Anyone else putting their home on the market in early 2025?

[newhomein2025]

Just that really - I'm going to be putting my home on the market soon, and hoping to find something to buy too. It's due to divorce, but I'm actually feeling ready to move on and find a wee place just for me and my teenager. I'm slightly dreading the process, and all the associated hassle, and worried that I won't be able to find somewhere I can afford nearby, but excited to start again. Anyone else planning on selling and buying in 2025 and want to keep me company?

Honestly I think this is so area dependent. Our was listed at a high price already but the EA and ourselves knew an offer under wouldn’t be considered because we live in a hot area. Ours was listed and sold for over £25k above asking on the first day.

Well a week on and the seller still hasn’t acknowledged our offer! I really want to walk away because this is clearly such a toxic divorce but there isn’t anything else I would want to offer on at the minute so it would be cutting off my nose to spite my face to throw in the towel now.
Maybe it will could still come off, just trying to not get my hopes set on it!

Mine sold at asking to two people now in less than 4 days.
But properties are hanging on for months if priced wrongly (Surrey).
Also keeping a look at Norfolk as we might get our UK base there. Same thing.

We sold ours in one month/4 viewings back in January, but out of the 7 properties we have viewed since Christmas, only one is under offer/sold. And we live in an in demand area, so it does appear anything at the right price is selling fairly quickly but the ones that are overpriced are sitting about.

That’s frustrating. It reminded me of a long time ago, back in the 90’s. Made an offer on a house only to find the husband had put it up for sale without telling the (soon to be ex) wife 😆😵‍💫

We had 5 viewings yesterday on our 4th day on the market (south east). Feedback today has been exciting but also nerve wracking.

Viewng 1: really liked it and cannot be contacted
Viewing 2: have called to say they'd like to offer but they will call back tomorrow (WTF)
Viewing 3 4 and 5 - really liked it and want to come for second viewings now scheduled for Saturday.

So no offers.

Second viewings is a good sign tho. And 3 of them!

The other one, who knows what they are up to. Possibly viewing another? Juggling finances? But whatever their reason it's not a for certain no, yet.

Even the non contactable buyers - maybe they are teachers or something and can't be contacted at work.

I just did a rightmove search for all properties in the postcode area we are selling and buying in. 40% of all the properties currently for sale have had a price reduction, out of 485. These range from small flats up to £8m houses. Some of the properties (last two pages) have been for sale for 1-2 years.

I feel like that says offers of 5-10% under are not unreasonable?

So my BAFO offer finally got rejected today - god knows why she took so long (3 days)! The EA advised that she was most likely going to favour a FTB - which she did. So whilst the 'Lady of the Manor' was deliberating - a couple of others of interest came on - which I looked at - and made an offer on one which was accepted and is an ex rental - which is empty! So feeling very relieved tonight. Anything which was reasonably priced was being hoovered up within a week.

That’s great, well done!

You are way more positive than I am! Thank you :)

@Gunz that's great and feels so good to have been able to walk away with a great alternative. No chain better too!

I agree second viewings are good, I reckon some people just won't put in an offer without that second check so fingers crossed some offers come of it!

Does anyone know what second viewings will entail? Is there anything we could might help? I mean outside of the usual pre viewing airing cleaning etc!

@Gunz Great news! So pleased for you. Hope it all goes smoothly.

I think that's a reasonable starting point but in reality, every house is different. If they are hanging around and still overpriced then yeah (if not more!) but a sensibly priced home in good condition, just marketed, with interest, you might start at offeeing - 5 to 10 but I'd expect it to finally only be accepted if closer to asking. My DS got 4 percent off. He's not even exchanged yet and prices have probably fallen to that!

Must admit mine is under 'offer' and they want to come back to 'measure up' on Monday. My second viewing where the offer is accepted is to take my son around - so cast his eyes over it and look at areas where he thinks it might be improved. In my case I need a second pair of eyes to pick up stuff that I might have missed. I personally would not do a second viewing unless I was thinking of placing an offer - I really dont want to waste peoples time.

It’s catch 22 but EAs have always advised us that it’s best to list your own house first even if there’s nothing you want to buy currently on the market. Because when that perfect property hits the market you need to be at least on the market yourself and hopefully with a buyer lined up so you can swoop in and secure it.

If 30k represents 10% of the value of the property or less then I say go for it.

Last summer does indeed seem a long way away now! Crazy if they haven’t reduced the price since then. The concern is maybe they are not committed sellers.

Sounds very positive though.

Second viewings are normally where someone is thinking about making an offer but wants to view again to try to think with their head as well as their heart. So they may bring a friend or relative with them for a second opinion or may want to take a bit more time really considering the room sizes etc and how they could make the house work for them. They may have questions to ask you (if present)or the EA.

Please can we join?

we are first time buyers looking in surrey. There’s absolutely nothing in the areas we are looking and for the spec we want (4 bedrooms)- we are a family of 6. I’m beginning to panic a bit because our current rental contract is over in May (asking to extend to finish summer term).

things seem to fly off in a day or sit for months.

It's normally an opportunity for a viewer to look more closely at the bones of the house - the boiler, electrics, any cracks / issues with brickwork, state of the windows. Also, the practicalities of living there - distance to station, amenities, nightlife, schools etc. These are all things that can be overlooked during the excitement of a first viewing when people can get drawn in by the decor or a certain room they really like and then forget to properly assess the rest of the house. If you are conducting the viewing, having info to hand on when the boiler was installed, windows replaced etc. can be really useful. I conducted the second viewing with our buyers and it gave me an opportunity to really sell the benefits of living there, in a way that EAs don't as they don't know the house intimately or the neighbours.

Also, second viewings are often used as an opportunity to bring a relative or friend for a second opinion. That other person is less likely to be emotionally invested in the property so might not overlook things that the buyer will.

Really useful info. So one of our three second viewings the woman buying is bringing her daughter as she lives with her daughter. The other one the couple is returning again. Not sure about the other one. We won't be asking to do it ourselves and the EA will do them. We've given them a cheat sheet of info about such things as boilers, windows, flooring, heating, neighbours, transportation, shops, neighbourhood, schools and generally life and living around here. They were very good with reflecting quite a bit of this info in their Rightmove write up and brochure which we can't fault them with as we got 7 viewings in the first 5 days on the market. Fingers firmly crossed for us and everyone else!

Good Luck 🤞

And if they ask the EAs any questions they chat answer they can always get back to them after checking with you.

Oh god! The flat above the flat with no cupboards in my village has also gone on the market today - and it's so much better! Still 2 beds, still quite small, but has more storage, space to install a bath instead of the shower, and a wee wood stove which is on my wish list. Also some attic space and an outbuilding for the camping stuff. It's within budget but things often go for quite a bit more here. I feel simultaneously excited and already depressed about it going to someone with more money than me, or a cash buyer, or someone who's already got a buyer. At least we had our photos done today - it's a lovely sunny day and my cute country cottage looks amazing, if I do say so myself. Survey for Home Report tomorrow. On market next week. Hoping that the stars align on this one somehow.

Our offer has just been accepted!!!!! So the chain is now complete and its full steam ahead!!