I've found The House. But I have to sell mine first.

[WhatTheKey]

I live out in the sticks in a very very limited market. Not exactly this, but think Scottish remote island kind of place, very nice and in good condition, but few people want to buy here- you're buying a lifestyle, not just a house. So houses take yonks to sell.
My house has been on the market since June. Have had 8 viewings, which is actually quite good for around here. People have been nice about it, and the reasons for not offering have been things like, house is too big, too many stairs, not enough outside space. All have said it's a good price. It is on for 10k less than the equivalent properties. I'm confident that it will sell in the Spring, when the tourists come.
BUT
I have seen The House. I love it. It isn't perfect, but it's pretty damn close for us. I think about it all the bloody time. And I'm sure that once other buyers clock it, it will sell. If I sold my home, I'd only need a small mortgage.
Any tips on what I can do? I have considered reducing the price of my house, but people seem to think it would be ridiculously low and that it's the lack of buyers that is the problem, not the price. For comparison, my house is a large 5 bedroomed home in good condition with loads of period features and views- if I reduced it, it would be the same price as a 2-bed flat in an estate with no garden, no views.
Anyone at all have any tips for me?!

If you want to sell quickly all you can do is reduce the price. How much you reduce it buy depends on how much you want this other house, and how much you want to increase your mortgage by.

Simple as that really. If you price it low enough then someone will bite very quickly.

Do the people that own the house you want to buy want to move quickly? Have they got an onward purchase sorted already? You may not have to rush as much as you think you do. Have a chat with the Estate Agent

my house is a large 5 bedroomed home in good condition with loads of period features and views- if I reduced it, it would be the same price as a 2-bed flat in an estate with no garden, no views.

I don’t understand why you would reduce your period 5 bedroom house with views to the same price as a 2 bed flat on an estate with no garden, presuming it’s the same area that is literally an insane thing to do, why would you have to reduce it so much, surely the flat is worth less than half of your property?

I agree with @Doris86 all you can do is reduce the price. That is literally the only thing you can do to try to get a quick sale. December is probably the hardest month to sell - in any town or city let alone on a Scottish remote island kind of place.

At a lower price it's possible that one of the 8 viewers who thought it wasn't quite right for them may be encouraged to reconsider.

Also @WhatTheKey You say you're confident it would sell when the tourists come but the house has already been on since June.

I would be suggesting anyway that it's time to reduce the price if you're a motivated seller because you have already not sold during the last peak tourist season. People have commented on the lack of outside space for the size of the house so it seems that the house has compromises. Most houses do but you can't change the outside space, you can change the price.

Someone I know managed to swap houses in a similar situation, obviously with more money going to one person that the other. Might be worth asking about? I am sure if you offered a reasonable price it would be worth them considering, especially if you know it will definitely sell in spring and are happy to drop your house price a little bit

Thanks all for the replies. I have reduced the price since the house has been on the market, but it is a good point by a pp that the house has already been for sale over one tourist season so maybe my confidence about it selling in spring is unfounded.
To reply to the comment about it being ridiculous that my massive house might be sold for the same price as a tiny flat, I completely agree. Unfortunately this is how it is in many areas where tourism is the main industry- people who buy here either want to retire, or they want a second home, or they want a holiday let. Big rambling family homes just aren't practical. It's ridiculous but it's how things are unfortunately. There's a massive house that's edging on mansion territory, brilliant condition, amazing original features, grounds etc- it sold last year after being on the market for 18m, for the same price as a 3 bed bungalow. 😱

Whereabouts are you now, OP?

The answer might be widespread advertising. Somebody might see your house and fall in love with the lifestyle option.

Reducing the price will not guarantee a sale, and you would be left in a bad position if you onward purchase did not materialise.
I found the only solution is to stop looking at other properties.

A very large house in a remote cold area isn't always so desirable. People will be thinking of running costs like heating bills. I would reduce the price once the market picks up in the spring.

I know people who did a house swap. Might this work for you?

Unfortunately not. The house I want is empty after the elderly owner died.

How big is your garden? 60ft ? 100ft?

Do you mean a three bed bungalow locally?

Have you considered auction?

Where in the process of probate is the house you have set your heart on ?

Probate should have been granted so that whoever owns it now has the power to actually sell. Your best bet for a delay is that it has been put in the market before probate has been granted so there will be a delay.

If that is the case, it might be worth making your interest clear and agreeing a price which will induce them to take it off the market.

Bit of a long shot.

Your best way forward is to accept that you have made a mistake in looking for new houses before even having an offer on your own house. If you have yet even to have a serious offer your own house, you are not really in a position to make a serious offer to buy another.

Sorry, I would not take a house off the market based on any offer you could make and would advise anyone to do likewise.

Sell you house. Work out a way to rent short time in case the chain breaks down and stop looking tip you are ready to buy.

Hope it goes well

Could you link it?

Do you have to sell to buy? Could you keep your house and rent to tourists next summer while it remains on the market?

Honestly? I'd post the link on here. If you can get it trending it's the widest and quickest exposure you're probably going to be able to get.