Can I just have a cry on here about my house situation please?

[Cherms]

Suitable houses rarely come up in my search area (once every 5 years) and one came on. We immediately put our house up for sale (literally within one day). Two weeks later we have not had a single viewing. Not one. The forever house is having its last viewing day on Friday and then by Monday all offers need to be in. We can't offer without being sold.

I'm genuinely unbelievably upset. We spent lockdown doing our house up to be in perfect condition and yet absolutely nobody wants to buy it. And that means we will never get a house in our search area (please don't suggest changing the search area. It's not possible. We'd need to stay in our current house rather than ever move outside it)

Which means if another house comes up ever again we won't get that either and I'm absolutely miserable about that. We can't sell and rent because rental houses never come up and also it could be a decade before another house comes up. We really really want this one.

It sounds like I'm feeling melodramatic and sorry for myself but I'm completely gutted. Gutted no-one wants our lovely house and gutted we'll never be able to move. I keep getting weird rises of panic/anxiety about it all.

We're on with the agent that's selling but the forever house will sell whether to us or anyone else. They haven't given actionable feedback as it's just that one room is small. Which it is but the rest is great. And it's a lot of house for the money. No viewings. No interest. Utterly devastated at the hopeless future.

The OP has confirmed it cannot be the price. It will just remain a mystery.

@Cherms you'd really only know if you viewed the property so that can't be putting off viewers because no one is viewing!

The fact you've had no viewings, doesn't mean nobody has been for a look from the street. Either walk/drive by, or an online pass on google street maps. I always do one or all of those BEFORE making an appointment to view, to save wasting anyones time. Especially mine.

You really need to think what, from the street, might put people off even making an appointment to view. If the deterrent is not visual, could be local noise or smells.

Rent out your house, remortgage to release the equity for the deposit for your next house.

Hi OP,
It's a longshot but if it is possible that the sellers of the house you want are downsizing then pop a note through there door letting them know your circumstances and inviting them to consider/view your house. If they are downsizing to free up money a smaller/cheaper house in the same area might be just what they need. What have you got to lose?

@Winter2020 unfortunately because of it being a small neighborhood I do know the seller's circumstances and our house wouldn't suit them (need sheltered accommodation/bungalow) I don't know the seller but I know people who know people who do! Not a close enough link to leverage unfortunately.

Check your contract with the agent before doing this…. If, for example, the best you got was an offer at £255k but you decided not to sell the agent might be within their rights to say, well, we’ve introduced a proceed-able buyer at a price higher than your minimum, so you owe us the commission anyway….

Agreed. Also it totally puts me off if there's a floorplan but no total area listed.

If no one is willing to even put q foot through the door then either the location is horrendous, eg next to a petrol station and an all night bar.

Or its completely the wrong price point

Ive sent you a PM with ideas re your photos OP. I hope this helps x

With no viewing in 2 weeks and you say the house is lovely in a good location and the price is right ? Something is definitely off ??

‘Overdeveloped for FTB’ = price.

People looking for a bargain won’t want the house.
People with the money would rather buy something with more space (that they can do up to suits themselves, even better) or in a better location.

I absolutely love a floorplan and even have my own log in to one. So I made my own to speed things up!

You will be pleased to know I've taken your advice and dropped the price. Massively. I'll only be able to go to a certain price on the forever house but I can't offer anything at all at the moment!

floorplan floorplan flooplan!\

good luck OP what made you drop it..? Did the new agent advise?

OooErr erm...the whole thread advised and probably the new agent.
Good luck, Op!

Good call OP. Out of interest, what is a massive price drop in your neck of the woods?

Why did I drop it? Because I have a couple of days to sell my house and if dozens of strangers on the internet are telling me I need to do something I have to take drastic action!

It's a 5% drop but in a hot market that feels like a lot!

Good luck OP. I’m currently hunting in a very hard to buy area, so I know the desperation feeling.

It does sound as if you’ve fathomed out what’s putting people off, in terms of overdeveloped and pitched between buyer types. FTBs and people looking to go up the next step.

We’ve seen a few recently where they want top price to cover all the work they’ve done. As a buyer you want to see where you can add value. I don’t want to pay for someone else’s choices, unless it’s at a tempting price point. The ones we viewed that fell into this category, and are in a really desirable location, are slow to sell or have had to reduce.

Hope you manage to get a buyer. Just be prepared that even if you do, someone who’s chain free or near to exchange might pip you to it. We’ve lost out to so many chain free buyers lately, even though people in our chain have all their legal and financial bits sorted & ready to go.

I hope the 5% price drop helps. Do you think you'll stay on the market if you don't sell in time to get the other house?

Also other than the slightly too small garden, why is it you want to sell?

Good luck

It really is the price. Regardless of any faults.

If the OP put their house up for £1 would it sell? Yes. There is a (realistic) price point between £1 and their current asking price where their house will sell instantly.

It's the price.

Good luck. Any viewings booked?

I would join other estates and get them to list it low and advertised it as 'offers over' then put it as low as you can go to drive up interest... I'm not too fussed at pics to be honest I look at room sizes more importantly.
I have noticed they've started listing the properties without the room measurements... apparently it costs the seller more to put the room specs down(not sure if this has always been the case) but maybe something to look at. Goodluckkk

I would also still put your offer in and see how it goes they might not be in a rush to sell never know might be downsizing or moving in with kids etc so you never know- you don't ask you don't get... Atleast you can say you've tried!

Let to buy?
Its what we did to avoid missing out on our dream house.
The rental market is insane, we found tenants on first try at full asking.
increased stamp duty is the issue though, would you have the cash/equity to cover it?
it’s worth looking into.
No chain makes you a desirable buyer.

Let to Buy! Release equity out of your existing one (as a buy to let) to put down the deposit on the new one. Rent out your existing one once you've purchased the new one and take a new residential mortgage on it. I'm a mortgage advisor and would say this route is the easiest to secure it if you can as it protects you against losing the buyer on your one at any point in the process.