First time seller!

Mrs_Arkwright

Right, we're on the way!

Our photos have been taken today, and the brochures will be up in the estate agent and they will be calling potential buyers by Wednesday, we'll be in their weekly mailout this Saturday and in our local paper next week. So potentially will have viewers by the end of this week.

How exciting!

Now this is the first time we've sold a house. When we bought this one we lived with family, and this house was empty, so we've never had to do the chain thing.

I've had a good read of the selling thread above, but what other advice can you old pros offer on the whole process? Or now that it's underway, is it just time to sit back and let the estate agent do what they're paid for?

Should we start looking for something to buy now, or wait until we have a firm offer on ours?

I'm quite stressed already!

money_savy

it is more of catch-22 situation really...we were in the similar position...i would suggest you to start looking around for houses so that if you have an offer accepted, you will be in a better position to sell your house...
Good luck...and dont get stressed...:beer:

goldbyron

I would have a look around on what is on the market - this is the least stressful part. I have found being in a chain very stressful mostly due to communication problems and people being at different stages.

You have nothing to lose at the moment. If you spot your dream house then go for it, if not you can relax as you wait for a buyer to come along and something comes up.

However I have learnt to try to accept what will be, will be. Try to be pro-active but let others do the work too! get the numbers of your buyer/seller to aid comunication.

Pinkmonkey_2

We have been in a simular position we put our flat on the market 2 weeks ago today, but we had already found somewhere and the offer had been accepted subject to us selling our flat, we accepted an offer last tuesday and the ball is starting to roll slowly!

Good luck and I know what you mean about being stressed I feel the same and its there long stressful road to go!

Bluelad_2

The fact is most people won't accept an offer for a house because until you accept an offer on yours as you are not in a position to buy. Dosn't stop you looking but don't get too attached.

Don't sit back as you may find the estate agent beneath you with their sometimes laid back attitude.

If you haven't yet a mortgage agreement in principle it will be worth you looking into now so you know exactly what you can afford to be buying.

Mrs_Arkwright

Thanks.

We have seen the mortgage guy who is getting us an agreement in principle, he's quite confident that we will be OK, although quite selfishly he's gone on a course this week so we won't hear for sure until Friday - but we know how much we will be able to afford so we have been having a little look at what's about.

The hardest part now is keeping the house tidy ready for viewers! I'm running round all day after the kids, as soon as they use something it's 'pick that up, wash that up, put that away'!

Mrs_Arkwright

Holy Cow!

Estate just phoned, brochures aren't even done yet, no sign up, but we have a viewing at tea time! I'm all nervous. He is apparently a cash buyer so he'll probably want to knock us down a bit in price won't he? He doesn't have anything to sell so it would make it a bit quicker. Estate agent is doing the viewing, so at least I won't be able to blab how much we will let it go for.

Oooo how exciting!

Mrs_Arkwright

Little update, the viewer yesterday liked the house, he has asked for a second viewing tomorrow. The agent told me he is looking between ours and one other round the corner, the other one does not have onsite parking, we do (which in this area is a massive bonus) and the garden is half the size of ours, and she feels ours is better value as the other one is more expensive than ours. So we are cautiously optimistic, but won't bank on it, that way we can't be disappointed.

We've now booked viewings for us to go and see four houses over the weekend.

Ems*Honie

good luck

pawpurrs

Wow thats not bad! Keep us updated!

cuffie

Good luck! One thing I would say - don't get disheartened if this person decides not to put in an offer. I was gutted when the first couple of people came round and they didn't like the layout of my house. I though "how dare they! I like it!" - you never know though! First time round, we had 8 viewings and 2 2nd viewings in 8 days then it sold (long story coz now its 2nd time round as buyer pulled out, but got another buyer within couple of days....long story...on another thread around here somewhere....). It is very stressful - but exciting too! I remember a tv programme once saying "make sure your house is within half an hour of a viewing" (ie, it would only take you half an hour to get your house ready for someone to see it). I found this useful - made sure the upstairs was pristine before coming downstairs in the morning and then banning it from the kids all day!! Wash up and put away straight away. My ironing stayed in the garage for 8 days. If you can - make sure kids out for the viewings. My husband used to take them for a walk around the block - by the time they came back the viewers had gone!
Have rambled enough and need to get to bed, so fingers crossed for you!! x