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Original poster

I just saw my dream house come on the market, my house isn't even up for sale, do I have a shot?

131 replies

december2020 · 02/05/2023 20:15

Literally the dream forever house!

My house isn't on the market yet (market was so slow) but I could show intent and how serious I am by moving very swiftly to get everything in order and get it on the market asap. I have been transparent with the estate agent on this and we have a viewing this week.

I'm already getting papers in order and getting a quote for a painter decorator to get the house ready.

I wouldn't need to increase my mortgage, but would need to port it, my lender allows this - I checked.
I'm calling them tomorrow to chat through any other criteria needed etc. and will set up an appointment.

I know it's a long shot, but do I have the slightest chance that this could pan out?

OP posts:
Buttons0522 · 02/05/2023 21:45

We did this a fortnight ago!

Dream house came up after looking for YEARS and we asked to view. They said they were only accepting viewings from people who were sold (not even on the market!!) So we said let’s do it on the Weds & contacted an agent. She came that day to do a valuation and advised on how to price to sell. We were up until midnight that night stuffing everything in cupboards in advance of photos on Thursday!! Told the agent to avoid internal photos of the office and garage which we hadn’t got round to sorting! It went live on Rightmove etc Thursday evening and we spent Fri & Sat properly tidying, cleaning and we refreshed paintwork and washed & grouted the patio etc. In that time we had 5 viewings booked, 4 for the Sunday. Our dream house agreed to let us view after lots of badgering. Monday morning we had an offer over asking price which we accepted & made an offer on dream house which was accepted Monday evening! So all done in 6 days - it can be done!!!

Our agent was brilliant, one of the online platforms, but contactable 24/7, responsive, much easier in our experience to progress things quickly when you can respond instantly to messages as they come in.

JeepersCreeperrs · 02/05/2023 21:48

This happened to me but we were ready to list. I wouldn’t be waiting for decorating.

Grimbelina · 02/05/2023 21:57

If you are serious you will declutter tomorrow, get the photos the next day and have viewings a few days after this. Even better if you can use the same estate agent as then they have a double incentive for you to sell. You could still possibly get a decorater in even after the photos and before viewings if you really needed to (and really can't do it yourself in an evening or two).

This is what we did and sold within a couple of days and had our offer accepted on the house we wanted on the street we had always wanted to live on.

ChickenMacaroni · 02/05/2023 21:59

We have done this both times we've moved.

First time we saw the house and we were able to view. 2015 so different times. Got ours on the market that week and sold in 5 days for about 5% under asking price.

Second time was in 2020. Viewed our current home and got ours on within the week. Took 2 weeks to sell (we went for a proceedable but low offer) but thankfully this was still on the market.

Definitely worth a go but agree with others - leave the redecoration and just price accordingly.

Alexalee · 03/05/2023 07:26

Another thing that will potentially help your cause is to market your property with the same agent that is selling dream house

careerthink · 03/05/2023 07:34

We tried this a few years ago, we were allowed to view the house but they wouldnt accept an offer from us until our house had an offer. We put it on the market and it was essentially a race as to whether we could get an offer in on ours before anyone else put in on the house we wanted.

We lost unfortunately, but just as well because a much better house came up a year later, you wouldn't have convinced me any other house was our perfect house except the one we were trying to buy back then, but the truth is there are plenty of houses that can fit the bill so don't panic and lose perspective, but good luck!

careerthink · 03/05/2023 07:35

(And yes we put it up with the agent that was selling the one we wanted, it meant a double sale for them if successful and they knew we meant business).

Original poster
december2020 · 03/05/2023 11:19

Thank you everyone for your advice and also keeping me going!

I've spoken to my mortgage provider today around porting and next steps and should have my decision in principle ready before the viewing.

I've also told the estate agent I'm more than happy to keep it "in the family" and have them appointed to sell my house to ensure everything is moving.

Very good point on as is and to move quickly.
I'm going to send the estate agent an email now (as all contact has been over phone) to see how quickly we could get the house on the market.
And also will take your advice when making an offer, asking for a grace period to get our property sold.

Our house is on a desirable street (we're literally hoping to move down the street) with good sized bedrooms and off road parking so hopefully there is some market interest.

OP posts:
careerthink · 03/05/2023 11:33

My fingers are firmly crossed for you!

Original poster
december2020 · 03/05/2023 21:28

Thank you!
I have my decision in principle now and have the valuation appointment booked with the same estate agent for next week.

Making a list today and tomorrow on things I want to make sure to ask or check out when viewing the property.

I know it's a very slim chance and I'm going into this with no expectations of it working out.

OP posts:
Iguanainanigloo · 03/05/2023 21:36

We were in a similar situation about 7 years ago op. Saw a house online, (40 miles away from where we were) fell in love, and they very reluctantly let us view after much persuasion as we weren't "proceedable". Put our house on the market the day after we viewed this one, and got an offer in from our first viewers the day after it went online. I know we were very lucky, but I do think sometimes these things work out if there meant to. We were so so lucky, and we are happier than ever here, and I know it was "meant to be".

