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Original poster

Sellers won’t reduce price despite two years on the market

84 replies

EpsomSalted · 14/09/2025 19:32

My dream home is in the market. It was put up for sale for £800k at the start of 2024, it’s now on for £750k but the reduction was a year ago.

The price is due to the location which is stunning. But the location comes with pitfalls as its on a private estate which is renouned for being badly managed and is being neglected so badly. Therefore the Trustees of the estate are the sellers and they are not acknowledging that it’s the fact they own the surrounding estate that means the house won’t sell. Its freehold but with covenants.

the house itself is in a state of disrepair and needs a complete overhaul but again they won’t acknowledge the rising cost of building works in their price.

we offered £625k and they said no. It was more than fair for what the house is. I know I have to give up on it but it’s empty and unloved and falling into further disrepair each month which breaks my heart. I just want to check whether anyone has any ideas for securing the sale beyond raising our offer which we can’t do if we are to have money to save the house. We are cash buyers not in a chain so as attractive as can be from that point of view.

OP posts:

Shutupkeith · 14/09/2025 19:36

What else can you do? They won’t accept what you're offering and despite what you think it’s worth they obviously don’t agree. You won’t increase your offer so just try and forget about it.

MathiasBroucek · 14/09/2025 19:37

It's their problem...

Springadorable · 14/09/2025 19:39

You don't want to pay what they want, and they don't want to accept your offer. That's how it goes.

DiscoBob · 14/09/2025 19:40

Well of course we don't have a way to make them suddenly accept 100k plus less than they want.

I'd just stop dwelling on it. There's a slim chance that if it doesn't shift in another few years they might reduce, but who knows? There's no point investing any more thought into it.

Shellyash · 14/09/2025 19:40

Imagine that this house wasn't on the market, you'd be looking elsewhere.
Either drop it completely or increase your offer. But don't stop looking elsewhere, don't set your heart on it.

Littletreefrog · 14/09/2025 19:42

Well you can't make them so best to let them know your best offer and tell them to get in touch if they change their mind. Then move on.

Viviennemary · 14/09/2025 19:46

You will need to up your offer. Or wait until they reduce it again. But either option doesn't make a sale likely.

DandyPinkSwan · 14/09/2025 19:48

It sounds like they aren’t serious sellers. If you have your heart set on it and can’t increase your offer, you could re-offer in a couple months time, reiterating the fact your cash buyer etc. Their circumstances may have changed.

FancyCatSlave · 14/09/2025 20:05

They don’t have to sell it and clearly are in no rush. Houses like that don’t have a value in the same way as more ordinary homes. I live in a village that is largely estate owned (rest private but almost everything was originally part of the estate). We own an ex estate thatched cottage in a conservation area that is tiny and double the price of a normal house down the road, it has a value that is not linked to the open market.

You can’t afford it. It’s upsetting but that’s life.

Original poster

EpsomSalted · 14/09/2025 20:06

I know you are right. I can’t do anything. I want to shout and point out how the house is just losing value and they are only getting further and further away from a sale which will be to the detriment of the house and the estate which needs saving through sale of the houses. But I can’t do that and they are a dysfunctional group of trustees with no personal investment in the estate or its future so I need to give up.

i grew up there so it’s hard seeing it go to ruin.

OP posts:

Overthebow · 14/09/2025 20:07

If you’re cash buyers then you’ve already done everything really, they’re not suddenly going to drop more then £100k off their price if they aren’t in a rush to sell.

15minutesaday · 14/09/2025 20:14

"its on a private estate which is renouned for being badly managed and is being neglected so badly. Therefore the Trustees of the estate are the sellers and they are not acknowledging that it’s the fact they own the surrounding estate that means the house won’t sell. Its freehold but with covenants."

Given the setup, maybe they don't actually want to sell it but some legal loophole means it has to be "offered for sale" for a period of time before they can do whatever it is they really want to do with it and if they don't want to actually sell it then they'll keep the price high/unrealistic to guarantee nobody buys it.

Soontobe60 · 14/09/2025 20:18

EpsomSalted · 14/09/2025 20:06

i grew up there so it’s hard seeing it go to ruin.

If it’s such an awful place to live why do you want to buy a house there?

Original poster

EpsomSalted · 14/09/2025 20:30

It has sentimental value to me and is in a stunning location.

OP posts:

deirdrerasheed · 14/09/2025 20:33

Then offer more money.

Whomitmayconcern · 14/09/2025 20:35

EpsomSalted · 14/09/2025 20:30

It has sentimental value to me and is in a stunning location.

They are doing you a favour- sounds like a potential millstone tbh

80smonster · 14/09/2025 20:41

EpsomSalted · 14/09/2025 20:30

It has sentimental value to me and is in a stunning location.

Pony up the extra cash or move on, those are your choices.

LizzieSiddal · 14/09/2025 20:47

Have you asked them what they would accept, to see if you’re nearly there or way off?

GoodOldTrayBake · 14/09/2025 21:02

Strange post. There’s a house you like that you can’t afford. Welcome to the rest of the world!

lrjh · 14/09/2025 21:17

Hmmm, Scotland here so very different.

So how about play it different. Contact the trustees, ask for a meeting to discuss why you want the house, what the benefits would be, why you believe your offer is fair and worth considering. Rather than just a blank figure.

perhaps if it is in the middle of the estate, they are worried about who buys it.

lrjh · 14/09/2025 21:21

And I’m talking power point, know your stuff, show the collapse, show the figures, what you would do, why, where, how.

trustees (Scotland) have a duty to do what is best for the estate.

but if it is a blank low figure with no explanation of what you want to do how do they know that?

TrousersOfTime · 14/09/2025 21:26

I like the advice above re actually talking to the trustees. As PP said, if the estate is a charity (and it sounds like it is) then, if it's in England (I don't know the law elsewhere) the trustees have a legal duty to manage assets in line with the charity's objectives (which you can find on the charity commission website).

DoYouReally · 14/09/2025 21:27

Your offering £125k less than they are asking so can't really be surprised.

You've two choices, move on, or wait it out hoping to get it for less in time which is highly unlikely.

KimHwn · 14/09/2025 21:29

Ah, this is hard OP. But maybe the fact that it's got sentimental value to you is making you a bit blind to what it would actually be like, living there, with all its issues. This happens to me a lot with houses! The reality is very different to the sentimental version in our heads...

SunnySideDeepDown · 14/09/2025 21:30

But there’s a huge gap between £625 and £750.

If you love it, offer more. If it’s not worth it, fine, find something else you love for £625.

No one’s going to sell a house that was originally valued at £800k for £625k.

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