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

Sphynx

I have nowhere to go to vent and all I can think about is house selling and more to the point, what can go wrong! We recently accepted an offer on out property and the surveyor came out last week. He said the roof is nearing the end of it's natural life (standard phrase apparently) and that there is a small area of damp by the front door which apparently we don't have to worry about. But I am of course worried that my buyer is going to come back and try and get some more money knocked off which to be honest we just can't do as we have sold at rock bottom. Added to this we have been frantically house hunting as our EA said they would expect us to have found somewhere in about two weeks. So we have found somewhere waaaay over our budget but hopefully they will accept the offer we intend to put in tomorrow...and if they do I will be exstatic but then it can all fall through soooooo easily. AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH the same thoughts keep going through my head all the time!!!!

azkaban420

Sphynx, you have my sympathies, even before I'm over the first hurdle of getting an offer on my house, I dread to think what could go wrong..will :S

Good luck with your house selling/buying, hopefully it'll all be plainish sailing


Az

Karmacat

Best of luck Sphynx! I was stressing *completely* for the past month or so, but in the last week I've calmed down to how I was before when I bought/sold - convinced that what happens is for the best. Its me that needs to put the legwork in, no doubt about that, and I can be a bit slow on it sometimes, but stressing just gives me adrenaline poisoining, which is Not Nice. Take it easy.

SusieT

I may put my rented out (tennant moves on at the end of the month) house on the market as it would appear that prices have gone up a bit in the area its in. This means that it should make enough to cover the mortgage, estate agent and I have a bit in hand to take a lower offer or to pay off my card(s).
If people here saw a house on rightmove that was empty would you prefer to see uncluttered photos before furniture was taken out so that you had an idea of what it could look like lived in, or empty rooms that to me always look a bit bland?

azkaban420

SusieT wrote: »

I may put my rented out (tennant moves on at the end of the month) house on the market as it would appear that prices have gone up a bit in the area its in. This means that it should make enough to cover the mortgage, estate agent and I have a bit in hand to take a lower offer or to pay off my card(s).
If people here saw a house on rightmove that was empty would you prefer to see uncluttered photos before furniture was taken out so that you had an idea of what it could look like lived in, or empty rooms that to me always look a bit bland?

Hi Susie, personally I see pros and cons in both - an empty house, although bland feels like a blank canvas, and in pics/on viewings, rooms look massive (as obviously no stuff in them). With stuff in them, defo uncluttered would be better, but you're right, a 'lived-in' feel has its own appeal too - having said that, with stuff in it, it doesn't always convince me so much that it's 'empty' and ready to move into...if that makes sense? Lol!
Az

SusieT

azkaban420 wrote: »

Hi Susie, personally I see pros and cons in both - an empty house, although bland feels like a blank canvas, and in pics/on viewings, rooms look massive (as obviously no stuff in them). With stuff in them, defo uncluttered would be better, but you're right, a 'lived-in' feel has its own appeal too - having said that, with stuff in it, it doesn't always convince me so much that it's 'empty' and ready to move into...if that makes sense? Lol!
Az

Thanks, sadly it makes total sense, hence me not being sure what to do! Perhaps I will have the Kitchen and living room furnished but the bedrooms and bathroom empty as that will show both how it could look but also that its not lived in

twisty

SusieT - personally I would always like to see photos with at least the main bits of furniture in place.

I want to be able to quickly scan through rightmove and see a picture of a room with a sofa, then one with a bed etc. Particularly as we are looking at 2-bed places, it's not always immediately obvious which photo is of the 2nd bedroom if they are empty.

Also, I find that furniture helps give a room scale (e.g. if the photo shows there is still a good few feet of space above a wardrobe then I know that that room has very high ceilings ). Sometimes when the pics are taken empty, it is difficult to imagine the size, even though you have the measurements. It's more of a visualisation thing.

One thing I would say is, if you do decide to photograph when empty, you must:

1. Make sure that there is a photograph for every room
2. Supply a floorplan

When either of these things are missing it really puts me off (particularly when photos are missing). (Although not to the point that I wouldn't view the property).

Anyway, I'm waffling - just my thoughts anyway.

For me, some semi-exciting news - we have our first second viewing this week. Viewer number 10 really loved the flat and wants to come back and have a look in the loft. Plus we have view number 11 lined up for Wednesday. Strange that we had such a slow start and now, 2 months in, everything is picking up.

Trying not to get too excited, but I did allow myself a little smile

WheelieWood

Karmacat wrote: »

congratulations on the new baby!

Thanks

Makes it kinda hard to declutter though, which I'm sure didn't help with Friday's viewing...

Feedback was that the viewers felt the reception rooms were too small - The receptions are 12'8x11' & 12'4x10'1 - which is a good size for 3 bed semis in the area (where the receptions haven't been knocked through to make one large room)

I sometimes think we're getting viewers early in their search before they really know what their money will buy them. The viewer who did put a (low) offer on had initially said the house was too small but later came back for a 2nd viewing.

not_loaded

WheelieWood wrote: »

…I sometimes think we're getting viewers early in their search before they really know what their money will buy them. The viewer who did put a (low) offer on had initially said the house was too small but later came back for a 2nd viewing.

Yes, we’ve had a lot of viewers who want absolutely everything for absolutely nothing.

It seems that they’re still at the stage where they’re looking for their ideal, rather than what they can afford.

Perhaps I should hire a live-in butler and housemaid for them…

elona

Thought I had done so well finding somewhere to rent so our house sale could complete by 21st May. Deeds are with lawyer and buyer has sold and keen to complete by this date.

Just as I heave a sigh of relief (after two years)- a house comes up for sale nearby that two of our neighbours really want so will be putting in offers for it and putting their houses up for sale :eek:

The EA valuing on one of the houses implied he knew someone who would likely be interested in their house - (It is our buyer he is talking about):mad:

No contracts signed yet on our house so not a happy bunny!

Both neighbours are aware we had to drop £50,000 in price but have been convinced by EAs that they could sell for £90,000 at least higher than us.

I genuinely wish them luck with that one.

Going to have a bite to eat and a good cry.