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Phine66
Posts: 2 Newbie
Hi All,
I need to sell my house, ideally in the very near future, but it is not in a great state. I would very much appreciate some advice on what would be best to do before putting it on the market.
There has been quite a bit of damage from water in the back wall, hopefully remedied by re-roofing and some repointing but still visible inside. There has also been water damage from a drain pipe outside which was not emptying properly into the street and this is visible on one of the internal walls. There has also been a party wall issue with water travelling from my garden under the wall and affecting my neighbour's wall (now resolved although I worry there may be outstanding damage next door). The house also needs decorating.
The damp proofing installed in the 90s was not covered by insured guarantee.
I am not sure where to start here, but I need to relocate soon. The house is in London zone 2/3, pretty nice area with good transport connections. Is it better just to decorate or should I sort out the damp proofing? I have limited funds and doubt my ability to borrow much. Is it ever OK to go with one of those house buying companies, if there are any that aren't total cowboys? I'm feeling pretty daunted by the whole prospect tbh and would love it if someone could give me a few pointers! With thanks in advance.
I need to sell my house, ideally in the very near future, but it is not in a great state. I would very much appreciate some advice on what would be best to do before putting it on the market.
There has been quite a bit of damage from water in the back wall, hopefully remedied by re-roofing and some repointing but still visible inside. There has also been water damage from a drain pipe outside which was not emptying properly into the street and this is visible on one of the internal walls. There has also been a party wall issue with water travelling from my garden under the wall and affecting my neighbour's wall (now resolved although I worry there may be outstanding damage next door). The house also needs decorating.
The damp proofing installed in the 90s was not covered by insured guarantee.
I am not sure where to start here, but I need to relocate soon. The house is in London zone 2/3, pretty nice area with good transport connections. Is it better just to decorate or should I sort out the damp proofing? I have limited funds and doubt my ability to borrow much. Is it ever OK to go with one of those house buying companies, if there are any that aren't total cowboys? I'm feeling pretty daunted by the whole prospect tbh and would love it if someone could give me a few pointers! With thanks in advance.
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Comments
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No its never a good idea to go with a house buying company. Why would you need to. If it were me I would repair the visible signs of the damage now rectified and stick it on the market as is, if its priced correctly then it will sell."You've been reading SOS when it's just your clock reading 5:05 "0
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Hi Sammyjammy, thanks for replying. The appeal of house buying companies is simply because I'm pretty stressed and frazzled and want out quickly. Not good I know...
I'm worried about lack of insured damp proofing - do you think that needs sorting as well as visible signs of damage? Bit concerned it could affect mortgageability.0 -
I wouldn't bother doing any remedial/cosmetic work if you really want a quick, hassle free sale.
Simply be realistic with the price and totally honest about the issues requiring attention, they'll be identified at the survey stage anyway leading to drawn out, protracted and quite possibly failed negotiations if you've tried to disguise them or overpriced it to begin with.
IF you're realistic with the price (properly realistic, reflecting both the condition of the house and your requirement for a quick sale), then you'll still get more than any ''house buying'' company will offer anyway.
And I wouldn't worry about the lack of insurance backed damp proofing from the 1990's... I doubt even the insurance backed ones would be valid after that length of time anyway!0 -
Price!! Be realistic with the price and it!!!8217;ll sell. If you go with the house buying companies, it!!!8217;ll also sell, but for a much lower price than if you sell on the open market.
If you want to sell quickly, make it a bargain for someone but sell it as it is. Tell the estate agent you want it prices to sell! If you want to make a bit more, and have the time, do the remedial work to repair where was damaged by the damp.
We recently put our house on the market, we told the estate agent that although we!!!8217;d done all the major work, it needed the finishing touches doing and we just didn!!!8217;t have time. The EA put it up at a realistic price, although still a good price for us and we had a proceedable offer in under 24 hours.
A quick simple sale is all about pricing properly.0 -
If the root cause of the problems has been sorted, but decoration not, leave COPIES of the receipts/guarantees for the work on the kitchen table, and possibly a post it note at the site of the damage. Tell the agent doing the viewings to tell prospective buyers that selling price reflects the lack of decoration, but the problem is sorted.
Shouldn't cause a problem. Wouldn't make me blink, if I liked your house.0 -
If you really want to sell it quickly, get an offer from one of the 'house buying companies' and then market your house for 20% more.
It'll sell0 -
Why not try putting it up for auction? At least that way once the hammer's gone down, you'll have the certainty of knowing that you will complete in 28 days- or you may even get sn offer prior.0
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I wouldn't bother doing any remedial/cosmetic work if you really want a quick, hassle free sale.
Simply be realistic with the price and totally honest about the issues requiring attention, they'll be identified at the survey stage anyway leading to drawn out, protracted and quite possibly failed negotiations if you've tried to disguise them or overpriced it to begin with.
IF you're realistic with the price (properly realistic, reflecting both the condition of the house and your requirement for a quick sale), then you'll still get more than any ''house buying'' company will offer anyway.
And I wouldn't worry about the lack of insurance backed damp proofing from the 1990's... I doubt even the insurance backed ones would be valid after that length of time anyway!
Exactly that. We had similar issues with my deceased maiden aunts house. There were a number of issues which might have put off buyers. We sought advice about what it was worth in its current condition, discounted any EA who talked about 'potential to make this amount of money', knocked a bit off the mutually agreed current value to make it competitive and viable to sell quickly, , and insisted on the various flaws being listed on the sales info, along with a phrase making it clear this was priced as a project, not a house for immediate occupancy, and the price reflected this.
Result: plenty of viewings, 4 offers, 1 at asking price within 3 weeks and a sale that progressed smoothly because all the nasties were already in full view, not hidden.
Honesty and competitive pricing will see it sold.0 -
It doesn't sound to me as if the house needs 'damp proofing.' it sounds as if the roof, pointing and drainpipe were causing problems, but have since been repaired. In which case the damage just wants redecorating (DIY job) and should not reappear.0
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Interview local EAs and price to sell. Don't bother with work as a purchaser will do most of it themselves."enough is a feast"...old Buddist proverb0
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