How to avoid time wasters?

Hagazussa

Hi all

Our house has been on the market for only 10 days, but of course had my first experience with time wasters already.
Now I would like to ask for some hints and tips on how to keep this inconvenience to a minimum.

The houses in our area are usually going for 130k - 140k, ours is up for 120k, because it could do with a new kitchen. We appreciate that and therefore priced it realistically (I think).

Now one couple came round twice, just to offer 105 (!)k in the end, do they think I am daft, or what?
Another woman was just interested in what is available on the market, because she is considering putting hers up for sale. - PARDON???-

I have got 2 kids and work f/t and surely have got other worries and hobbies than to permanently clean and polish the house, just to find out folks are wasting my time.

Not happy at all. :mad:

I would appreciate your tips and experiences.

Kind regards

Hagazussa

newcook

I told my EA not to even think about calling me if the offer was less than asking price!

Gillibobs

Hagazussa wrote: »

The houses in our area are usually going for 130k - 140k, ours is up for 120k, because it could do with a new kitchen. We appreciate that and therefore priced it realistically (I think).

Now one couple came round twice, just to offer 105 (!)k in the end, do they think I am daft, or what?

What are you expecting? for someone to come in and offer the full asking price straight off? I assume you are aware of the state of the market at the moment (and if you're not you probably want to continue reading through posts on this forum) Unfortunately for sellers it is a buyers market at the moment, so people will be offering less than the asking price. Did the couple who offered £105k state that is their final offer? Most buyers tend to put in a starting offer as a negotiating point so they may have been willing to go a bit higher than this.

lostinrates

Well, I admit I have looked at a couple of houses I have not been 100% serious about. Because I think they might work for us. A good compromise house at at competitive price would sway me. I would be making a similar offer on that sort of price as your viewer offered, even if I thought it was worth the £120,000. Why? Because I've watched too many tv property programmes, you are MEANT to offer less aren't you?! Then the press are banding these figures about over pricing etc, I think all buyers are going to be making cheeky offers unless its sealed bids aren' they?

BTW, I'm totally not even bothering with things going to sealed bids. I don't know why as a buyer they put me off, but I really would rather not. I understand why they work for vendors, but this potential buyer wouldn't offer anything in that circumstance.

Can you agent do the viewings? Saves you time, and also the agent can truthfully tell pople there is a lot of interest

brummybloke

unfortunately at the moment the hype over house price correction means some think people will sell for 20% less than they already put it on for.

you may find you get a few more people like this, contact your estate agents and instruct them to vet any viewers rather than letting any old person view your house.

mikthe20

So, the two first posts are from people not willing to consider offers or negotiate?

I think you two are wasting your EA's time and money.

Hagazussa

Well, then I will simply stay put. No, we are not expecting someone to come in and offer full asking price straight away, but 15k less is cheaky, considering we have priced it realistically.
We are in the fortunate position that we are not desperate to sell.
And I will not accept silly offers like that.
We live in the North East and in our area the prices have not dropped, in fact they did slightly rise.

But thanks for your thoughts so far. )

neas

My friend bought a house for 112.5k originally marketed at 135k. Thats a 16% drop from the original asking price. Was knocked down 5-10k from the original asking price over 6 months though.

And thats NOW :P.... what sort of orgasasmic reductions can I get from desperate sellers... ojhhhh i can just imagine the delight of making them squeal .

Hagazussa

mikthe20 wrote: »

So, the two first posts are from people not willing to consider offers or negotiate?

I think you two are wasting your EA's time and money.

Willing to negotiate: yes, but but not starting from 12.5% less. Not in this area.

Plus, my EA will get paid for services we receive, if he wants his money, he'll need to earn it (without wasting MY time).

newcook

dolcevita wrote: »

then you won't be selling your house anytime soon.

I exchange contracts next week but thanks for the positive vibe! mine is slightly different though - is a part rent part buy and its very rarely that people will offer below asking price as they are already at a more than reasonable figure.

lostinrates

As a potential purchaser I cannot know, nor really should I need to know YOUR personal circumtances, just whther I want to open negotiation for the property you are selling. An offer is something to work with surely? Your agent can simply go back and say they are looking for sking price offers....