Best way to add value when selling a house

Davesnave

GDB2222 said:

Davesnave said:

Molly_girl138 said:

Hello!
I'm currently attempting to sell my property due to divorce,  of which my ex partner is still living in.  Unfortunately he hasn't particularly maintained the property over the past 18 months since I left and now we're struggling to get anyone interested in it.  Any suggestions of what I can do to improve its value,  based on the fact I'm at his mercy to do any improvements? 

Maintenance isn't particularly an issue over 18 months on a property properly maintained in the first place, so I'd guess you mean that your ex isn't keeping it clean and tidy, reducing its immediate appeal. They may well be doing this deliberately, in which case reasoning with them will probably have little effect. The most effective way to get the place tidy would be to move in again and handle the viewings yourself, but you may be as disinclined to do that as your ex is to cooperate.

In the circumstances, improving value from your perspective might be well-nigh impossible. To get the house sold, you need to improve the value to the purchaser by lowering the price. If you cannot agree on that then legal due process must occur and the only beneficiary in that situation will be the lawyers. That's probably your best argument.

As a buyer, I would not be very interested where there is a divorce in progress, and this seems like a similar situation.

At some stage the OP may have to resort to the courts.

I must declare some experience here, as we last bought from a divorcing couple, However, the ex wasn't in the best position to be awkward, being only 1/4 of the way through his 4 year sentence at the time!

My post suggested that there may well be only two effective options here: moving back, or going legal.

Natbag

I sympathise, as I was in a similar situation myself a few months ago. My ex husband didn't want to sell the property that we co-own and he still lives in (why would he, he was living comfortably in a huge house for next to nothing while I rented a tiny flat at a much greater expense), and faffed about for 3 months either refusing to sell or talking about buying me out, which we both knew he couldn't. I was close to filing in court (I'd already had my mediator sign the papers after his total lack of response). When it finally went on the market it was untidy and cluttered, and sadly overpriced compared to similar properties nearby, and going in to try tidy/clean wasn't an option. A price reduction (which I had to talk him into) sparked a bit of interest in the new year thankfully and we accepted an offer (just slightly lower than we'd originally hoped for but workable), so it is now under offer and progressing to sale. Luckily our buyers saw past the clutter and appreciated it for the size and layout. The funny thing is that now he is complaining about having to pay stamp duty - if only someone had have pre-warned him that might happen if he delayed eh!
Anyway, what I wanted to say is hang on in there. It will be a long journey, but hopefully worth it in the end. Just keep pushing forwards.

moneysavinghero

Best way to add value is to drop the price.

Molly_girl138

Thanks guys,  the property belongs to both myself and my husband,  I've asked him numerous times to touch up paint and get new carpets where they haven't been maintained by him.  He's not the quickest person to get anything done and this is dragging out our settlement.  Due to our wages,  we're taking a 60/40 split in my favour so my liability is higher.  We've already dropped the price by 10k, and the property is larger than others in rightmove.co.uk/properties/85892002#/

Natbag

That's not bad at all, similar to mine. I wouldn't worry. Most viewers will see past belongings and little things that need doing, as likely they'll want to decorate to their own taste anyway. If it's reasonably tidy and clean, which it looks on the photos, that should be enough. Plus it's a good size and spacious rooms. Is he doing the viewings, or is an EA?

Skiddaw1

Looks OK to me too, certainly in the EA pics. Note it is leasehold- wonder if that's putting off prospective buyers?

moneysavinghero

Presentation looks ok to me, nothing that would put me off if i liked the house and price was reasonable.

davidmcn

Skiddaw1 said:

Note it is leasehold- wonder if that's putting off prospective buyers?

With 913 years to go and a peppercorn rent? I suppose the more poorly-informed buyers might be deterred, but it's virtually freehold.

ElizabethRose

The images seem fine and does the price, yes a little updating but nothing massive. I notice it's with purple bricks so is your ex doing the viewings? Is he putting people off when they're viewing so they don't put in an offer?

Davesnave

Skiddaw1 said:

Looks OK to me too, certainly in the EA pics. Note it is leasehold- wonder if that's putting off prospective buyers?

In what way would a 900+ year lease at a never collected peppercorn rent put people off?