Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

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

Original poster

Anyone else trying to sell their house?

555 replies

Permanentlyfrazzled · 28/07/2023 14:52

How many viewings are you getting?

Fourth time on the market in 9 months due to multiple chains falling through and feeling very disheartened. This time we've gone on at a 50K reduction from our previous asking price (which we achieved multiple times) but we recognise that the market has changed.

Despite a massive reduction viewings seem really slow. We've had 4 viewings in just under four weeks and one second viewing, but no offers.

How is everyone else getting on? Is it just the market at the moment? I'm trying to tell myself that it's the mortgage rate rises and the summer holidays.

We can't afford to reduce again as we won't be able to buy. House prices in our area aren't coming down as quickly as we've reduced.

We are in Surrey. Thank you!

OP posts:
XVGN · 07/08/2023 15:19

noodles20 · 07/08/2023 14:54

Idk, admittedly the rooms are a bit small and we could have done with more space when the kids were younger. The EA has done all our viewings and we usually go out when they're here so no need for them to feel awkward.

Show quote history

People are odd. But they may equally be afraid of being honest with the EA lest they come across as pernickety and difficult. It's not always easy to say that the house stank of wee, or given the bodge job DIY you saw that you wouldn't have trusted the homeowner to have properly maintained the home. Sometimes the path of least resistance is the easiest. "It's not for me thanks. I didn't get the feeling" or some other Kop-out excuse.

Mildura · 07/08/2023 15:25

We can't afford to reduce again as we won't be able to buy. House prices in our area aren't coming down as quickly as we've reduced

We are in Surrey. Thank you!

Obviously depends where in Surrey to a certain extent. But August is always a very quiet month, schools off and loads of people on holiday.

Also mortgage rates significantly affecting affordability.

Because data has such a lag on it what's reported is always out of date.
But, prices are down at least 10% on a year ago pretty much across the board, flats often more than that.

Mildura · 07/08/2023 15:26

XVGN · 07/08/2023 15:19

People are odd. But they may equally be afraid of being honest with the EA lest they come across as pernickety and difficult. It's not always easy to say that the house stank of wee, or given the bodge job DIY you saw that you wouldn't have trusted the homeowner to have properly maintained the home. Sometimes the path of least resistance is the easiest. "It's not for me thanks. I didn't get the feeling" or some other Kop-out excuse.

Show quote history

Exactly, agree with all of that.

Feedback is completely useless and some sellers get far too hung up on it.

noodles20 · 07/08/2023 17:12

noodles20 · 07/08/2023 15:03

When we bought this place the family had just had their first child. They were packed in like sardines! We had to take down additional cupboards they had put up in the master and second bedroom. It never bother us. We didn't have children at the time though.

Show quote history

Just read this back....should be 3rd child, not first!

paddingtonbear1 · 07/08/2023 18:21

We did have an offer over the weekend but it was low, considering we've already reduced our price by 50K since going on the market. They are cash buyers but it took them 2 weeks to make the offer. Heard nothing back today so I don't think they are serious. Not sure what to do now - whether to come off the market and go back on in mid-Sept with a different EA.

Original poster
Permanentlyfrazzled · 07/08/2023 18:22

paddingtonbear1 · 07/08/2023 18:21

We did have an offer over the weekend but it was low, considering we've already reduced our price by 50K since going on the market. They are cash buyers but it took them 2 weeks to make the offer. Heard nothing back today so I don't think they are serious. Not sure what to do now - whether to come off the market and go back on in mid-Sept with a different EA.

Congrats on the offer. What % is that off asking price?

OP posts:
paddingtonbear1 · 07/08/2023 18:34

@Permanentlyfrazzled it's about 6%. That doesn't sound too bad but because we'd already reduced by a lot, it really starts to affect what we can afford to buy. I know it sounds weird but I didn't get a good feeling about them when I showed them round. A day later, they told the EA they intended to offer by the end of the week. A week later, the same. Then eventually, the low offer. I suspect they'd just mess us around like the last cash buyers did!

