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Original poster

Lack of houses on the market

156 replies

HalleLouja · 28/03/2022 20:59

We have put our house on the market (just outside St Albans) and have quite a few viewings in the last couple of weeks since its been on the market and even an offer (which is too low). But typically there is nothing that hits our brief on the market.

I know no-one has a crystal ball but do people think the market will pick up? Not sure why I am asking but maybe to find other people in the same boat.

OP posts:
Bedsheets4knickers · 13/04/2022 20:50

@HalleLouja

Some more houses have come up. Not what we are after but still seems promising…
How are the prices looking ?
Coffeesnob11 · 13/04/2022 21:24

I am having sellers regret. I am staying with my mum with my child but the only things coming up I am being beaten on price. I have had estate agents telling me I am being unrealistic wanting to buy a 3 bed semi in Sussex for under 550k. Despite me ringing every week they still don't bother to ring as they don't need to, 15 offers per property but I need a mortgage and I am up against couples (I am on my own) with no mortgage who are able to overbid by loads. 2 I rejected due to pretty major issues are still on the market and have been reduced.
I am missing having our own space and storage is a fortune monthly. I am really hoping after Easter things will pick up.

Paddingtonthebear · 13/04/2022 21:36

We’ve been looking for a whole year now 😭

YukoandHiro · 13/04/2022 21:38

Absolutely in this position in south East London - I'm having a bit of a crisis about it. A year ago when we couldn't get an offer on our flat we looked around 4 or 5 things in a fortnight we'd have been willing to offer on all of them. This time we've seen about 20 houses but all we're just trying to find something when actually none of them really met our needs.
We've made two offers and been out bid on both 🤷🏻‍♀️

AnastasiaRomanov · 13/04/2022 21:39

I’ve just seen a house I really like at a realistic price. However we aren’t even on the market yet and I can’t view for two weeks! Gutting.

Original poster
HalleLouja · 13/04/2022 22:17

The houses which have come on seem a bit more fairly priced. But could be imagining things.

Still waiting to see the house which is being finished by builders. [Taps fingers impatiently]

OP posts:
Original poster
HalleLouja · 14/04/2022 18:38

Seems to be quite a few houses come for sale. A house that sold for £740k last year is now on the market for £875k…… No extra work has been done!!!

OP posts:
Coffeesnob11 · 14/04/2022 18:55

@HalleLouja

Seems to be quite a few houses come for sale. A house that sold for £740k last year is now on the market for £875k…… No extra work has been done!!!
It's crazy isn't it. Equally they will have to pay more for their next house unless it's a rental
TheMagicDeckchair · 14/04/2022 19:42

@HalleLouja

Seems to be quite a few houses come for sale. A house that sold for £740k last year is now on the market for £875k…… No extra work has been done!!!
I’ve seen several houses like this. Two houses sold for around £450k two years ago, now on for £650k- £695k. I think sellers are just trying it on! I’ve noticed a few more houses coming on the market now. Some look reasonable and others seem wildly overpriced. Hoping this is a sign that things are evening out a little.
Riverlee · 14/04/2022 19:50

What are you looking for? I know someone who is considering selling in that area.

Original poster
HalleLouja · 14/04/2022 20:44

@Riverlee

What are you looking for? I know someone who is considering selling in that area.
We are looking for a 3/4 semi detached or detached…..
OP posts:
Riverlee · 14/04/2022 20:50

I think my friend’s house will be too small - terraced, but three bedroom.

Original poster
HalleLouja · 14/04/2022 20:58

@Riverlee

I think my friend’s house will be too small - terraced, but three bedroom.
That’s a shame. Definitely not after a terraced (well not mid terraced).

In an ideal world we would love a house in Southdown but none that hit our brief have come on the market.

OP posts:
AnastasiaRomanov · 15/04/2022 14:05

Here’s an idea… people thinking of selling their houses but not yet on the market, ask if there is anyone looking in that price and area on MN? Deals could be done!

Londongent · 17/04/2022 09:37

@AnastasiaRomanov

Here’s an idea… people thinking of selling their houses but not yet on the market, ask if there is anyone looking in that price and area on MN? Deals could be done!
There is definitely an idea there for a website to sell houses privately
Nothappyatwork · 17/04/2022 10:53

If private sales worked estate agents would have died with the invention of Rightmove.

ginghamstarfish · 17/04/2022 11:09

I've often wondered why traditional estate agents still exist - so incompetent in many cases, charging a fortune for basically taking some photos and listing a house on RM (which Joe PUblic is not able to do). Amazed there isn't a site where the seller can pay a reasonable fee to list their house, take their own photos, deal with the phone calls etc. I'd be glad to do it in order to save thousands. We've just sold but after considering Purple Bricks etc and reading poor reviews, we went with a new local agent - a surveyor and a former EA, just two guys, who charge a flat fee which is a fraction of the traditional EA % fees. They are contactable at all times, and use an app which shows your viewings, feedback, progress of sale etc. It's so much better and a step in the right direction.

