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

jw2003

From a future buyers perspective, I am going to view 10 houses next weekend - all of which meet our requirements; 3 beds, garage, off street parking and within budget (except 2 but they are only marginally out of our budget). I'm going to get a feel for the places, see if I can see my fridge in the kitchen and if there's enough room to extend the dining table in the lounge/diner space, if it's at the lower end of the budget, do I have realistic space to put a conservatory, is the space going to work practically for our family's needs. Some of these houses have massive gardens, some not so, some or on a development, some more remote, close to schools, much further, need modernisation, absolutely immaculate....

I add more houses to the list daily. I want to see just how far my money will go and just how we can meet our needs

Davesnave

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

It's not just a question of the truth though, sometimes we seem to inhabit different planets.

I think you have made your point, several times.

West London is a tiny fraction of the UK. It is, indeed, a 'different planet.'

If all that is prevents someone from buying a house is a couple of 'manky bathrooms,' then they haven't found the right property. IMO the house you should buy is the one where you're prepared to overlook the superficial, alterable faults.

But yes, it's fair for the price to reflect condition to some degree.

Less easy to quantify are things like aspect and potential; factors though not even on some people's radar, probably account for many places selling/not selling. Where they are fully considered, summing those factors up into a handy phrase for the EA to feed back is hard, so people plump for something easier. Done it myself.

Squish_21

How often are you guys dropping the price of your property?

Or are you just leaving it at the asking price and hoping for offers?

westlondonbuyer

Davesnave wrote: »

If all that is prevents someone from buying a house is a couple of 'manky bathrooms,' then they haven't found the right property.

I appreciate west London is different in some respects, but it's no different to a hundred other places in the fact that much of its housing stock is virtually identical.

If one house is the same as the one next door, it's the price and the condition (of bathrooms, kitchens, new extensions) that will hasten or slow the sale.

lossofbargain

ooh just seen my house on ebay... answers a question, no it doesnt sell the house.

wonder if zoopla pay for the ad?

NyimaR

Squish_21 wrote: »

How often are you guys dropping the price of your property?

Or are you just leaving it at the asking price and hoping for offers?

I dropped mine about a month after it going on to put it in line with other properties down my road (all 7 of them) that was about a month ago now and if I don't get any more viewing over the next couple of weeks I will drop the price again. I am in a rush to move though so this has a big impact on things (I live in Coventry and start a job in London on Thursday).

sonastin

Sometimes, giving useful feedback is the hardest part of the viewing process. You can view a house which, according to the details, has everything that you are looking for. But when you get inside, it just isn't what you want - you can't imagine yourself living there. In those cases, you don't want to make an offer, no matter how cheeky because it isn't the home you want. But when you are asked why you don't want to make an offer, its hard to explain in a way that is useful to the vendor. "The presentation is lovely and on paper it ticks all the boxes but I don't want to live there" doesn't help but it is the unfortunate truth.

I think its the thing that used to be referred to (before TV got hold of it) as the X factor!

NEH

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

I appreciate west London is different in some respects, but it's no different to a hundred other places in the fact that much of its housing stock is virtually identical.

If one house is the same as the one next door, it's the price and the condition (of bathrooms, kitchens, new extensions) that will hasten or slow the sale.

Being an oldie of this thread, westlondonbuyer, i have read your many points on here of which some ring true but most of the time i feel you have come on here to pass judgement on the situation...The point of this thread is to offer support, not enforce an opinion...If you would like to do that please go to the discuss houseprices etc forum...

Davesnave

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

I appreciate west London is different in some respects, but it's no different to a hundred other places in the fact that much of its housing stock is virtually identical.

If one house is the same as the one next door, it's the price and the condition (of bathrooms, kitchens, new extensions) that will hasten or slow the sale.

Agreed, but even different sides of a road can make a difference which is greater than fittings, though perhaps not extensions. In my first house we had evening sunshine in the small garden and no one overlooking. Houses on the other side had dark gardens and kitchen/diners and were overlooked, so they took much longer to sell. A cursory glance, and they were all identical, but no way would I have purchased even an up-together house on the 'wrong' side.

Obviously not everyone agreed though, as some of my neighbours across the road are still there, many years on.!

westlondonbuyer

NEH wrote: »

Being an oldie of this thread, westlondonbuyer, i have read your many points on here of which some ring true but most of the time i feel you have come on here to pass judgement on the situation...The point of this thread is to offer support, not enforce an opinion...If you would like to do that please go to the discuss houseprices etc forum...

Sorry you feel that way.

My husband and I sold our two pre-marriage flats last year in a much worse market than this one.

We were able to do it because we were prepared to respond to things we didn't want to hear. Obviously homes are a really sensitive subject which is why, when I'm actually at viewings and not on an internet message board, I keep my thoughts to myself.