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

NEH

Badgeraudio congratulations on the offer!

Harz99 feel free, as i said it must be a slow day for some people...:D

Rosered so sorry on the run of the bad luck, fingers crossed they get in touch soon....

westlondonbuyer

In an ideal world, I want to buy by Christmas. I am a very motivated buyer with my finances ready to go. I'm happy to pay a good price, but I can't afford to pay beyond the 2007 ceiling price in the area where I'm looking, and I'm only prepared to pay the peak price if the house is really special. Here's a list of things stopping me from buying; it may be helpful to some of you:

* Houses priced substantially over 2007 peak prices for no clear reason (eg extensions or unusual property or exceptional presentation). Most of the time, I won't even view these, as the AP suggests the vendor is in no hurry to sell. (I've since learnt from this forum that in fact many of these vendors *are *in a hurry to sell, but have been misled by their agents about appropriate pricing).

*!!!!wit estate agents. Why, oh WHY do people put an asset equal to 10 years' worth of their annual salary in the hands of a teenage pillock? I want to deal with a professional. Insist your property is marketed by an agent who's actually successfully sold something before, not the office junior!

* An agent who, as soon as I've walked through the door, tells me there's another offer on it. Straight away I wonder if I'm being hoodwinked, feel pressurised, and start looking for reasons *not* to like your house. If there's really another offer on the house, at least wait until I've actually expressed some interest first.

*Poorly installed, very obviously cheap new kitchens and bathrooms in houses where the AP is 200 times the cost of the suite. The vendor refuses to accept they will need replacing because "they're brand new". Yes, but they're also totally unsuited to a property in this price bracket.

*'Improvements' that are nothing of the sort, but which vendors won't accept have actually devalued their property, such as uPVC double glazing in period properties; or original fireplaces, doors and mouldings ripped out and replaced with modern ones.

You may think it's just a matter of taste, but you're going to have to appeal to conventional tastes if you really want to sell. If you don't want to do the work, don't be aggrieved if offers are much lower than you expected: restoration costs a fortune.

*Dirty kitchens and bathrooms. I find this quite incredible. Would you sell your car without washing it first? Whenever I see a really manky bathroom, I can hardly bear to look at it. Immediately I start wondering if I'm going to have to replace it.

* Animals and kids. I love both, but I'm not buying yours. I'm making the most expensive decision of my life and don't want to be distracted by your attention-seeking dog, thanks.

* A vendor who continually interrupts the EA all the way through a viewing; it shows you're not businesslike and suggests you're going to be a pain later, too. If you don't trust your agent, or didn't properly brief him, it doesn't bode well for discussions between us later.

* Vendors who sit grumpily in a corner and glower at you whilst the EA shows me round. If you want XXXk of my money and the next 25 years of my life, try not to look at me like sh*t on your shoe, however sad you are to be leaving your house.

* Tenants in situ. Rent, or sell. Don't expect me to risk thousands on a survey and legal costs just because you're incapable of making up your mind.

* Properties in need of work, where the cost of modernisation is priced-in only as the cost of doing the work. If I can just pay the extra and get a house that requires *no* work, why would I put myself through months of building works (losing income and sleepless nights in the process) just so I can buy yours? You have to price in "balls-ache" now there is so much more choice on the market.

*Vendors who "aren't interested in negotiating" and won't make any kind of counter-offer. They usually have a beautifully presented house and loads of equity, so they know they're in a good position. Except the house is overpriced for today's market conditions (2007+15%).The house will sit on the market for ages, buyers will look at it on the internet for ages, and neither of us will be moving house any time soon. This is the situation I'm currently dealing with:rotfl:

jaffacat_2

Well been on here reading the threads for nearly a year now when we put our house on the market. We sold but it fell through after reducing the price by £40 over time and were accepting a low offer however went back on to sell again 4 weeks ago, again low offer. I have to say there were less viewings from around March/April this year and that wasnt to do with price, location,state of house there simply werent hte people around. Our EA has been great and fairly honest as far as we can see, he is one of the main, national agents and he has said there are fewer buyers around and those that are out there can simply pick what they want as so many houses on the market. There are a few houses that seem to sell quick, if they have something "extra".