Paddingtonthebear · 17/04/2022 11:15

I used to work in an EA, Rightmove fees were over £1k per month and that was about 5 years ago.

stuntbubbles · 18/04/2022 09:17

Is anyone else crossing their fingers that tomorrow will see a mad influx of houses on Rightmove for the Easter bump?! We’ve gone from having 6 we were interested in and had appointments to view, to 1 – everything sold before we could see (on holiday for a week, like fools).

There were another 4 I’d consider but DP ruled them out for bullshit reasons. As a non-Rightmove addict he’s blissfully unaware of the lack of houses, the insane price rises, the best-and-final scramble even for dreck, and has no vision to be able to translate a good floor plan and ugly decor into a nice house. It’s infuriating! “That’s a bit ugly, I don’t like pebble dash and the carpets are old.” If only you could blast off the pebble dash, lift the carpets and sand the floors! When will someone invent such a concept!

The estate agents are getting desperate, I think: we’ve sold but have an average of two ambulance-chasing estate agent letters a day begging us to switch to them. And also this is the last thing I saw advertised on Rightmove:

“There is something about the atmosphere in Felpham that makes it special. As William Blake once said, "The sweet air and the voices of the winds, trees and birds and the odours of the happy ground make it a dwelling for immortals”!! Whether you echo those sentiments or just find it a relaxing place in which to be, Felpham has become one of the favoured locations in which to live on this part of the South coast.Which is where you’ll find this OLDER STYLE DETACHED CHALET PROPERTY.”

They need to be busier so they don’t have time to write this guff Grin

Original poster
HalleLouja · 18/04/2022 09:44

@stuntbubbles

Is anyone else crossing their fingers that tomorrow will see a mad influx of houses on Rightmove for the Easter bump?! We’ve gone from having 6 we were interested in and had appointments to view, to 1 – everything sold before we could see (on holiday for a week, like fools).

There were another 4 I’d consider but DP ruled them out for bullshit reasons. As a non-Rightmove addict he’s blissfully unaware of the lack of houses, the insane price rises, the best-and-final scramble even for dreck, and has no vision to be able to translate a good floor plan and ugly decor into a nice house. It’s infuriating! “That’s a bit ugly, I don’t like pebble dash and the carpets are old.” If only you could blast off the pebble dash, lift the carpets and sand the floors! When will someone invent such a concept!

The estate agents are getting desperate, I think: we’ve sold but have an average of two ambulance-chasing estate agent letters a day begging us to switch to them. And also this is the last thing I saw advertised on Rightmove:

“There is something about the atmosphere in Felpham that makes it special. As William Blake once said, "The sweet air and the voices of the winds, trees and birds and the odours of the happy ground make it a dwelling for immortals”!! Whether you echo those sentiments or just find it a relaxing place in which to be, Felpham has become one of the favoured locations in which to live on this part of the South coast.Which is where you’ll find this OLDER STYLE DETACHED CHALET PROPERTY.”

They need to be busier so they don’t have time to write this guff Grin

LTB. You need a husband with a RM addiction and some vision.

Some houses have come on the market today in my search bracket.

OP posts:
stuntbubbles · 18/04/2022 10:47

We’ve just endured a horrific fixer-upper renovation from hell and have no money, so I can sort of see his resistance to houses that need vision! Grin

But honestly, who looks at a vintage pink bathroom in a 1930s house and goes “The pipes are exposed”. Only a FOOL

Original poster
HalleLouja · 19/04/2022 18:51

I was hoping there would be an influx of houses on the market today. Maybe that influx has happened somewhere else. Easter Hmm

OP posts:
Theforest · 19/04/2022 18:57

Same here.

We have been procrastinating putting up for sale because there has been nothing that we would have gone for in the last 2 years. Almost feels what is the point?!? 🙁

Webbedlife · 19/04/2022 19:45

Just checked Rightmove in the 3 areas I'm looking in within my price range - absolutely nothing new.

WhatTheWhoTheWhatThe · 19/04/2022 20:08

Same here was hoping for a post Easter influx of properties, knowing we have a buyer nothing remotely suitable to buy is quite stressful!

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