's nicely presented (as in tidy, clutter free), but many people would want to redecorate and change the wallpaper. The bathroom looks a bit dated too.

I think it needs money spending on it - is it priced accordingly?

ReviewingTheSituation · 23/02/2022 22:45

And having to go via the lounge to get to the dining room from the kitchen. A very odd layout/use of space. The living room is quite a thoroughfare, and not a nice relaxing space.

unfortunateevents · 23/02/2022 22:58

Yes the downstairs layout will put some people off. When I looked at the pics I thought this will appeal to families with children because the conservatory will make a great play room with garden access but then realised that if you are in the kitchen you can't see or properly hear what is happening in the conservatory. Presumably that has been taken into account with the pricing though?

Is Private Lane just the name of the road or is that an actual unadopted road? Also I'm looking on my laptop so can't see, what is that building to the left of your house - is that the cricket club or some kind of social club - are there issues with noise and people? It looks like your front garden doesn't have any division from whatever is going on in that paved area - is that parking?

HPD76 · 23/02/2022 22:59

It looks nice enough to me. I’d be put off by it being next to a pub or whatever that is next door. Any house I’d buy would need a lick of paint, so I don’t think that’s putting people off. I wonder if it’s just a bit above the average price for the area too.

Give it time, but the one thing that would put me off is the one thing you can’t really change, the neighbours.

trulyconfuseddotcom · 23/02/2022 23:37

Looking at the map, you're very close to a lot of big roads, etc so that would put me off - might be part of the issue in terms of viewings.

WestW7 · 23/02/2022 23:53

You need to redo your first image (or crop it) so that the cones aren't in shot and there isn't quite so much driveway on view. I'm currently house hunting and it's the front exterior that draws me in. I also think you have too many photos of the same rooms (and some are too wide angled for my liking). You've got a virtual tour which gives all the different aspects so you don't need so many. And what is missing is a photo of that back garden with its shed.

I think there is definitely a buyer for your house but you need to draw them in and that first photo needs changing.

Good luck!

SwelegantParty · 23/02/2022 23:54

I'm only a couple of miles away from you, and from looking at Rightmove on a regular basis, I'd say that houses round here aren't selling as fast as they are in some places - a few go under offer very quickly, but plenty don't and end up being reduced. Prices have gone mad but I'm not sure it's transferring to sales.

user1487194234 · 23/02/2022 23:57

I would avoid houses being sold by Strike

GreenClock · 24/02/2022 00:34

The lighting is very visible and I’d wonder if the house were dingy with the lights off. The wide angles are a bit odd.

It looks as if it needs redecorating/minor updating which would put some people off. If that’s not the case I think you need better pics because it looks a bit tired currently.

I’ll be looking at 4-bed detached properties in a few years’ time (not in your area) and I’d view one like this. The layout would not put me off.

BreasticlesNotTesticles · 24/02/2022 00:41

I think the market is slowing down massively and if you're not FTB territory there is a lack of property further down the chain that's affecting you.

InaccurateDream · 24/02/2022 00:45

House is nice but a road with no street view would confuse me - what building are you next to? Could it put people off?

Downstairs layout unusual but room sizes would be fine for many.

maltesers99 · 24/02/2022 00:59

I think it's overpriced based on the decor and fixtures - both bathrooms need updating and you can't see the dining room or conservatory from the kitchen which is a huge no no as a family home. If you have young children it would be very tricky.
This sold on your road last summer for a lot less but is not directly next to the cricket club building - it went for 265k www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=90114292&sale=13823641&country=england

So unsure how yours could be more than that tbh...

KosherDill · 24/02/2022 01:08

It's very pleasant.

That green paint in conservatory is a bit off putting. Maybe sage or cream.

What is the establishment next door?

Nat94 · 24/02/2022 01:23

@maltesers99

I think it's overpriced based on the decor and fixtures - both bathrooms need updating and you can't see the dining room or conservatory from the kitchen which is a huge no no as a family home. If you have young children it would be very tricky. This sold on your road last summer for a lot less but is not directly next to the cricket club building - it went for 265k www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=90114292&sale=13823641&country=england

So unsure how yours could be more than that tbh...

Well op’s is 4 bedroom for starters and has a much bigger driveway? Also house prices have increased quite a bit since last year.

I would be very happy with this house, i just imagine its a harder sale as its not a first time buyers house.

urbanbuddha · 24/02/2022 02:42

I'd have a cull of the photos - too many that aren't really saying anything and make it visually confusing.

Redlorryyellowduck · 24/02/2022 04:38

You despised to crop the first photo, people are dismissing you instantly as it looks like you live next to a social club. Only an alcoholic would see that as a plusHmm

CaroleFuckingBaskin · 24/02/2022 04:51

No proper back garden pics? I can only see a bit through the conservatory

Netaporter · 24/02/2022 05:07

It’s a fine family house @MrsBallen but you need new photos. As the old saying goes, sell the sizzle not the sausage. Your current photos are rather too honest and lack reasons to view the house! You don’t need to spend a fortune. Lounge- needs to be set up to be a more contained area with the thoroughfare around the outside of the seating not diagonally through it. I would set a cream two seat sofa opposite the two cream armchairs (or another sofa) with the coffee table in the middle in line with the fireplace. If you have enough room I’d make a square with two sofas facing and the two chairs with their back to the door leading the hallway opposite the fireplace IYSWIM. Create a reading nook by the window. Neutralise the paint in the conservatory and set it up as a room - playroom/garden room/ dining room/sitting room. At the moment it looks a bit unloved. Add some greenery in the form of large pot plants etc. Upstairs lose the confusing photos of the landing with the doors leading off, ditto the entrance hall photo, you want to tempt buyers and these photos suggest small circulation areas. Take away the brightly coloured towels from the bathrooms and replace the dark cushions in one of the bedrooms with more tonal ones. Choose a brighter day for photos as a PP said. The shadows casted by the bedroom lights being on do not give the impression of light-filled spaces. Lose the utility room photo. Do you have any more pictures of the garden? As a family home buyers want to see that. Definitely crop the first picture.

Unfortunately some buyers will be put off by a marmite agent like Strike so you need the items you pay for to work for you. Good luck with the sale.