Anyway we accepted a low offer, found a house but the buyers were on the market for 5months 4 viewings no offers but wouldnt budge less than £10k even though it needed lots of work doing (they were also splitting up and in the EA terms "desperate to sell") but stood there ground knowing we were proceedable in a short chain with expected quick turnaround. Anyway it was the house for us and after lots of bartering we decided to pay that bit extra as we wanted it so are currently in the process of buying/selling.

All I say for those that have been on the market for a long time, keep going it WILL happen. We got fed up with the viewings,tidying the house etc but did start quizzing the EA and told them not to send people who dont know it has a bathroom downstairs, havent been sent the details, small garden etc and dont send investors (made ridiculous low offers and wasted everyones time). When they rang I would ask about the viewers position and if they were sold would accomodate last min viewings if not would say it wasnt convienant and would arraange it for the next day etc....We felt we got wise and were in control a little. Also anyone who has not sold we still showed aroudn as you never know..................it worked for us so keep going it will work for you

NEH

Well if you wanted proof that drop your price and buyers will fall into your lap, the cheaper one of us two with the same Solicitor hasn't had anymore interest, quelle surprise...and they're probably going to rent too....

Deary, deary me, the bordom of buyers is really getting to some people, to coin a phrase instead of getting a room, get a blog if you love your theory and voice so much.....;):D

myhouse_2

NEH wrote: »

Well if you wanted proof that drop your price and buyers will fall into your lap, the cheaper one of us two with the same Solicitor hasn't had anymore interest, quelle surprise...and they're probably going to rent too....

Well I suppose if a Mars bar is on sale for £2 no one buys it. But no one buys it for £1.50 either.

westlondonbuyer

I don't know about Jaffacat or Brit, but I don't have a blog. Nor do I have multiple identities, which was a previous false accusation of yours.

Still, I'm very tickled picturing you with your fingers in your ears, whilst you fail to accept that FTBs now have to raise 20% deposits when six months ago, 10% would have done the job.

NEH

Think some people are getting a tad confused with what is being posted...:D

brit1234

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

I don't know about Jaffacat or Brit, but I don't have a blog. Nor do I have multiple identities, which was a previous false accusation of yours.

Same here, no blogs, no false identities

not_loaded

The idea was for YOU to get a blog.

harz99 wrote: »

And my apologies to all the sensible people on this SUPPORT thread for deeming the post worthy of answering, but he/she needs telling once at least!

Heck! They’ve been told more than once!

househunting wrote: »

hmmm...
somewhere between your ASKING PRICE…
…Much Love
Mr HouseHunting

And yet ANOTHER person registers for the sole purpose of having a go at a dozen or so sellers on MSE.

I’d give it a rest guys. You have your own special area on MSE and you won’t use it because you find it’s like banging your head against the wall. Well guess what? For sellers it’s the same. It’s all been explained again and again and again to you, but you keep on as if all of a sudden someone on here will give their house to you for silly money.

There is a certain logic in the ‘you drop and then I’ll drop’ scenario, but unfortunately there’s a group of people who will NEVER drop, and that’s the bankers with the mortgage papers in their hands. Our mortgage amounts won’t be down-valued in that drop scenario, hence the impasse in the UK market.

Oh, I know, why not find a bankers’ forum and go on there and have a good moan at them? It would give us on the sellers support thread a bit of peace.

casperlarue

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

* Animals and kids. I love both, but I'm not buying yours. I'm making the most expensive decision of my life and don't want to be distracted by your attention-seeking dog, thanks.

This made me laugh...exactly what happened to us when we were house viewing. The EA showed us round and there was a little terrier dog who, complete with squeaky toy, followed us all round the house.....squeaking at every opportunity!

So we arranged another viewing, with the request that the vendor be there or the dog out. Vendor happily showed us round and introduced us to Wallace the dog. He had his anti-bark device on.....a small puffer on his collar, everytime he barked he got a whiff of lemon scent up his nose! He was much better behaved with his mistress around and we got to see the house properly.