How not to lose home of our dreams

Bee008

ReadingTim wrote: »

It's only a negative if there's a choice and everything else is equal. However, it rarely is.

For example, where I am, the majority of houses near the town centre are Victorian terraces with a downstairs bathroom. Some have had a bedroom converted to an upstairs bathroom, some have not.

So, if you want to live near the town centre and live in a house or a flat, you're likely to have a downstairs bathroom. If you don't want to live in a flat, or have a downstairs bathroom, you're unlikely to be living near the town centre. Or if you do, you may have to sacrifice a bedroom for a bathroom. Choices, choices.

Given the OP says their ad states pretty clearly where the bathroom is, you'd hope it was unlikely that someone who was bothered about a downstairs bathroom would view it - the OP's problem is that they're getting viewings, but not offers.

AnotherJoe wrote: »

I think the house is overpriced, so if ex wife won’t tolerate selling at under £300k, then even a bridging loan wouldn’t work, as you might be stranded and unable to sell, so I think this just isn’t going to work.

FWIW and maybe I’m in the wrong demographic but are houses with only a downstair bathroom actually selling for above £300k ? Can the downstairs bathroom be converted to a bedroom or is it the classic “at the back of the kitchen” job ?

There's a whole run of these houses that were originally designed with bathrooms downstairs.

Neighbouring houses have sold for £340,000-£360,000. The area is considered to be quite affluent, and you can walk to the station that links directly to London. So it's a good road for city workers who want to commute into London in 45 minutes.

In our area, it's VERY hard to find a 3 bedroomed property around this price. Dropping the price any lower, than we already have, would feel like daylight robbery. But I guess it'll have to be done! Perhaps we will just have to pay the ex wife the difference

JoJo1978

Do you know for sure that the vendors mean to withdraw the house from the market and stay there (i.e. not move), or will they just re-market it?

If it's the latter then until the point where they get another acceptable offer and those prospects are more proceedable than you are they wouldn't be wise to reject your tabled offer.

Price will be the lever you can pull.

Coincidentally we've just sold with a GF bathroom - wasn't cited in any of the feedback as a negative which surprised us. Granted, it's on very few people's ideal wishlists either.

Bee008

JoJo1978 wrote: »

Do you know for sure that the vendors mean to withdraw the house from the market and stay there (i.e. not move), or will they just re-market it?

If it's the latter then until the point where they get another acceptable offer and those prospects are more proceedable than you are they wouldn't be wise to reject your tabled offer.

Price will be the lever you can pull.

Coincidentally we've just sold with a GF bathroom - wasn't cited in any of the feedback as a negative which surprised us. Granted, it's on very few people's ideal wishlists either.

They will re-market it. But I think it will sell quickly.
We had our offer accepted on the 5th day it was on the market, it had already had ten views and a few offers that were 'too low'. Apparently.
It's a really unique property with views out to the sea, 4 min walk from a train station with direct link to London. The list goes on.

I feel like people will fall in love with it. That's why we are so worried.

JoJo1978

Ok, I see. Worrying about something that hasn't happened yet will just burn through your energy though (I kept getting told off by DH for that during our sale and purchase!) Easier said than done right?

Good luck

KiKi

If you REALLY love this new house, then price the old one to sell ASAP, and pay the ex-wife the difference. There's no reason she should lose out because you want your dream home. In the whole scheme of things, just think of it as paying £20k more towards your dream home.

glasgowdan

Bee008 wrote: »

He doesn't live in the house (so it can be sold as no chain)

No chain perhaps, on a technicality, but certainly comes with a genuine ball and chain that needs to be moved first! Where is the ex wife going to live? If she is a joint owner, and she lives there, then surely it is in a chain? (unless she's going on to rent?).

Cakeguts

Did the neighbouring houses actually sell for this amount or was this the asking prices? You have to look at actual sold prices and the houses have to be very very similar. So one with a brand new very expensive kitchen might well sell for more than one with a 10 year old kitchen that is very scruffy and worn on the edges.

People don't like downstairs bathrooms so have a look at what else is on the market at the same price but with a first floor bathroom. If there are houses that are just as nice without a downstairs bathroom people will want to buy those first.