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Original poster

Selling extended house for less than purchase price: how will buyers react?

203 replies

Spotteddaisy · 15/03/2026 10:20

Grateful for any advice please re house selling.
We are not strangers to house selling as have moved 5 times in the last 15 years, (but in the same area) We have always made a small profit on the house sales to put towards the new property.

In Autumn 2023 we moved to Dorset, 10 mins from the coast.
Detached 4 bedroom house with a plot of just under an acre. In a lovely village, good schools etc nearby. Previously lived in Hampshire.

We have extended the house by rejigging the layout and adding a big dining/family room downstairs. We've made other improvements too like insulation, adding solar panels etc.
Had a couple of estate agents out last year to value it who said to market at £850k. But we have been on the market since last June with no offers at all. We have now reduced the price by £100k and changed agents at the end of last year.

We have had a few more viewings with this agent but still no offers. Which obviously means it's the price. So we asked our agent what we can do as we're aware that properties still on the market after 9 months don't look good.

He said we should drop the price to £695k. We are not sure what to think about this (my DH is fuming)as we bought the house for more than that 2.5 years ago and have spent a substantial amount on the extension and improvements. Surely anyone who has done their homework and looked up house prices etc will see that we bought it for more then added an extension so to then list it for less just makes it look really dodgy? I don't think the market has decreased so much in less than 3 years that we would have to list our (bigger, improved) house for less than we bought it for?! I know that ultimately no one will care what we've spend on it but the fact that it's now bigger than it was must count for something?

We really aren't enjoying it here and now need to move to somewhere cheaper and to be back nearer to family. This has all been a massive costly mistake and I feel so guilty. The fact that we could end up in negative equity is just stressing me out even more. We've never made a loss on a house and ploughed all of our savings into this one. We were so full of hope when we moved here, but it's all just been awful.

As a potential buyer what would people think about a house being listed at less than it sold for not even 3 years ago, even after its been extended?

OP posts:
WingingItSince1973 · 15/03/2026 12:42

The graveyard wouldn't put me off in the slightest. I would want an ensuite with the master bedroom as a 4 bed sharing one bathroom would put me off for the price. It's a fab size and the land is great. I guess someone would have to reconfigure the upstairs or convert the garage. That's just my opinion though x

tara66 · 15/03/2026 12:43

I think you should stay there and not rush to sell at a loss - for at least 2 years. Just ''feeling'' you want to move is not really a good enough reason. So unless you have bad debts, need to be nearer certain hospitals by many miles unexpectedly or can't make a living there etc - you should surely stick it out. However the property market is generally taking a hit at the moment in many places and who knows how long that will last?

dastardlydani · 15/03/2026 12:44

@Spotteddaisy wow, it’s gorgeous & so big with so much land.

As someone who could afford it (Londoner) the potential utility bills and gardening maintenance costs would put me off.

dastardlydani · 15/03/2026 12:46

However the property market is generally taking a hit at the moment in many places and who knows how long that will last?

I think this is it for some time now, the days of your property going up 200k in a few years are long gone

Funkylights · 15/03/2026 12:47

It’s a lovely house. A church etc to me means it won’t get build on. Beautiful views. Maybe market for big lovely houses is just struggling

Flinderskleepers · 15/03/2026 12:51

You're in a part of the country with no money - I live in the south too and it was on the local news about Weymouth having no money and no opportunities for people, especially younger people. With that in mind, you will need to price accordingly - the average person will not be able to afford three-quarters of a million on their house.

Editors to say I'm in a similar boat and having to sell my property at a huge loss but I'm not going to worry about it - I can't change it and worrying is a waste of life. It's only money.

CallingOnTheMegaphone · 15/03/2026 12:53

Three quarters of a million for a mish-mash house (neither fully traditional nor completely modern) surrounded by new builds?! I can see why people aren't going for it.

Ezzee · 15/03/2026 13:00

CallingOnTheMegaphone · 15/03/2026 12:53

Three quarters of a million for a mish-mash house (neither fully traditional nor completely modern) surrounded by new builds?! I can see why people aren't going for it.

Whilst it does look a nice house I agree.
We are looking in the Devon area and I wouldn't view sorry.
I'd realistically wouldn't pay over 600k for it, it's a crap commute ( for the right house I would) in a not so great location, there is also an uncertainty now with many employers about remote working. which 2/3 years ago wasn't there.

cestlavielife · 15/03/2026 13:04

Lovely house but only one bathroom. Could you put in a shower in one of the toilet rooms ? Might be easier to sell with 2 bath/shower rooms

catipuss · 15/03/2026 13:07

Spotteddaisy · 15/03/2026 12:15

Yes a couple of people have said about an en-suite. You could put one in though as we have a washroom next to a bedroom.

There are no direct views overlooking the church and/or graveyard. You have to look sideways out of 1 upstairs window to see anything and in the spring/summer when all the vegetation has grown you can barely see anything.

In fact one of the stipulations on the planning permission was that no windows are allowed to overlook the church/yard.
The house was only built in the late 1970's and wasn't a vicarage or anything.

Show quote history

Then really take out the pictures that feature the graveyard, some people would not view if they think you are dominated by the graveyard.

Chemenger · 15/03/2026 13:07

It’s a lovely house, nothing wrong with it except the lack of bathrooms. Our old house definitely had a lot of comments that one bathroom isn’t enough for a four bed house , and now that I have 2 I agree!

cestlavielife · 15/03/2026 13:08

What ars the energy and maintenance costs?
Can you put that the solar panels mean energy costs were xxx £ in 2025?
Is a big garden to take on how much is gardening services per year?
You need someone with big pockets

MotherofPufflings · 15/03/2026 13:12

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 15/03/2026 11:54

You are in the same situation as my neighbours I mentioned in my previous post. They have also had a lot of bad luck and associate it with the house.

