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Original poster

They’re selling our house!

61 replies

thelinkisdead · 10/10/2023 13:58

So we moved three months ago. Cash buyers for our house (3 bed semi - fairly small) who were desperate to move in quickly. They are an older couple (retired I think) and had sold their house to their daughter. Our house was fully done: rewire, re plumbed, new bathroom, decent flooring, plastered & lined walls, log burner & open fire; kitchen was nearly 10 years old and would have needed redoing eventually but nothing awful.

Anyway, I noticed yesterday that it’s now on the market - for 10k more than we sold it for, so they’re not making any money whatsoever. Anyone got any theories?!

OP posts:
Thedm · 10/10/2023 14:00

Maybe one of them died and the surviving spouse is moving in with their daughter? Or illness or something. Does it really matter?

Thesearmsofmine · 10/10/2023 14:00

Illness, change in circumstances, maybe they need to free up the money. The area/house just didn’t work for them. It could be anything.

jotunn · 10/10/2023 14:00

One or both of them actually need care or sheltered accommodation.

greengobbledygook · 10/10/2023 14:00

It's not your house. Could be a number of reasons. Downsizing again? Aren't settling in the house?

AIstolemylunch · 10/10/2023 14:03

downsized from a bigger detached house. Found the reality of less space/semi wasnt for them.

Original poster
thelinkisdead · 10/10/2023 14:04

I know it’s not my house, and no it doesn’t really matter; it’s definitely interesting to imagine though!

I’m fairly sure one of them hasn’t died. When we were completing, they joked to me that the money is there so even if one of us drops dead, it’ll still go ahead!

Seems a strange time to be selling and after only three months too!

OP posts:
Sparehair · 10/10/2023 14:06

It sounds like maybe they were under pressure to find something so their daughter could move into their house and then it just didn’t work for them.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 10/10/2023 14:07

Perhaps it’s as simple as the house just doesn’t feel “right” for them. A friend had this happen, on paper and on viewing the house was perfect. They bought it and moved in and just couldn’t settle. They sold within 6 months

Original poster
thelinkisdead · 10/10/2023 14:10

Heyhoherewegoagain · 10/10/2023 14:07

Perhaps it’s as simple as the house just doesn’t feel “right” for them. A friend had this happen, on paper and on viewing the house was perfect. They bought it and moved in and just couldn’t settle. They sold within 6 months

You could be onto something here, although it was a very happy family home and we had decent neighbours.

I’m wondering if the daughter theory is a good one; they seemed DESPERATE to complete, and although were very understanding throughout the process, we got delayed a few times (only by a matter of weeks) as our vendors weren’t ready to move, and you could see our buyers getting a bit antsy.

OP posts:
Heyhoherewegoagain · 10/10/2023 14:14

thelinkisdead · 10/10/2023 14:10

You could be onto something here, although it was a very happy family home and we had decent neighbours.

I’m wondering if the daughter theory is a good one; they seemed DESPERATE to complete, and although were very understanding throughout the process, we got delayed a few times (only by a matter of weeks) as our vendors weren’t ready to move, and you could see our buyers getting a bit antsy.

Show quote history

That’s what I’m saying, on paper, perfection, but on moving in just doesn’t feel “right”, and nothing you do can change that….I had the opposite with my house, I felt it was home the minute I moved in. Extremely unscientific, but I think with houses you just know if it’s right or not

Original poster
thelinkisdead · 10/10/2023 14:15

I totally get what you mean about it feeling right; when we moved into this house, it felt like home immediately despite needed work doing and having a few problems. Not scientific at all but maybe!

OP posts:
Pemba · 10/10/2023 14:16

I am perhaps being thick, but if they are asking for £10k more than they bought it for (from you) only three months ago , how are they 'not making any money whatsoever'?

That's if they can get anyone to pay that or close to, of course.

WrongSwanson · 10/10/2023 14:17

Pemba · 10/10/2023 14:16

I am perhaps being thick, but if they are asking for £10k more than they bought it for (from you) only three months ago , how are they 'not making any money whatsoever'?

That's if they can get anyone to pay that or close to, of course.