I would skip with the decorators etc, as you could be wasting valuable time. Little declutter, tidy as much as possible, and move every bit of "tat" out of shot for each photo. Then if you get viewings booked, chuck all the crap in the loft/car/hire a unit etc, as viewers want to see a clean tidy space. If you get time to decorate once you're house is live, then do so, and get photos updated if necessary, but I wouldn't waste time doing that before making your house available for viewings. As you could be in the middle of that, and your dream house goes under offer anyway. Getting yours on the market is the priority right now.

Iguanainanigloo · 03/05/2023 21:45

This brought back memories actually... Forgot DD was a baby at the time, and had a toddler too, so we had the usual baby clutter/tat everywhere, I remember following the agent round the house, with a baby under one arm, dragging the jumperoo, highchair, baby mat, easel, paw patrol crap out of every shot, and then back to the other side of the room for the next one! The house looked great in the photos as looked so tidy and spacious, and not the reality 😂. Then when we got a viewing for the very next day, I remember cramming everything I could into the loft, and just praying they didn't ask to look up there. I went out with two dogs, baby, toddler, and all the aforementioned baby tat in the car and drove off while they were viewing the house. Literally had the highchair on its side in the boot, a dog bed rammed down the footwell, and a baby bath in the passenger seat, could barely see out of the car 😂. I remember hoovering behind us as we all left the house, and chucking that in the car with us as well! Obviously worked though, as they put in an offer the same day!

MarnieCres · 03/05/2023 21:55

You need to at least try.

My elderly (82) MIL rang me early one Saturday morning, quite out of the blue, saying she had found her perfect bungalow to buy. We had no idea she was even thinking of moving.
I gently reminded her that she needed to sell her house first, before she could but another and that her house wasn't even on the market yet. I really didn't want her to get her hopes up.

She spoke to the EA selling the bungalow, explaining her situation and by lunchtime she had accepted an offer on her own house and had an offer accepted on the bungalow. The EA had a list of buyers waiting for a house like hers.

I couldn't believe it! I reminded her, that the sale had to go through.....it did, she moved six weeks later!

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 03/05/2023 21:57

Wishing you the best of luck OP., keep us posted.
I'm currently keeping my eye out for something ideal but I'm not unhappy where we are. I'm not going to sell and then start looking as the type of house I want rarely comes up in our town. Your situation makes me realise that I need to keep my house ready for a sale, just in case.

Atethehalloweenchocs · 03/05/2023 22:12

I sold my house within half an hour of it being listed. Its worth a try!

milosmouse · 03/05/2023 22:12

I did this with my current house. We saw it online on the Friday and ours wasn't even ready. So we spent a weekend cleaning and decluttering and listed it with the same agent on the Monday. We explained our situation and although they let us view it, the sellers rejected our offer. We listed ours at market rate and by the end of the wk we had an offer (desirable area). We reiterated our offer and it was accepted. Best of luck OP. It can be done

2bazookas · 03/05/2023 22:15

The seller wants to sell now. He's not going to wait twiddling his thumbs while you contact a few decorators, compare quotes, have the house redecorated and styled for the market.

If you're serious, get your house on the market right away. This week. Find an agent who is willing to act fast and get you a quick sale.

OuiLaLa · 03/05/2023 22:22

Another person who did this op and been in my house for a year. Knew we wanted it. We finished some painting, staged for photos etc all in a few days.

We told the agents we would put our house on with them if they would work with us for the house we wanted - they were very motivated to get the two sales away. Worked well. No problem being allowed to see the house we wanted and they gave us a grace period to find a good buyer (we only needed a week).

Good luck!!!

bozzabollix · 03/05/2023 22:28

We did it. I posted the details of the house I wanted on FB saying I can only dream about this, but we put ours on and we got it. Still pinch myself now.

Put your house on tomorrow, forget the decorator.

coffeeiswgatkeepsmesane · 03/05/2023 22:40

Good luck op! Hope you get it, fingers crossed for you

MrsSkylerWhite · 03/05/2023 22:41

Probably unrealistic.

Original poster
december2020 · 09/05/2023 17:42

We have made an offer on the house with full transparency to the estate agent on where we are at in the buying process.

The estate agent is coming tomorrow for a valuation anyways (booked last week) and he suspects he'll hear back from the sellers tomorrow too and hopefully can update us.

I completely assume they will be going with another buyer due to our position and I have no expectations they will accept our offer but hopefully I'll know for certain tomorrow.

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 09/05/2023 17:45

I would usually say no, but given how the market has changed you might be ok. Get yours on the market quickly perhaps with the same EA. Good luck, I hope it works out ok for you.

Roselilly36 · 09/05/2023 17:45

X post!

Batalax · 09/05/2023 17:56

It’s taken a long time to value it. The EA could have worked a bit quicker for you.