Jacquel666 · 07/08/2023 18:43

@paddingtonbear1 @Permanentlyfrazzled It's so difficult to know what to do ... I've been clearing up all day, missed half a day's pay and I am beginning to lose faith in viewers making an offer or even turning up, tbh.
Honestly can't wait to start our 'break' and come back to it mid-Sept.
EA has called to say a woman is interested in viewing but we've made it clear that we want 'hot prospects' only from now on as we are just so tired of browsers. It's only been since 1st June but it feels like I've been cleaning up every day for years.
BTW I'd go with your instinct if it doesn't feel right. So many time-wasters out there.

nokidshere · 07/08/2023 18:50

There's nothing selling round here at the moment (Wiltshire). I was on right move last night and so many properties with a 3 mile radius of us have been on the market, and reduced sometimes more than once, for 4-6 months or more. Seems like now is not a good time to sell sadly.

Potaytoe5 · 07/08/2023 19:36

Ok so the third viewing happened, went well. I like the people, but... they want a fourth viewing to show another parent around! Someone hold me please 😂

JusthereforXmas · 07/08/2023 19:36

Jacquel666 · 07/08/2023 18:43

@paddingtonbear1 @Permanentlyfrazzled It's so difficult to know what to do ... I've been clearing up all day, missed half a day's pay and I am beginning to lose faith in viewers making an offer or even turning up, tbh.
Honestly can't wait to start our 'break' and come back to it mid-Sept.
EA has called to say a woman is interested in viewing but we've made it clear that we want 'hot prospects' only from now on as we are just so tired of browsers. It's only been since 1st June but it feels like I've been cleaning up every day for years.
BTW I'd go with your instinct if it doesn't feel right. So many time-wasters out there.

Virtually no one is viewing 1 property and buying it and no one is viewing for shits and giggles.

We are looking at houses we are not 'just browsing' we have done that for years looking at online ads thats why we know the market and area... now we are actively searching by looking at houses in person. We are chain free, cash in hand and ready to go.

Out of the 5 we have viewed only 1 has turned out to have the potential to be our home (the others where NOT as expected - damp, smoking owners etc...), but it is WAY overpriced (double the price of any other house on the street or comparable houses in the town).

Its only just hit the market and NOT going to sell at that price (I'm fairly confident in that) so either we put in an offer 25%+ below asking now (likely to be rejected as its a fresh listing) or wait until they realize they massively overpriced (from lack of offers) and lower it.

In the meantime we keep looking because its not guaranteed their delusions will actually fade.

It doesn't make us not serious buyers though we are a 'hot prospect' for the RIGHT property.

Twiglets1 · 07/08/2023 20:27

Potaytoe5 · 07/08/2023 19:36

Ok so the third viewing happened, went well. I like the people, but... they want a fourth viewing to show another parent around! Someone hold me please 😂

OMG I can’t believe that. 4 viewings before even getting an offer accepted is over the top batshit. They better give you a good offer after all that!

I think I would agree to it but tell the EA to tell them that it is definitely the last one you will allow from them for a while!

noodles20 · 07/08/2023 20:38

Potaytoe5 · 07/08/2023 19:36

Ok so the third viewing happened, went well. I like the people, but... they want a fourth viewing to show another parent around! Someone hold me please 😂

Ffs 🤦‍♀️ I really hope they end up giving you a decent offer 🍀

Fretfulmum · 07/08/2023 21:13

It’s now a buyers market. If your house isn’t selling it most definitely means because it is priced too high. A property is only worth what the buyer thinks it’s worth, not what the estate agent valued it at, or the price you bought it for, or how much you spent renovating/maintaining the property. All properties will sell at a price. It’s up to you whether you continue waiting for the unicorn who has managed to get a mortgage to cover your property price (with current interest rates), stay put, or lower the price. Buyers want to feel like they’ve got a bargain. The price needs to reflect this if you want to shift it.

