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

PottyHouse_2

Mumof4 wrote: »

WOOOHOOOOO we have our first viewing booked for Thursday :j

Sorry to be so excitable but from putting our house on the market last August and not getting a single viewing (took if off in January, went back on last Saturday with a different EA) we were beginning to think we would never sell!

The viewer is a FTB, so fingers crossed he turns up and likes our house.

A quick question for those that have dogs, do you take them out when someone comes to look at your house?

For a non-dog owner I would say "yes" !!!! Nothing against dogs before anyone complains !!

We have two children under 6 and we take "them out"!!! Same reason!!!

PottyHouse_2

Grimbal wrote: »

Hi guys - can I join in please ? My house went on the market end of last year, and we've still not managed to find that elusive buyer We're in a townhouse which are notoriously difficult to shift, but I'm surprised that we've not had more than the 2 viewing in the last couple of months ! is anyone else struggling to get viewings at the moment? I think we're marketing at a fair price, so I'm just wondering whether I should look at changing agencies?
Liz
x

Welcome Grimbal, hope you find this thread useful and supportive !!

Not sure whereabouts in the country you are - houses by me (Midlands) are getting "snapped up" ! Great for us.

PottyHouse_2

Grimbal wrote: »

thanks for the welcome NL :beer: My place is RH12 5LD, on at 360k. I'm not sure that the photos do it justice at all - any suggestions welcome!

I'd also like to gauge opinion on whether anyone thinks that, in the age of rightmove & primelocation, a lack of viewings reflects on the individual EAs, or that if your property is advertised, interested parties will always find it? I keep getting calls from other agencies suggesting that I switch allegiancies, but Im not entirely convinced: any views?

Liz
x

The EA we had valuation from originally contacted us after our initial 12 weeks to see if we wanted to change Agency - I negotiated a better fee and they have actually been fantastic, very professional.

It was down to luck that we sold with them within 2 weeks (previous viewing from previous EA) but have to say even with offers falling through 3 times now in the last 3 months they are still fantastic and we have now sold through them again - problems are nothing to do with the EA but the dreaded CHAIN !!!!

You'll never know if a different EA will gain more viewings so you have to take a chance I guess - good luck !

PottyHouse_2

:T

Hopejack wrote: »

Potty - you are quiet right now? Things OK?

Hi Hopejack, love this thread - try and catch up on it nearly every day! I find it VERY supportive !!

Well, we hope things are progressing - its only been 4 days since our 5th acceptance of offer ! We got the "Memorandum of Sale" yesterday, I guess our Buyers will be having their survey done in the next week or so, we will then arrange ours on the house we are buying.

Its so hard not to get excited, we have been through so much disappointment its actually laughable !!!!

There are lots of houses now in the area we want - completely different to this time last year - however, we love the house we have settled on and really can't wait for it all to happen. With just 3 properties in the chain we are hoping it can move on swiftly and I would love to go to bed tonight and for it to be "exchange" day tomorrow !!!!!

Sending on my good luck wishes to all those with viewings booked - Spring is here, bring it on !!!!!

PottyHouse_2

Hopejack wrote: »

There's been a lot more movement on here again since I was last on. Seems viewers are returning now although it's odd given that the papers etc are saying there's been a downturn in Feb on house prices.

I'm really nervous about our sale, turns out buyer needs a high LTV loan (the highest you can get!) and Colleys are valuing our place. I just know they are going to come back with a silly valuation - been doing some research and I've read that they are very conservative and tend to value very low. Was told by the EA yesterday that the first property the buyer was after was downvalued by £20k (it wasn't on sale with this EA btw) and the lender wouldn't budge on it even with comparables/recent history. So, I'm sure I'm going to be back on here in a few days saying the sale has fallen through due to valuation. There is no way we can take £20k less and to be honest I don't think the price they've agreed to is too high, slightly under asking and it's certainly comparable with what's sold recently (the houses are identical so can't quote larger xyz etc). I think the biggest issue is they are FTBs and only have a 10% deposit. Had they had a 40% deposit or even a 20% I think the story would be different. The other issue is we are not buying on straight away as there is nothing we like, so I can't even say 'oh well, I'll try and bump any reduction up the chain' as I don't know what we'll end up finding.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me. Can see us being back on the market by early next week though unless the FTBs get their hands on some more cash!