Because they spent that much or more on renovations I assume, based on the op?

Ivylea · 10/10/2023 14:19

Pemba · 10/10/2023 14:16

I am perhaps being thick, but if they are asking for £10k more than they bought it for (from you) only three months ago , how are they 'not making any money whatsoever'?

That's if they can get anyone to pay that or close to, of course.

Stamp duty, estate agent fees, solicitor fees, moving costs, utilities set up - they’ll probably be making a loss.

Crikeyalmighty · 10/10/2023 14:24

My grandparents in their 70s at the time moved from a detached 3 bed house on a busy but not 'main' road and bought a 2 bed older bungalow on a cul de sac on the poshest estate in town

Within 9 weeks they had it on the market- my gran said she found it too dark and it felt dull and too quiet as she was used to seeing 'life' straight out of her window. She says she felt 'hemmed in' and it was all 'old people' . people can have odd reasons and foibles that aren't apparent till they move in - they then bought a 3 bed bungalow on a brand new quite posh development with a lot of young families and much preferred it

iovebread · 10/10/2023 16:27

maybe they hated the house in the end? 😱

Original poster
thelinkisdead · 10/10/2023 16:59

iovebread · 10/10/2023 16:27

maybe they hated the house in the end? 😱

This is such a weirdly phrased comment.

They won’t be making much (if anything) because they have done some work to the back garden (added paving around the grass so I’m guessing a grand or so), and then when you factor in surveys (on this house, and their new one) plus fees etc, they’ll be looking at change. Plus I’m not convinced it’ll sell for asking as the market has changed since we sold.

Anyway, I phoned the estate agents enquiring as a buyer and was told that the vendors just don’t feel the house is a good fit for them!

OP posts:
MintJulia · 10/10/2023 17:03

People change their minds. The people I bought my house from, came back after six months and wanted to buy it back. Offered to cover my fees and stamp duty if I would sell.

It's probably nothing more than they changed their minds.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 10/10/2023 17:11

I was weeding the front garden once when two people walked by and then stopped and had a good stare at the house. So I stood up and smiled politely (meaning ‘what do you want’).

They then told me they had bought the house but sold it after six weeks (to the people we bought it from) because they just ‘ hated it’.

(It was a nice house, but admittedly it was a horrid village, picture postcard -literally- but dominated by two warring landowners. Still, they can’t have been upset by that in six weeks! Sometimes it’s just not right).

SheilaFentiman · 10/10/2023 18:14

My friend sold up in zone 2 and moved to the suburbs for more space and better schools for her DDs. She was back in London within a year - it wasn’t for her.

or maybe they won big on the lottery and are selling up as they now own 3 islands?

iovebread · 10/10/2023 18:49

thelinkisdead · 10/10/2023 16:59

This is such a weirdly phrased comment.

They won’t be making much (if anything) because they have done some work to the back garden (added paving around the grass so I’m guessing a grand or so), and then when you factor in surveys (on this house, and their new one) plus fees etc, they’ll be looking at change. Plus I’m not convinced it’ll sell for asking as the market has changed since we sold.

Anyway, I phoned the estate agents enquiring as a buyer and was told that the vendors just don’t feel the house is a good fit for them!

Show quote history

yes, so they hated your house. the end.

17to35 · 11/10/2023 12:23

SO many of our friends have done a double dip downsize.
It is not at all unusual.
Big semi to bungalow to flat
Big semi to studenty flat to posh new flat.
Big semi to basement flat to high flat to whole massive house!!
People change their minds. They don't really know what they want.

gillywee · 11/10/2023 12:35

It's one thing to wonder out loud but it's quite another to be nosy enough enquire at the estate agents. It's not your house anymore, get a hobby.

Sidebeforeself · 11/10/2023 12:39

You phoned the EA?! Why on earth are you so interested? I would have thought it’s fairly common TBH , but then I don’t pay attention to my house after I’ve sold it.

Thedm · 11/10/2023 12:42

You need to let go. Stop looking at what work they’ve done, stop thinking about it and don’t call up anyone else to ask what is going on. My god.