Potaytoe5 · 07/08/2023 21:13

@noodles20 @Twiglets1 I KNOW! We only ever did 2 viewings before buying the house! They are lovely people but I just want them to buy it already, I hate not knowing what's going on.

No big loss I guess, there's still nothing interesting on the market to buy right now....

We've lived here for 8 years, I never lived so long in one place before, it feels like such a huge deal to be making those decisions.

Twiglets1 · 07/08/2023 21:21

Potaytoe5 · 07/08/2023 21:13

@noodles20 @Twiglets1 I KNOW! We only ever did 2 viewings before buying the house! They are lovely people but I just want them to buy it already, I hate not knowing what's going on.

No big loss I guess, there's still nothing interesting on the market to buy right now....

We've lived here for 8 years, I never lived so long in one place before, it feels like such a huge deal to be making those decisions.

You will get there @Potaytoe5 but these buyers are a pain in the arse

Potaytoe5 · 07/08/2023 21:41

@Twiglets1 I reckon we should charge them £5k for any extra viewings 😂

paddingtonbear1 · 07/08/2023 22:33

I'd be quite happy to accept less for our house if others would do the same (at least meet us part way) - but in the area we're looking, that doesn't seem to be the case, at least not yet. We have considered changing area - but somewhere else wouldn't be so good for our dd. Hate this process :(

Twiglets1 · 07/08/2023 22:46

@Potaytoe5 🤣🤣🤣

erikbloodaxe · 08/08/2023 05:14

It is all down to the price as previous posters have said. I accepted an offer on my house last week. It went live on the Friday, first viewer Monday (I was away Fri/Sat/Sun) that viewer made offer Tues afternoon, we haggled and I got what I hoped to realistically achieve. Every house I've looked into/at has either sold quickly (down to the price) or been on the market a while (because of the price and the owners won't budge).

dewclaw · 08/08/2023 09:07

I'd be quite happy to accept less for our house if others would do the same (at least meet us part way) - but in the area we're looking, that doesn't seem to be the case, at least not yet. We have considered changing area - but somewhere else wouldn't be so good for our dd. Hate this process :(

This is my dilemma- very little on the market here and prices not being dropped much so if we drop I can't see anything else to buy!
I'm wondering whether to hang on till next year when hopefully things are a little more clear one way or the other

Potaytoe5 · 08/08/2023 09:32

@dewclaw I agree, we'd be happy to reduce even further (already dropped 7% off our June price), but it's getting to the point we might not be able to afford a type of house we like.
Quite a few houses around us that I think would go for a bout £320-£335k, instead they've been hanging on for 6+ months as they're priced at about £370k.
We might have to try our luck and just offer low, when we eventually do sell our house, that is.

Daffodils234 · 08/08/2023 11:44

We have had 3 viewings over the course of a week (we went live on Rightmove and first viewing booked within the first hour). First viewer loved it but bid on a second house, second viewer loved the house but hates the location (rural village!) and third viewers are looking at 3 other properties who have no onward chain. I've another viewing tomorrow - wish me luck 🙁

Our EA realistically priced our property (we would've liked to have added another 5-10k onto it) so we are hoping we get a sale soon. Worst time to sell I guess!

Potaytoe5 · 08/08/2023 13:53

Ok we got adjusted offer from people who keep viewing our house, they are now saying £185k.... so they upped it £5k from £180k.

We already dropped it from £215k to 'over £200k'.
We told EA we can go down to £195k

Frankly, I am not sure how serious they are anymore, I was expecting them to say £190k, after nothing wrong was found yesterday!!!!
I am so fed up I feel like I want to give up altogether...

Omgwtafisthat · 08/08/2023 16:24

@Potaytoe5 at least they’ve come up a bit. Can you do a deal at £190? At least if you get an offer on yours you can then start offering below on your next purchase too?