The thing is, you read on here time and time again about advice of 'well someone else will have the same problem if they need a mortgage', but like I said, do you hope that your next buyer might have higher deposit and therefore the lender isn't as fussy about the LTV/equity issue? It's so disheartening..... still, it hasn't happened yet, but watch this space!

HOPEJACK - Fingers are crossed for you !!!!

Undervaluation is something I am worried about at the back of my mind - house we were buying last year was UV by £15k !

If your's is UV do you think you could renegotiate somewhere in the middle ???? I suppose it depends on how much your Buyer really wants your home - I would definitely consider it for a home I loved (some would say why pay more than it's worth but to me it's a home and not an investment).

not_loaded

Grimbal wrote: »

thanks for the welcome NL :beer: My place is RH12 5LD, on at 360k. I'm not sure that the photos do it justice at all - any suggestions welcome!
I'd also like to gauge opinion on whether anyone thinks that, in the age of rightmove & primelocation, a lack of viewings reflects on the individual EAs, or that if your property is advertised, interested parties will always find it? I keep getting calls from other agencies suggesting that I switch allegiancies, but Im not entirely convinced: any views?
Liz x

I’m not convinced either by other agents claiming they’ll ‘sell it easily’. When they phone now I ask them to put it in writing. They never write!

Your photos are terrible. The EA should get a wide-angle lens so the room can be seen. I think for example, the kitchen would look so much better that way. Otherwise, I like the bedlinen, but you’ll be taking that with you I guess. Dismal EA photos – bottom kicking required I feel!

PottyHouse wrote: »

Hi NotLoaded,
I think you have been trying to sell for a while - not meaning to rub it in, how long has it been ?? I think you have previously said you have taken house off market etc a few times and it has fallen through.
I see you are in West Surrey, what type of home do you have? I am intrigued as to why your EA can't get you more "normal viewings" as you put it !!!!

I’ve said it before that we aren’t short of viewers, but we are short of serious buyers. I’m not willing to restrict viewers to 100% proceedable though.

The 4-bed market here is in short supply, but equally the buyers are in short supply. We’ve had two timewaster offers (people haggling but then going no further) but not taken it off the market.

Grimbal

wow, thanks for all the welcomes guys, very much appreciated ! All comments taken on board - it's been a while since I last talked to the EAs, so I'm going to call them up at the w/e and have a chat - I'll mention that I'm a bit disappointed in the lack of viewings etc. I'll also see if they can't come around and take some more shots of the inside, if they're serious about continuing to market my property, they should be trying to keep me happy I guess !

I'm not yet quite up to speed with everyone's position, so I'll just wish everyone all the best with any viewings/surveys/offers that's happening at the moment

Liz
x

not_loaded

Looking at 4-beds £300k to £400k you’re positioned quite well pricewise. However, only you know if the pricing is right. There’s one other 4-bed at £360k if you go to ½ mile radius on your postcode. Check out their photos to see a significant difference.

Your kitchen is a definite selling point and should look better online to attract viewings. Three decent size bedrooms need to be shown (not the beds) and the Dining Room, not the dining table.

Good luck!

tabskitten

ok can i have some honset opinions here please?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-15040098.html

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29025005.html

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/377554

Thank you!!

dreaming

Have today withdrawn my offer on property as the survey showed quite a few problems. Visited today with architect DB who advised it could cost quite a lot and probably need complete rewire and replumbing. Did not want to do that sort of work as have spent 10 years doing present place up. Hope I don't lose my FTB while I look for something else.
Fed up with EA (luckily not the one selling mine - she is lovely) as he has basically fobbed me off when I asked questions about property, and despite previously assuring me that the central heating system was "fine", backed down when DB pointed out defects saying "oh well, I'm not a plumber". Also when I pointed out that details say "fitted wardrobe" in bedroom, and there is none - he blamed the "admin girls". Grrr!
Oh well the search continues.