To those selling in these difficult times Part Deux. AKA sellers support network!

I,_Geek

Update:

It wasn't the structural surveyor the other day - don't know why we were told it was. I was kind of selling the flat as he walked around ("secure off-street parking..."), even though I know they're looking at it with detachment. Should hear in the next few days what the valuation was. A valuation is also being arranged this week on the house we're buying.

It seems like the people we're buying off are doing everything when they should - it's the solicitors who are dragging their feet. It's for our solicitor to start pestering now...

xtra_time

goldbyron wrote: »

I just wanted to ask whether it is normal in parts of the UK to pay upfront marketing as I saw someone said a resounding no to this. I live on the outskirts of London and all the EA's here just collect commission on sale. However my partner's late mothers estate (another selling nightmare!) is on with EA's in N.Yorkshire and they executors instructed an agent with upfront fees. All the EA's in the area seem to charge marketing fees upfront which amazed me! Is this common in some areas and should vendors negotiate as it seems it could act as a de-motivator for the EA's who collect these fees as opposed to others who work all out as commission is the only fee.

I wouldnt pay upfront costs. They get the money when they do the job - if they turn out to be rubbish you would then have to pay some other agent again.

jeggburt

I can feel a stressful few days coming on...

OH received a call from a different EA about a place we might wish to look at. OH told them we were having problem selling (even though I've said to OH there is little we can do if our type of property isn't being looked at) and they asked her to contact me to contact them.

Since it's now the sixth or seventh time this same EA has done this, I contacted both branches of the firm we've been using to look at places to ask them to stop asking OH to pass over this information to me because I feel they are putting false hope into her mind that the flat will sell quickly, using the stamp duty reduction as a ploy to make her ask me to rush a sale through. :mad:

Needless to say, I've not told her I've contacted the branches yet... :rolleyes:

I think the frustrating thing in all this is that OH doesn't realise properties don't sell as quickly as it does buying a car and thinks it should be done and dusted by Christmas. I hoped it would, but alas, it's not meant to be just now.

skintlass

yay - surveyor booked in for this week \o/

jeggburt

Congrats, hope it goes well

skintlass

jeggburt wrote: »

I can feel a stressful few days coming on...

OH received a call from a different EA about a place we might wish to look at. OH told them we were having problem selling (even though I've said to OH there is little we can do if our type of property isn't being looked at) and they asked her to contact me to contact them.

Since it's now the sixth or seventh time this same EA has done this, I contacted both branches of the firm we've been using to look at places to ask them to stop asking OH to pass over this information to me because I feel they are putting false hope into her mind that the flat will sell quickly, using the stamp duty reduction as a ploy to make her ask me to rush a sale through. :mad:

Needless to say, I've not told her I've contacted the branches yet... :rolleyes:

I think the frustrating thing in all this is that OH doesn't realise properties don't sell as quickly as it does buying a car and thinks it should be done and dusted by Christmas. I hoped it would, but alas, it's not meant to be just now.

You never know - my house went on the market this time and got 2 offers in a week and a half - I did put it on at 15k less than the estate agent said was the top price mind.

kitty123

Our estate agent has re photographed our house for better pictures as I requested this, but says we should not be advertised again this week in the local property paper. We went in it for the first time last week when we went back on the market. EA thinks it will look too desperate??!! We are going to query this, as if we have no interest by the end of next week he suggests we drop our price. If we are not in the property paper this week we may miss out on some interest. They only have one page and we think they want to advertise their new properties first!

asajoseph

An update from me...

Had a couple of second viewings in yesterday - one who'd seen the property on Saturday, and booked in to come around again almost immediately. She pretty much put an offer in on the spot, and whilst it was way too low, she upped it significantly until it was just £2k below my 'minimum'.

I haven't accepted it yet, but I've spoken to the vendors of a flat that we really like to see if they're willing to take an offer on theirs that we can afford. If I can make it work with the number we've been offered, then I'm happy to go with it (unless the other second viewing come in with something even higher!), so I'll tentatively accept and take it off the market. I've been told by the agent for the flat that we like that by Saturday, the vendors of the flat we want should know if they can take our offer.

So should we accept the offer, but advise the purchaser not to commit to any significant expenses before saturday?

elona

No reply from EA about our viewers nearly a week ago but was not expecting anything- vibes from them were all wrong somehow.After over two years I expect nothing anymore several offers.

How is this for irony- we are modernising a relative's bungalow - new windows, doors, kitchen, bathroom etc. and had thought about renting it as no point trying to sell it.

One of the window people said to builder doing work there that he would be interested in it. So fingers crossed.

Emmzi

blimey - solicitor says we may exchange today - and complete when I am on my holidays!!!
lots of organising to do... its all going a bit too quick now! (can't beleive I said that..)