Viewings...

hazyjo

Not sure if I just need a rant, or if there's anything people want to add/suggest! Apart from 'increase your offer', or 'sit tight', I just can't see another option. Any suggestions more than welcome!

Just tried to get a third viewing on a house to take a builder with me, and they've said no!

House is up for £300k. Was previously up for £280k 2 years ago, and he bought it in 2006 for £250k. No way is it worth £300k in its current state. It's been on since September - no price drops.

Did offer £250k last week which was refused (expected that). They've told me he wants £280k, but £275k might be a possibility. I've said I would only go to early £270ks if a builder tells me the works are doable and it's not going to cost 10s of thousands. It basically needs a new kitchen, and the kitchen extending into the utility area, which has a large obscured glass floor to ceiling window at the back. It's a 3 bed house, but with a studio flat style kitchen built into one corner of a kitchen/diner, with only 3-4 full cupboards on it, one set of drawers (one's rather damaged) (and oven, hob and sink).

The house is empty. Was rented out, but the tenants were apparently awful (didn't quite trash it, but don't think they looked after it) so he booted them out is trying to sell again.

They've said there's now calls on it again and they'll get back to me in a couple of weeks! I have said I am not going to offer on it again without a third viewing - it's a house for over a quarter of a million pounds, not some top for £30 (which would prob still have me umming and ahhing). Told them I look forward to hearing from them in a couple of weeks. Grrrrr.

***

While here, will share some bizarre viewings. Viewed another house on Sat where my BF and I agreed the EA was utterly useless (had probs with him before - he'd tried selling mine once). How do the rubbish ones stay in jobs? I suppose people don't exactly complain - I'd hate to tell them he was pointless only to end up having to deal with them on something I do end up buying! Do they rely on people wanting houses rather than having any sort of personality/skills in sales? Makes me think some could be bypassed completely and swings me in favour of online agents. Really need an anonymous 'feedback' service which others can look at! Another estate agent showed us round a house a month or so again and she too was utterly devoid of personality and it all seemed like a huge inconvenience for her. My BF was saying to me how he could do a far better job. He's very chatty and likes a bit of banter with people, but these EAs are absolutely utterly useless. They barely speak, look at their watch (or moan about having to rush off to another appointment), hurry you round a house, and know nothing about it.

Mind you, the sellers aren't much better! Viewed another this weekend and, amongst other things, the vendors came out with the following statements (all from the same house):

(BF asked about the area...) "Let's just say it's 'changed' over the last few years. Actually, it seemed to go downhill when we moved in 27 years ago!"

"If we decide to move, that is. He wants to, I don't know yet..."

(talking about the original window on the landing) "I've done my best over the years to patch up the window behind it, but there's only so much you can do..."

"It's only a small house. Like a tardis in reverse - looks big from the outside, but small inside."

They also let on that the kitchen's 26 years old; that they'd replaced a gas valve on the 'ancient' boiler around 10 years ago.

She also told my BF off for leaning on her wall on the landing while we were all chatting. He managed to lean on the other one and got told off for that too! He's 45!

They pointed out dark bits under the bedroom wallpaper and said they 'appeared' after it had been papered. Told us the front door wouldn't close cos of the weather, along with the rear door. Said the downstairs loo was really 'only for emergencies'. Made it clear they were inconvenienced by viewers (they had 8 on the first day, and we took a second look on the Sunday). There were loads of other things they mentioned. All really negative! Even the council tax band is high and they were saying how they really ought to have appealed at the time. They missed out some rooms completely and we had to ask to see them (lounge, main bedroom, downstairs loo). They were in and out of a room, turning lights off behind them before we were even out of the room!

Just a bizarre couple of days really...

***

Not sure how to play the other one. Will just have to sit back and wait, I suppose - and hopefully gain the upper hand. Would have paid £275k, but am now extremely reluctant to and am thinking £272k would be my top offer (wouldn't be so stubborn as to lose it for that, but am not agreeing to that before having a builder round as it might be a fortune and I'll have to withdraw any offer anyway!). Let them sit on it (being polite here lol). Know I can't force someone to take a low offer, but I do think he's being unreasonable and it's definitely overpriced - although 'done' houses in the road can fetch over £300k.

Jx

ess0two

He's probably thinking the kitchen is serviceable,and its you who wants to extend,so why should he take a hit on price?

hazyjo

Quite possibly. If it were a flat, fair enough. But I don't think it's a serviceable kitchen for a 3 bed house. Cupboards/drawers are broken for a start, and shelving units have disappeared from when it was up for sale two years ago. The kitchen has just been 'shoved' into a corner of a room, round a bit of a bend - no window or anything, it's just like it's at the end of a lounge in a studio appt.

Besides, that's not the entire reason I'm putting in a low offer. It's more to do with the fact it was up for £280k 2 years ago (when it was fully furnished, carpeted, and in far better condition). Personally, I think he's shot himself in the foot with that one, but I guess that's the internet for you - not the seller's fault.

Jx

Better_Days

It's only a small house. Like a tardis in reverse - looks big from the outside, but small inside

I love this!! Also about the downstairs loo only being for emergencies, surely it either works or it doesn't.

With regards to your offer, unfortunately some vendors are unrealsitic, and the builder may be thinking that the market will pick up in the spring, so is holding out for a better offer.

