Started process, 2 houses to sell, need 1 big 1

mishmash

Well, after months of thinking about it, we have (at last) started. With far too many children between us, we are selling both our homes to buy one big one.

Got 3 EA's round to partners house yesterday, terraced house. He was given 3 valuations. The mid one seems right and the firm seemed the nicest. We are going to contact them put the house up with them. there fee is about 1.5% and they have a 28 day notice.

Any advice, what should I be asking of them? I was not there at the valuation bit and my O/H said he found it too difficult to concentrate as he was looking after the little one. I have never sold a house before.

Once his is up and I have done a bit of a clean and lick of paint with mine, I will be putting it on the market also.

I get the feeling I will return here many times! reading every other post it does not seem like an easy process and ours seems even more complicated.

Thanks all

Mish

mishmash

Well any advice? Bump:D

Doozergirl

Knock them down to 1% and reduce their initial marketing period to no more than 8 weeks with 7 or 14 days notcie, no way 28!

With the benefit of perfect hindsight, I would wait until you have exchanged contracts on one house before you put the other up for sale. I ended up moving three times last year simply because I put the second house up for sale when I accepted an offer on the first. I should have waited until the sale was secure and I would have saved myself a LOT of heartache.

mishmash

Thankyou.

Not sure if we can wait to sell his before marketing mine though. as all the kids would not fit easily in mine, we do have the odd sleep over which is chaos, but for the long term ( more than a few weeks) it would really cause a problem.

Thankyou for your advice.

Mish x

Redbedhead

Good luck!

Try and get the notice period down from 28 days as that is quite long. How long are you tied to the estate agent? Ask them what sort of marketing they will do.

Have you researched the area and sort of property you would like to buy?

mishmash

Hi

The agents said there was no tie in, just a 28 day notice period. The area we are buying in is where we live now.

In terms of reasearch, I have spent hours on here, been checking right move and looking at prices houses are selling for.

We will need to be a bit flexible about the house we buy, our ideal home would be a big old house with land and original features. Unfortunately we do not have an ideal budget.

I have done an online mortgage guide thingy and we will be going to see a mortgage advisor ( whole market) who is a family freind soon.

With 6 children we need a big house, bedrooms, dining room, ideally 2 sitting rooms, 2 bathrooms and a downstairs loo. However we are also prepared to look at properties that we could turn into an ideal home as long as the price is right.

There is one at the moment, that I like. But I know we are ages away from putting in an offer, so am trying not to put my hopes up.

I have noticed that the bigger houses do seem to be on the market for a long while, I know of many that have been up for 6 months. I think the smaller ones ( like we are selling) are going a bit quicker. I just hope it stays that way.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks for your advice, I have a meeting with the EA this P.M

Mish x

mishmash

Hi All,
Met with EA ( is it me or are all sales men slightly slimy!!), any way nice enough bloke. Said he has 20 years experience, family run firm, personal touch. Property would be in the property news fortnightly for the whole time house is on sale, they also will call their list.

He will do photo's and board on monday. He would not come down on price, or 28 day notice. I explained very clearly and politely that this move was very important to us and that I would expect him to work very hard for his money.

We then had a drive round to the house I keep telling myself I am not getting my hopes up over!! It has been up for quite a few months, as have the other large houses for sale in the little village ( there are 3) all are 4/5 bed but range from 319 to 399 all are really comparible. I just checked and the house I like up for 319 sold in2004 for 295. I hope it goes in our favour that they are not selling.

We are selling a 2 bed terrace and mine is a 3 bed terrace, i think these are moving faster.

Oh well at the minute it is all exciting, I'm sure I will be tearing my hair out soon.

Mish x

mishmash

Well the board has gone up, The house over the road has just sold ( just a bit below our asking price).

No viewings booked yet though, how long do you think it will take?

Fingers crossed

Mish

Redbedhead

Our estate agents had people in a day after I signed the paperwork, then we had 2/3 people per day for the next 4/5 days. None of them bought, it was a man that came round a week after it had gone on the market. Ours is a 2 bed terrace.

Good luck!

mishmash

Well I feel a bit gutted.

Just been on rightmove to look at the house I keep telling myself I am not getting my hopes up over, and it's gone:eek:

Oh well must not be meant to be, as we still have no viewings booked for O.H's house and mine is still not on the market I suppose it is for the best.

Mish