Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

Original poster

Mega anxiety and selling a less than perfect house

14 replies

TweeBee · 17/04/2023 18:26

Hi all,
just wondered if anyone else has sold a house that wasn't in fabulous condition everywhere? We are going to list ours this week so I've been cleaning and tidying like mad but it's just not perfect - we had downstairs painted and new kitchen cupboards and floor but finishing isn't great and children's bedrooms need repainting. I've got bad anxiety and it's been awful today.
We have been aiming to get to sale for a few years but changes with DH's job mean can only do it this year, and a dream house has come up which has encouraged us to try and do it quickly. DH feels people will repaint anyway and children wouldn't want neutral colours so no point doing it (as we are restricted for area and so may not end up move if nothing right comes up - but that's another stress!).
I just wondered if anyone else feels like this? Lots of local houses are all recently done, perfect condition etc. We will of course price ours to reflect the condition.
I don't know what I'm asking really, sorry, just trying to deal with my anxiety. Any kind words appreciated!

OP posts:

Clariana · 17/04/2023 18:30

Plenty of houses are sold in less than perfect condition. Many people, including me, prefer to do the house to their own taste when the move in so appreciate paying a bit less and the finish doesn't matter. Please don't worry!

sonjadog · 17/04/2023 18:30

I was worried about my house when I put it up for sale and I found it helped to look at other properties and see that they were advertised in all kinds of states, and they all sold.

Ceilin · 17/04/2023 18:32

I could have written your post last week. I've been telling my husband all week that it's hopeless and it'll never sell. We had three offers today, two at asking and one over. They clearly didn't see the paintwork etc in the same why i do.

RM2013 · 17/04/2023 18:33

I felt that ours was less than perfect but the people that bought our house loved it and made an offer as soon as they got home from the viewing. Have a look on rightmove there’s a lot of less than perfect houses on there! Good luck

Eyesopenwideawake · 17/04/2023 18:39

I would be less inclined to buy a "perfect" house as it would feel wrong to change things that were perfectly acceptable just because they weren't my style; I much prefer a doer-upper or something that needs cosmetic work.

ClassicLib · 17/04/2023 18:40

I have sold a house which was very far from perfect, both inside and out. As long as the asking price reflects the condition, and takes into account the costs that buyers would incur in renovating it, you should have no difficulty selling. This is what ‘realistically priced to sell’ means.

Original poster

TweeBee · 17/04/2023 20:34

Just wanted to thank you all so much for your encouraging responses. I could feel the anxiety racking up today and wanted to talk about it anonymously, but was hesitant to post on here in case you confirmed my fears about the house and that I'm a useless adult, but you've all been so kind.
Fingers crossed all goes well!

OP posts:

CornedBeef451 · 17/04/2023 20:40

Just put it up for sale, as long as it's clean it'll be fine!

We bought a grubby, overstuffed house but didn't offer on an immaculately done up house as it just wasn't us.

The thought of having to rip out the expensive looking but wildly impractical kitchen and reinstate walls just made it impractical.

Doing a bit of painting is far batter!

Hbh17 · 17/04/2023 20:44

There is no such thing as a "perfect house".

Greentree1 · 17/04/2023 20:45

Just don't expect top price people will see the necessary work and even if it's not really a lot they will knock the price down. If you can just do the cosmetic work it will make a difference to the price you get.

orangetriangle · 17/04/2023 20:52

I will soon be selling my mums house which needs a new shower and a bit of painting to be fair and a little modernising think artexed ceilings but that being said it's a probate sale so no chain in a cul de sac in a quiet road which a larger than average size garden in that close I would like to think.if we price it at a fair price people will see the potential ie nice conservatory on the back 2 double sized bedrooms large sunny lounge and large kitchen and a stones throw from a blue flag beach and close 2 4 grammar schools well fingers crossed anyway not all houses are perfect but usually perfect for someone fingers crossed

Snoken · 17/04/2023 21:22

If it’s just a bit of painting/decorating that needs doing that wouldn’t put me off. If it needs a new bathroom though that would put me off because of how expensive it is but mostly because of the lack of trades people available. If the flooring or kitchen has been newly installed but hasn’t been done well that would also put me off, because I wouldn’t want to start again with a new kitchen and I’d be worried the plumbing/electrics would be dodgy too.

Noimaginationforaun · 17/04/2023 21:59

Just recently sold our not perfect house in 7 weeks. It is possible! We just made sure everything was clutter free, clean and tidy. Lots of people what not perfect houses to put their own stamp on!

twanmever · 17/04/2023 22:32

We've been looking for a over a year for somewhere, we sold a big house to downsize and moved into a tiny flat. I spent hours scrubbing that house to make it look lovely, then my husband told every viewer all the things that were wrong with it. Now when we book a viewing we always say to the agent tell them not to clean for us going round - it makes no difference! If we love it we'll offer. Good luck with your sale, and I wouldn't worry about getting a reduced price - it will be fine.

Flip