Last year we put an offer of £245k in on a house that was up for £290k, but it had been on the market for 18 months. They refused, (I wasn't surprised) and took the house off the market in the end. It wasn't worth £290k, possibly more like £260k, but the SDLT threshold does have an impact.

Have kept an eye on this one out of interest
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-19507281.html
has been on the market since July 2011, only £5k price drop, vendor is looking to get what she paid in 2007. In reality she will be lucky to get £220k in my view. But, if like your builder she is willing to hang on....

tom9980

Get husband or someone you know to call and arrange viewing then take your builder along

Lots of deluded sellers around bought ours for £98k in 2009 identical house 3 doors up with a small extension for kitchen on the back is up for offers over £145k.

suestew

hazyjo wrote: »

While here, will share some bizarre viewings. Viewed another house on Sat where my BF and I agreed the EA was utterly useless (had probs with him before - he'd tried selling mine once). How do the rubbish ones stay in jobs? I suppose people don't exactly complain - I'd hate to tell them he was pointless only to end up having to deal with them on something I do end up buying! Do they rely on people wanting houses rather than having any sort of personality/skills in sales? Makes me think some could be bypassed completely and swings me in favour of online agents. Really need an anonymous 'feedback' service which others can look at! Another estate agent showed us round a house a month or so again and she too was utterly devoid of personality and it all seemed like a huge inconvenience for her. My BF was saying to me how he could do a far better job. He's very chatty and likes a bit of banter with people, but these EAs are absolutely utterly useless. They barely speak, look at their watch (or moan about having to rush off to another appointment), hurry you round a house, and know nothing about it.

I totally agree with you, you do get some good enthusiastic ones though. Recently we viewed a rental and the EA that showed us around was devoid of any personality, she just stood there, hardly sold the property to us. I said to my other half i could have done a much better job myself. And she worked in the sales side not lettings, she was filling in, surely that should make her a better saleslady?

You can leave reviews on EA's here, more people should use this site: http://www.allagents.co.uk

moneyistooshorttomention

Confess to thinking "Yikes - a THIRD viewing!:eek:" when one or two recent posters said they had allowed one/done one.

I decided, at that point, that I already had realised that two viewings seems to be the norm these days and that I myself want two viewings - so that's fair enough either way.

I'm not expecting anyone to even request a third viewing - but have already decided that, if they do, they will be referred back to my estate agent to see if she is prepared to do an extra viewing to the normal ones and she will have already had "the nod" that I'm not expecting such a request and don't regard it as particularly reasonable - so its entirely up to her whether she wishes to put herself out for a 3rd time for the same viewer. Ball is in her court then.

Hence - I won't actually be refusing - I'll just leave it to the estate agent as to whether she has time enough/is patient enough to accede to an unusual request like that. So I understand where the vendor is coming from on this.

EDIT: just spotted the poster who recommended hubbie pretended to be a "new viewer" to get a 3rd view in. Errrmm....that would possibly backfire if the vendor rumbles it. Personally, I'd be likely to tell estate agent that I wasnt interested in selling to that particular buyer after all - as I would be wondering what other "tricky stuff/white lies/etc" they might come up with.

hazyjo

It's not unusual to get third viewings - but the third (usually to measure up/nose round again - and usually fourth on or around exchange to make sure all's okay) does tend to be after the offer has been accepted.

I viewed it once with my BF, then with my mum - whose opinion I value.

To make an increased offer on the property, I need to know how much the works will cost. If they'd take £250k, I'd not need the third viewing.

Property-buying is enormous for most people. To only view a house for 10 mins twice is not excessive.

I would be peed off if someone kept viewing if they were unsure about something and didn't offer - but I am sure about the house (willing to make compromises), I just want a quote/an opinion on what can be done before I offer more.

Jx

hazyjo

Better_Days wrote: »

I love this!! Also about the downstairs loo only being for emergencies, surely it either works or it doesn't.

There was a door to the garden from inside the downstairs loo - and I just remembered how he said that she uses the downstairs loo with the door wide open! She'd probably have shot him if she heard lol.

Jx

phoebe1989seb

When we were selling a previous house one set of potential buyers viewed twice (once just them, second time with their grandchildren - aged about 5/6......why?). Then our EA mentioned they were thinking of viewing again and as they'd shown no sign of offering - despite the EA's frantic assurances that they fully intended to, didn't need a mortgage etc etc - we queried this asking the EA if they really were serious.

He ummed and ahhhed a bit, then admitted they were but needed to sell an inherited property first. The third viewing never did materialise and we later withdrew the house from the market.

When we put it back on two years later the same EA informed us he'd been in touch with the couple in question and they were still interested! Suffice to say we never heard another word about them and we sold within a fortnight - admittedly to a couple who did two viewings before offering then about three more between exchange and completion

Better_Days

hazyjo wrote: »

To make an increased offer on the property, I need to know how much the works will cost. If they'd take £250k, I'd not need the third viewing.

Property-buying is enormous for most people. To only view a house for 10 mins twice is not excessive.

Completely agree, and it is reasonable to cost up potential works.

I have been surprised that my buyers haven't even asked for a second viewing although we expect to exchange in the next day or so. To be fair they did spend at least 30 minutes with the EA when they looked round the property. Still after 10 weeks memory fades, I would certainly have wanted to look again before spending well over £200k.

For a serious buyer in this market I'd happily accomadate 3 viewings.