We want to sell our house FAST but

[helenelisabeth]

we have recently done a very high standard refurbishment to it (it's a 5 bedroom Victorian Semi with beautiful back garden (south facing) in a very good area in the North West. We have finished it with the best fittings we could afford - Kohlet bathrooms, Amtico, German kitchen with Miele appliances etc.

The house is 99.9% finished inside (and out) but the drive and the patio have not been finished. Would this put prospective purchasers off or would they just think that they will do it themselves? My DH thinks we should wait until we can afford to finish it off 100% then put it on the market but I am being realistic in that we are struggling to pay the bills and we should put it on the market straightaway.

So I am asking you - would you be put off buying a beautifully refurbished house if you had to finish the outside? Should we put it on the market unfinished?

In the current market people will use it as a bargaining tool but thats nit a bad thing and it wouldn't put me off I would like to be able to do something myself.If you are struggling i would sell.It isn;t going to go up in value atm only down so sell sooner

It wouldn't put me off, though I would make a reduced offer. A lot of people have no imagination though. You know the ones, you see them on Location, Location Location who turn down perfect houses because they don't like the wallpaper....

Don't chuck any more money at it and be willing to discount if you need a fast sale. I doubt you'll get your money back on the additional spend in this market. Everyone's tightening their belts.

Problem is people seem to value their own houses much higher than they are worth. I am tempted by the sound of your house though!

I'll buy it. I aint bothered by the drive etc. Can do it meself!

Oh, but your up north. Damn! .

Personally it would not bother me, as it does not effect the inside, and cant see it costing a fortune to do ourselves. But again, would use it as a bargaining tool Not that it makes a difference, as giving this market people will try to knock you down for having the wrong front door colour!

I suspect if you're trying to sell it at the top end of the range it would put that kind of purchaser off. However if they like it all that will happen is they will reduce the price. As others have said everyone will reduce the price now anyway.
Things seem to be dropping quite quickly and the market is being talked down so I guess if you need to sell might be an idea to get on with it.
I suspect you should sit down and do some sums and work out exactly how much you can reduce price by/how much you need and take it from there

Depends what you mean by not finished too. One man's not finished is another man's 'that will do'.

Sounds like you have very high standards - how bad are the drive and patio really? Building site or just old and in need of replacement?

Thanks for all your views, appreciate them. It is being valued tomorrow so will see what they Agent says. We really really don't want to sell it, am going to be devastated. We put 12 months of blood sweat and tears into it.

Niecie - the path is just old tarmac with holes in it where we have had to dig to fit drains etc. The patio had an outbuilding on it which we knocked down so it ain't pretty!

If your house is in a desirable area I wouldn't worry too much, my partner sold his detached house just outside London with a mangy porch but beautiful inside and they didn't haggle, but in this recent times somebody will have a go at bargaining anyway. I feel for you because I know those brands and they are beautiful products and I hope the buyers will see that, some people won't be able to tell the difference with high street stuff. I am sorry you have to sell your dream home and I hope things go well for you. Can you put it on the market and finish the work while it's going through the process? It takes time to sell and if the buyers know you will finish they might pay the full asking price, you never know.

goldenpeach, I agree with you regard the products, a lot of people wouldn't appreciate them.

Had it valued today, was around £30,000 less than we hoped for so for now, we are staying put. We will lose if we sold it for the agent's lowest valuation.

Sorry to hear that Helenelizabeth.

On the other hand it sounds like you have a wonderful house that you love.

if you are skint, you could always take in a lodger. Tax-free up to a certain amount and you've probably got at least one spare bedroom.

Edam - that lodger may well come in the real life form of my parents! Can't imagine taking in a stranger though - DH would rather rob a bank I think!

I have to say that the amount it costs for a decent stone patio, it would certainly put me off if it were not done before purchase!
Driveways are also expensive.

That said, many developers round here do up the houses, turf the garden, and lay gravel where a patio would be- far, far cheaper, but still looks nice when people are viewing- they probably don't even notice.

EachPeach - I agree, it is a large drive aswell - we have decided to gravel it if we sell - doubt we will now though - the market is dire.

it depends if someone is up for a challenge, but if the rest of the huose is done then its likely they just want to move in and not do a thing.

hope you get it sorted and sell asap!