Urgent help please - house going on the market

littlewren

I recently decided to put my house on the market again, 2 years after trying to sell it before resulted in the long chain falling apart just a week away from exchange of contracts. It was such a stressful time.

The estate agent came out 3 days ago, I signed the contract and agreed to go with them (they were the ones dealing with the sale last time).

Over the past couple of days I have felt like a nervous wreck and in floods of tears. I have other things to deal with, I have M.E., other medical conditions and I'm finding the thought of going through all that stress again terrifying. Then of course there's Christmas not too far away. I actually feel like I can't cope at the moment and even writing this is making me teary. I know that it's the thought of how horrible things were last time and I am dealing with it all on my own, just like last time.

I don't want to try and cancel the contract, but I want to ask the agents not to arrange any viewings until just after Christmas. Can I do this, or am I breaking the rules of the contract if I ask them to postpone viewings?

I don't mind paying for the energy report to be done etc., I just don't want any viewings yet.

Hope someone can help tonight. I was going to phone them tomorrow, but I thought I would come on here and ask for advice first so that I know a bit more about it.

Many thanks.

Bobby_Dazzler

Im sure as its your house you can let in who you want when you want. My EA has said that we have about a week left before people switch off and concentrate on xmas rather than buying houses anyway.

Even so im looking to get as many viewings as pos as viewings = offers.

Personally id let them in but really dont get your hopes up as things are really tough at the moment.

Just look forward to xmas and lots of festive fun!

Cheers

Bobby

Eric1

littlewren wrote: »

I don't want to try and cancel the contract, but I want to ask the agents not to arrange any viewings until just after Christmas. Can I do this, or am I breaking the rules of the contract if I ask them to postpone viewings?

Shouldn't be a problem, it's just six weeks.
Or tell the EA you want to increase the asking price by 20%. That will guarantee no viewings

littlewren

Thanks ever so much both of you for your replies. I know that people are concentrating on Christmas, but I just feel that I can't cope with anything to do with selling the house at the moment - which, I know, seems crazy when I called them out just a few days ago - but the agent saw even then that I was nervous and I told him I was dreading going through it all again. I do want to move as my daughter will be moving in with her boyfriend next year, otherwise I wouldn't be doing it all again.

I just hope they are ok on the phone tomorrow, otherwise they will be dealing with me in floods of tears again!

Thanks again.

Jenniefour

I'm sure they'll be fine with marketing your property after Xmas - simply tell them you've had a rethink, Xmas coming up and agree a date with them when you want the property on the market. Looking after yourself is much more important than believing you must market your property now. All the agents need to do is to re-date the start of the contract, at a date to suit you.

All the best.

nell53

I understand how you feel. It is very stressful, but try to think about why you're selling it, and what you want to achieve. Whatever the reason- whether it's for good reasons or less positive ones, you've done well to take the first step by getting the agents in to start the ball rolling.

You're one step closer to getting it sold, and moving on to the next stage of your life. And yes, it's harder on your own [I am too] but that's why it helps to have a forum like this.
My friends and family are sick to death of hearing about the ups and downs of my sale/non-sale, so although I've only just started posting, I've been lurking since my first sale fell through. It has certainly helped me as a] you can find solace in all the advice and support that's on offer and b] awful as it may sound, you can see others have problems too...

hazyjo

When next year is your daughter moving out? Is it that you can't afford it, or that you want to move nearer to her, or that your house will be too big for just you? (Or is there another reason I've not thought of?!) Do you have to move, I mean... or is it a reluctant move?

It is stressful and you don't want to end up with someone pushy saying they want to be in before Christmas. You'd have to stand your ground and be upfront with the agents now that that ain't gonna happen! You also don't want the EA to find you a buyer and then for you to have to pull out - that might result in fees.

I do understand too. Took over a year to sell my hubby's old flat, plus we were selling my house which we lost a buyer on and had to start again as resulted in us losing the house we wanted - they'd lost the house they wanted before we lost our buyer - it's been an absolute nightmare from start to finish, and we're not even finished yet!

I'm off sick at the mo and I'm sure it's stress that's brought it on! Moved offices last week too so it's been even more of a nightmare (I wasn't there for the move as too ill).

But... I know there's light at the end of the tunnel (and am hoping it's not an oncoming train ). Whatever's meant to be will be, and we've now found ourselves a nicer house in a different area to where we previously wanted.

If you're definitely moving now, would it not be nice to get it all started now and state firmly that you won't be completing before Christmas on any deal. I think I'd rather try getting the ball rolling than starting a brand new year with something major that needs starting from scratch. It'll be hanging over you throughout Christmas. I find it's best to start something. That's what I stress over - the doing is fine, it's the starting that gets me.

The market's terrible at the mo. Offers are quite rare, so it might not actually result in anything anyway. If you start now and find a buyer, the average sale will take about 12 weeks with nobody in a huge rush on board - that takes you to February. Probably end of, as there won't be much happening over Christmas/New Year.

Think about it. Don't make any rash decisions, and don't let anyone (EAs, etc) make any decisions for you. You CAN do this. There are people here who can listen and/or advise, and I'm sure your family and friends will be there for you.

Jx

littlewren

First of all, I have to say what a great place to come to when you have something on your mind. I usually browse through these parts of the forum (usually mainly going to the shopping parts to try and find bargains!) and until now, haven't had a reason to post here, but now I know I can come somewhere and share my experiences and worries and there will be someone to listen to me. So thankyou all, for your replies and advice, it's so much appreciated and you're lovely people.

After a night tossing and turning and worrying, I phoned the agents this morning and expected to receive resistance from them, terms of contract mentioned, the fact that they needed to start marketing the property now and send the details out etc. Instead, the man I spoke to started by telling me he was going to ring me today to arrange to come out and take the photos and when I said that I didn't want the house marketed until just after Christmas because I am so stressed out with other things, he was as kind as anything, saying that they are there to work for me and will go along with whatever I want, and that delaying things until that time is fine. He was so nice to speak to that I ended up crying again - third time in 2 days. I know that, as you say, there's not a lot he could do, but he could have made me feel a bit awkward, so I appreciated that.

Hazyjo, my daughter is planning to move in with her boyfriend around May time next year and this house will be too big for just me, plus we have had some problems over the years with kids getting up to all sorts as we have a right of way down the side of the house, and I know I will be more nervous if I live here alone. I understand what you say about getting the ball rolling now, but I really feel that I can't and that I've done the right thing - for me - in delaying it just a few weeks. I have other things to sort too, I have strained my neck quite badly and have been referred for Physio, which starts next week, my car's MOT & tax runs out next week, but it won't start as I haven't been able to drive because of my neck and even though I was starting it up every few days, the battery's dead, so I've got to see if the garage will pick it up for me, as well as do some repairs - and I'm worried about the cost - my Step-Mum has been very ill, I've got to sort out things with the opticians, who have not made my glasses properly and they're not local (it's been going on for months), it goes on.....and although these seem trivial things when you think about what some people are having to cope with in life, it's how it affects you as a person and I'm not good at handling too many things at once. Probably my M.E. doesn't help.

Thankyou Jennie and Nell too for your messages and good luck Nell, with your house move.

xxx