You need to break the association, a good therapist can help you do that. Otherwise you are throwing, what, £200k away? Can you really afford to do that? It's a beautiful house and your children are happy there, there must be a way to make it work without losing so much.

I agree with this. It's a LOT of money to kiss goodbye. Plus moving costs. Ouch.

Frostynoman · 15/03/2026 13:13

For me it is a confusing property and looks to have a few very old elements but you say it’s a 70’s build. What is on the market near for similar? Have you considered marketing it for holiday lets and trying to cover the mortgage that way?

Frostynoman · 15/03/2026 13:14

Also, if you feel that there is bad luck associated with the house then have you considered an energy healer for it?

damelza · 15/03/2026 13:21

Would it be of interest to a small builder maybe? The fact that there are new builds at the back would suggest that planning might be given. Would you be prepared to apply for planning yourself and if granted, sell it with development potential? Probably too much work I get it! But it's something to ponder on just the same. I think that's what I'd do, although I know there is some outlay involved in drawing up plans and so on.

Other than that, lovely house, get pics to focus on the house and lands not the graveyard and the new builds. Best of luck, it's tough out there.

Mumofoneandone · 15/03/2026 13:25

It is lovely but could be quite niche. The large garden may put people off. Is it worth considering splitting the plot - so sell the house with some garden and then the rest of the garden as a building plot. This may help you recoup your money.
Might also be worth putting a shower in downstairs, so at least there is a second bathroom/shower room!

WallaceinAnderland · 15/03/2026 13:32

OP selling a house like yours is not the same as selling a 3 bed semi. There are fewer people who can afford it for a start. You have to realise that the more expensive the property, the longer it takes to sell.

It's not the price.

It's a matter of waiting for the right buyer to come along.

I would only reduce the price if I absolutely had to sell as soon as possible due to financial difficulties.

In the last 9 months the market has been at an almost standstill. It's only just starting to move a bit now. The bottom of the chain are the houses that need to sell first and we are seeing more of those types of houses come onto the market now.

I would either leave yours on the market without reducing the price or take it off and re-list next spring.

If you cut your losses and run, you will regret it.

Original poster
Spotteddaisy · 15/03/2026 13:42

cestlavielife · 15/03/2026 13:08

What ars the energy and maintenance costs?
Can you put that the solar panels mean energy costs were xxx £ in 2025?
Is a big garden to take on how much is gardening services per year?
You need someone with big pockets

Edited

No gardening costs. We do it ourselves with a petrol mower!

I would expect anyone buying it would be a keen gardener who would probably have a ride on mower or want to buy one.
We've found it's mostly people over mid 40's who have been viewing. Even had a few retirees who have boats/sports cars etc and like the big garage and driveway.

OP posts:
Pluto46 · 15/03/2026 13:43

WallaceinAnderland · 15/03/2026 13:32

OP selling a house like yours is not the same as selling a 3 bed semi. There are fewer people who can afford it for a start. You have to realise that the more expensive the property, the longer it takes to sell.

It's not the price.

It's a matter of waiting for the right buyer to come along.

I would only reduce the price if I absolutely had to sell as soon as possible due to financial difficulties.

In the last 9 months the market has been at an almost standstill. It's only just starting to move a bit now. The bottom of the chain are the houses that need to sell first and we are seeing more of those types of houses come onto the market now.

I would either leave yours on the market without reducing the price or take it off and re-list next spring.

If you cut your losses and run, you will regret it.

I agree with this and, for a coastal property, its only just starting to feel like Spring. Confidence is also at a low under the current Government so if you are only selling to get closer to family it would be better to wait it out and possibly rent nearer family and rent this out particularly if world events make travel abroad prohibitably expensive meaning more domestic holiday makers

LoveWine123 · 15/03/2026 13:43

OP it’s a beautiful house and the right buyer will come along, you just need to be patient. Personally I would really really try and make it work where you are now. This is a difficult age to be moving the kids yet again. If you are absolutely set on moving the first thing I would do is add another bathroom…and quickly. People searching for a house of this value and size in that area are expecting that and their search is probably set to min 3-4-5 bedrooms, min 2 bathrooms. Your house may not even show up in their searches. We recently moved to a bigger house and we were not going to move unless the new house had two bathrooms. I was so desperate for a second one. I would add the bathroom and not reduce, it’s just wrong timing to be honest. Sit it out and try and focus on the positives in your life. You sound so unhappy but I’m sure you have a lot of positives going for you and your family. You just need to change your outlook a bit.
Good luck to you, I hope it all works out.

Dearover · 15/03/2026 13:48

It's not Easter yet. You will get buyers who are interested in the spring & summer who are visiting the area and (just like you did) want to buy into the seaside lifestyle. Weymouth and Dorset attract buyers who want sunshine, not grey drizzle

Geneticsbunny · 15/03/2026 13:53

I think you have renovated over the ceiling price for a 4 bed in the area.

So the extension adds reception space but it also unbalances the house so now thwre is too much reception space for th number of bedrooms.

I dont know anything about prices in weymouth though so i cant really help but i suspect you may have to drop a bit more.

PublicHare · 15/03/2026 13:56

My thoughts:
Graveyard wouldn't put me off, very unlikely to have houses built on it.
A 4 bed house really needs more than one bathroom
Can you sell part of the garden, obviously, you'd get more with planning permission.
The amount of land could lend itself well to a private care/nursing home.
Rent the garden out to a glamping business?

Womaninhouse17 · 15/03/2026 13:58

As a potential buyer, I'd just be comparing it to other similar houses at similar prices (which is what would come up in my search on Rightmove). If I knew it had been bought at a higher price 3 years ago, I'd probably think that prices have generally fallen in that market or that you'd paid over the odds.