Bad luck?

ReadingTim

With 2 chains collapsing, it strikes me that your agents haven't been doing a very good job at either trying to stop them falling apart, or haven't done very good research into them in the first place - they need to vet the buyers' chain below you and work with the agents of each vendor to prevent it all falling apart, or if it does, salvage as many links as possible. Sounds like this lot have merely been a postbox for offers. The lot I bought from had a 'sales progression' department, and I was passed from the shiny suited sales monkey with the gift of the gab to someone a little duller but better organised who ground out the admin, and kept everything moving along.

Better luck with the new lot - hope they're more proactive. The only other suggestion is to drop the price - if your vendors feel like they're getting a good deal, they (and hopefully) their agents should work harder to make sure it doesn't fall apart for them, putting further pressure on those lower down the chain not to drop out.

Crashy_Time

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39051461

Rosieandjim

If you provide a link to your property people can give advice about what they may find off putting. If you have your house advertised on line anyway with Rightmove etc millions can see it anyway

Okrib

It will be price. It's always price. People will use different reasons to justify why they won't buy, but 99 times out of 100 it comes down to price.

Given the feedback you have had, apparently there's nothing putting them off, so therefore it must be the price.

You've had two buyers pull out, which again indicates they weren't convinced about buying the house. This again goes back to price.

If you were looking to buy, and liked a property but thought it a bit expensive, you'd not criticise the house would you? You'd be polite, but not offer as you thought it was overpriced.

Wewanttosell

Okrib wrote: »

It will be price. It's always price. People will use different reasons to justify why they won't buy, but 99 times out of 100 it comes down to price.

Given the feedback you have had, apparently there's nothing putting them off, so therefore it must be the price.

You've had two buyers pull out, which again indicates they weren't convinced about buying the house. This again goes back to price.

If you were looking to buy, and liked a property but thought it a bit expensive, you'd not criticise the house would you? You'd be polite, but not offer as you thought it was overpriced.

Just to clarify the buyers had to pull out of buying ours as their buyer pulled out, not because they didn't want to buy.

I would actually be honest and say if I felt it was overpriced or there was something I didn't like and don't see why others wouldn't, it's not like they are telling me to my face they can just tell the estate agent so it's indirect.

I'll have a think about price.

Thanks for replying

Wewanttosell

ReadingTim wrote: »

With 2 chains collapsing, it strikes me that your agents haven't been doing a very good job at either trying to stop them falling apart, or haven't done very good research into them in the first place - they need to vet the buyers' chain below you and work with the agents of each vendor to prevent it all falling apart, or if it does, salvage as many links as possible. Sounds like this lot have merely been a postbox for offers. The lot I bought from had a 'sales progression' department, and I was passed from the shiny suited sales monkey with the gift of the gab to someone a little duller but better organised who ground out the admin, and kept everything moving along.

Better luck with the new lot - hope they're more proactive. The only other suggestion is to drop the price - if your vendors feel like they're getting a good deal, they (and hopefully) their agents should work harder to make sure it doesn't fall apart for them, putting further pressure on those lower down the chain not to drop out.

I agree, I totally think the first agents were not committed enough. They are a big company and have a lot of houses on their books, this time we have gone smaller and hope for a better service. Thanks for your reply

Crashy_Time

Rosieandjim wrote: »

If you provide a link to your property people can give advice about what they may find off putting. If you have your house advertised on line anyway with Rightmove etc millions can see it anyway

True, but they can`t connect you to comments on an internet forum?

Cakeguts

Wewanttosell wrote: »

I agree, I totally think the first agents were not committed enough. They are a big company and have a lot of houses on their books, this time we have gone smaller and hope for a better service. Thanks for your reply

There is only so much that agents can do. They can't force people to view a house. They also can't only choose viewers who are likely to offer. If the house is on internet sites like Rightmove then if someone is looking for a house in the price range that your house is in they can find it there and book a viewing.

Davesnave

If you are unsold after 8 months, then it's clear you're not offering something that's a bargain.

There's nothing wrong with that, because many sellers want a good price for their house, but such a stance comes with a longer, uncertain wait.

As you are getting viewers, there's nothing way out of kilter, but equally your house isn't coming across as something that knocks the socks off the competition once people see it in the flesh.

I see this all the time around me. Houses come to the market with plausible pricing, sit there for 9 months and then start having small amounts trimmed from the price. It's normal.

Equally, in the same area, which isn't a bad one, some houses sell in under 6 weeks. This is usually because of a unique selling point or a very competitive price.

Luck, good and bad, may come into house sales, but that's hardly news. Most people get their share of both, starting with the agent they choose, unless very great care is taken with the selection.

When a house first comes to market is a crucial time, as you've discovered, but no one on MSE can be certain that having a different agent would have changed matters for you.

Crashy_Time

Would an agent that only deals in sales help, because if they also do rental they have an income stream from this, until perhaps many of the present fees are banned, and may not be that motivated to go the extra mile to sell a house that isn`t selling itself?