Advice on selling - 2 others on road also on market

dizziblonde

We didn't go on price - there were three houses on the market on the street we bought on. Didn't even go on the state of the decor - one of the others had wonderful wooden floors and had been nicely done up, the one we bought had been empty for 2 years and was pretty much white emulsioned throughout. Wasn't even the neighbour as a factor - the houses were on either side of the same bloke!

It was the slight differences in layout (the other one has a downstairs bathroom and consequently a smaller kitchen) that really swung ours - not kerb appeal or anything like that - the one we went for had just more potential with a bigger (very grotty 1980s beige) kitchen and a nicer garden.

We also had the vendor eager to get the house sold - the other vendors pretty much had a "take it or leave it" attitude (one since withdrew the house from the market).

dippy

dizziblonde wrote: »

We also had the vendor eager to get the house sold - the other vendors pretty much had a "take it or leave it" attitude (one since withdrew the house from the market).

Did one seller accept a lower offer when the other didn't? Is that what really swung it for you?

dizziblonde

dippy wrote: »

Did one seller accept a lower offer when the other didn't? Is that what really swung it for you?

No - they were just helpful, didn't take the "we're doing you a favour" type attitude and didn't play mindgames - even sent us a Christmas card when we'd moved in!

brit1234

Price at £160k and spend time on the garden, make it look better than the others.

Pennylane

DannyboyMidlands wrote: »

Flowers?! Come on people, we're talking about spending the best part of 200 grand. It ain't gonna come down to who has the nicest flowers. Dropping yours to £162,500 is much more likely to do the trick.

Look, if you've got 3 very similar properties in the same road and all at similar prices then you have to do something to make yours say "Buy ME".

We're only talking about a few quid on improving the entrace area so it's worth a try. When I view a house I pick up "vibes" (and I know a lot of other people who do too). I've been into houses which look just what I want and as soon as I set foot in there, I want out again!

A friend of mine had a large 5 bed bungalow in nearly an acre of garden but I wouldn't have lived there for anything. It was dark inside, barely got the sun in any rooms and felt cold all year round.

Obviously there are much more expensive ways of making yours stand out - like fitting luxury carpets, expensive kitchens etc but if the OP is having to reduce the price this might be an inexpensive solution.

The OP also has to push all the positives when showing people around. "The garden really gets the sun. The rooms are very light. The neighbours are great. Parking is not a problem." Even the house number or name might sound luckier than the other 2!!

megzmam

there are 3 houses up for sale on my road, ours, one bang opposite and one further round, one is overpriced, one is up for offers in excess of blah blah blah and ours is cheaper than the others. all houses are the same all end terrace all in very good condition outside and internally (i've viewed other houses on rightmove lol). . . . ours is the house thats sold.
outside "kerb appeal" may help and not cost much to do but i'd also agree with a few other people who have replied and if you can reduce your price a little.

lellow_lorry

If someone wants that area the prices are very little between ....reducing price is an option or ....which i'm sure you will have done.. check out the other two on right move ...whats better in theirs? can you improve better? for little cost.....front kerb appeal? can you improve it? declutter? the tips often mention do work. Note... A savvy buyer will view all 3 and a very savvy buyer could play all 3 of you off to get the best deal(beware) for 1 house. But the best looking will draw someones attention over the other two.

andidb

Thanks so much for all the suggestions and advice! In answer to a couple of the questions, we are a town in the South West. Ours is a 3 bed house and could be a 1st or 2nd time buyers purchase. We put it on the market 2 weeks ago and have only had 1 viewer so far - the estate agent says that's due to the bank holidays and people being away as it was in the paper the day before Good Friday, and then again the day before the Royal Wedding.

We bought for £167,000 in 2006 and were hoping for £165,000. I know a few people have suggested reducing the price to £162,500 - do you think it would make sense to reduce to £167,500 or £165,000 first? Megzmam - how much cheaper were you?

As I say we've only had one buyer after 2 weeks on the market. How long would you guys leave it before changing agent? We have to give 2 weeks notice - but to be honest I'm not sure that other agents could do much better. We could save on the commission and go with one of cheaper sites where they take the photos and get you on Rightmove etc for approx £500, but this is a pretty provincial area so I'm not sure people would want to phone an 0845 number or how they would take to the unconventional approach.

Thanks again to everyone for the contributions and very valuable debate!!!

celyn90

Is it just conicidence that so many houses are up for sale in the same area at once or is there a reason you are all moving?

When we have been looking, it hasn't mattered about the state of the decor. It's unlikely that I would want to keep it regardless of how well it was done.

With rightmove, I just use it to find out the agent then contact them directly - there is no way I would phone the 0845 number when all the agent details are easily available. cel x

andidb

Yes it is just coincidence - others are moving out of the area, we are moving to get a bigger house. It's just bad timing I guess.

It's difficult bringing the price down as we bought it for £167 and have spent a fortune on it, together with alot of blood sweat and tears! We were hoping for £165-£167 so if we bring asking price down to £167,500, £165,000 or even £162,500 we obviously have no chance of getting what we had hoped for.