Selling an Empty House

SeasideSally

trailingspouse wrote: »

Personally, I prefer to see a house empty - it's sometimes hard to see past a) the wall totally covered in elephant pictures or b) the bath full of dirty clothes or c) the room you can't go into because her teenage daughter is asleep and can't be disturbed (at 2 in the afternoon)... Yup, all true.

It's a long time ago now, but I do remember encountering a teenage son who growled at us for wanting to view his room when we were looking around to buy.

I'd prefer an empty house too, because you can see all the nooks and crannies. When we bought this house, there was furniture everywhere - in front of the black mould, over the stains on the carpet - and all the cupboards were full of clothes, to hide the water damage.

badger09

SeasideSally wrote: »

I hadn't thought about paying someone. That's definitely something to consider. Aside from anything else, it would put our minds at rest when we're a couple of hours away.

Dressing the house lightly isn't really an option. We'll be taking everything with us. Mind you, that might be a good thing, considering our eclectic, ornaments on every surface, Tudor oak method of decoration.

Do you have a neighbour you could trust with a key?

I'm currently selling my sister's house (sadly she died in March) and the insurers insist it is inspected every week by 'a responsible adult'.

Her neighbour has been amazing, not only doing this for me, but also opening all the windows prior to viewings when the weather was really hot. Perhaps yours could put some background heating on?

In the winter, the insurance company has further rules about turning off various services, but I'm hoping it will be sold before I need to worry about that.

Having someone in to tidy the garden is also a good idea, and shouldn't be too expensive going into autumn.

Good luck

SeasideSally

badger09 wrote: »

Do you have a neighbour you could trust with a key?

Unfortunately not. I wish we did. And we live miles away from everyone we know.

Her neighbour has been amazing, not only doing this for me, but also opening all the windows prior to viewings when the weather was really hot. Perhaps yours could put some background heating on?

Oh, I wish. What a lovely neighbour to have. One like that would be a godsend.

SeasideSally

Ok, I am in need of some more wisdom.

Tthe house has been on the market for a couple of weeks and there have been about ten viewings. Two commented on the lack of central heating. My husband has been going back to the house and putting a heater on just before viewings when we've been given enough notice to do that.

We've told the agents that we will accept offers that incorporate the cost of having central heating installed (and we've given him a huge amount of wiggle room). He's already told us that the market is very slow at the moment where we are, and we've told him that we're not in a hurry.

Viewers have given various responses: they need a bit more room (they want a three bed and ours is a two), they need an extra toilet, they're worried about the stairs due to their advancing years, etc. One viewer said they were very interested; their only concern was the central heating. They were told that we'd be accommodating with the price, and that made no difference. My view is that they weren't all that serious to begin with; the heating thing is a red herring.

It's only been two weeks, we've had a fair number of viewings (and have more booked), and we're in no great hurry to sell. But the agent appears to be becoming fixated on the central heating thing (to the point where he's suggesting we put it in).

Our money is tied up in the property, so paying for a heating system isn't currently an option. Also, as I said, it's only been two weeks, and only two people have even commented on it (one in passing).

What are your thoughts? Am I right to think that a serious buyer will take the place as it is (considering our willingness to accept offers that accommodate the cost of having central heating put in)?

As we really don't know much about selling houses, all wisdom is gratefully received.

lincroft1710

The excuses given by non-purchasing viewers have been pathetic. If the house was what someone really wanted, they'd buy it and have heating installed

SmashedAvacado

Its a buyer's market
People don't have vision and don't want disruption
If having heating installed will get your house sold, then get it installed.
Or sell in summer and hope no-one notices.

AdrianC

SeasideSally wrote: »

Viewers have given various responses: they need a bit more room (they want a three bed and ours is a two), they need an extra toilet, they're worried about the stairs due to their advancing years, etc.

They're just guff. They knew those things from the details before the viewing.

One viewer said they were very interested; their only concern was the central heating. They were told that we'd be accommodating with the price, and that made no difference. My view is that they weren't all that serious to begin with; the heating thing is a red herring.

Perhaps, perhaps not.

CH is a very unusual omission in 2018. Not everybody wants the hassle and disruption of installing it after they move in, while they would be very ill-advised to do it beforehand - and they may well guesstimate a much higher price for installing than they think you're likely to move on.

But the agent appears to be becoming fixated on the central heating thing (to the point where he's suggesting we put it in).

This may not be a bad plan...

Also, as I said, it's only been two weeks, and only two people have even commented on it (one in passing).

While several others have given you waffle that's clearly untrue.

xylophone

Have you obtained an estimate of the cost of installing CH?

SeasideSally

AdrianC wrote: »

CH is a very unusual omission in 2018. Not everybody wants the hassle and disruption of installing it after they move in, while they would be very ill-advised to do it beforehand - and they may well guesstimate a much higher price for installing than they think you're likely to move on.

It's not necessarily all that unusual. We have a flat only half an hour away, and central heating isn't the norm at all there. Here, I think it's a mix of gas, storage and wood.

We're not in a position to be able to install CH at the moment. Everything is tied up in the property itself.

Oh, and the property details make it clear that there is no CH, so nobody turns up expecting it to exist.

We've given the agent so much room to move on the price. I think a buyer could install CH three times over.

SeasideSally

xylophone wrote: »

Have you obtained an estimate of the cost of installing CH?

We have. But we're a bit perplexed by the choice of boilers. We've only ever had one (which came highly recommended), and I still hate the sight of the thing to this day, despite the fact that I haven't even set eyes on it for two years.

Do you think it's worth leaving a written quotation at the house so that viewers can have a look at it?

What about storage heaters? Is it worth putting a price together for those too?