House selling
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Discussion

S2N

Original Poster:

6,314 posts

286 months

Friday 28th March 2003
quotequote all
I know people keep banging on about this recently but I need help!

My house has been on the market for the last 3 1/2 weeks and no-one came to view it...I think this was due to an impending war...

My house was on the market for £132,500 with one agent...I then put it on with two more agents, one of which dropped the price to £130,000. Now im having viewings, but! not from the agency who dropped the price.

Now, the other agents have seen my house up for £130,000 they are telling their customers that this is a new price.....now I know that is what has to happen but my question is.....Can i put the price back up? I have not had an offer yet...
Ta!

dontlift

9,396 posts

289 months

Friday 28th March 2003
quotequote all
Prior to accepting an offer you can do what the hell you like......

And to be honest until contracts are signed not alot changes, although the estate agents may get a little shty about it.

incorrigible

13,668 posts

292 months

Friday 28th March 2003
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I'm sure I won't get "controversial opinion of the month" for saying, estate agents are just below second hand car salesmen on the evolutionary scale, in fact, IMHO they come just above car theives

Bottom line is, as Dontlift says, it's your house you can do what you want

I've just sold my house (cash not in the bank yet) but had 3 or 4 people a week coming to see it for 2 months. Bloke up the road has his for sale (a bit like mine but no garage, slightly bigger kitchen) for £20k more and has only had one viewing in a month. I reckon if you need the cash, drop the price

Don't forget, if you need to borrow another £5k on your next house, it's going to cost you lesss than £5 a week extra

Tony Hall

23,665 posts

313 months

Friday 28th March 2003
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Had my 4 bed det with triple garage up for sale at the top end of the supposed market value for 8 weeks now. 2 viewings 2 weeks ago. Thats all. Other houses in my area the same unfortunately. The only good news is that I cannot see anywhere else that I like in my price range. Everything up for sale has a problem i.e. lovely bungalow in great village, 3 feet from the boundary of the steel works. Great bungalow with loads of land and views over the Tyne Valley - except there is a huge Water Authority treatment plant in the way of the view. Sun glinting of the Alli roof panels, tanks & masts during the day, lit up like close encounters at night. Might just stop where we are...

bengie

166 posts

294 months

Friday 28th March 2003
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I've had similar experiences... Put my house on the market back in Novemeber (I think it was). Was with the original agent for 16 weeks.

Had 5 viewings. Ok, that was over Christmas etc, so it was a bad time of year.

Went with new agents, kept the price the same as it had always been, and had an offer last Friday (which we've accepted), just 2 weeks after it went on with these new'ens. :fingers crossed: that it all works out!

s2ooz

3,005 posts

315 months

Friday 28th March 2003
quotequote all
agreed. estate agents are lazy people, they arent doing you any favours, just doing there job.

My biggest shocker when selling (and buying) is the MAJORITY of people will buy a house thats clean and tidy, rather than big with potential. Make a concerted effort to make the house look homely. spend the 2.5k you consider dropping the price by on fancy furnishings. thats a LOT of nice stuff!! eg new carpet, fancy gas fire, new cookers, new doors for kitchen cupboards. vases with FRESH flowers.
then put the price up!

take down all personality (photos, PC, paperwork etc), paint the walls magnolia, mow the lawn.

I have SEEN people BUY smaller houses for MORE money, because of stuff like trendy kitchen gear and swish leather sofas.
and the FUNNY part? you take ALL OF IT with you when you move out anyway....

I have even seen people LOAN furniture for a month.

If you get 30 mins, check out a few episodes of House doctor on UK style. or read this..
readme

also spray the house with vanilla air freshner, it apparently makes people happy, therefor like your house

CarZee

13,382 posts

298 months

Friday 28th March 2003
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My house has been on the market for the last 3 1/2 weeks and no-one came to view it...I think this was due to an impending war...
Could be. I didn't know you lived in Basra - how are prices holidng up out there?

shadowninja

80,161 posts

313 months

Friday 28th March 2003
quotequote all

s2ooz said: agreed. estate agents are lazy people, they arent doing you any favours, just doing there job.

My biggest shocker when selling (and buying) is the MAJORITY of people will buy a house thats clean and tidy, rather than big with potential. Make a concerted effort to make the house look homely. spend the 2.5k you consider dropping the price by on fancy furnishings. thats a LOT of nice stuff!! eg new carpet, fancy gas fire, new cookers, new doors for kitchen cupboards. vases with FRESH flowers.
then put the price up!

take down all personality (photos, PC, paperwork etc), paint the walls magnolia, mow the lawn.

I have SEEN people BUY smaller houses for MORE money, because of stuff like trendy kitchen gear and swish leather sofas.
and the FUNNY part? you take ALL OF IT with you when you move out anyway....

I have even seen people LOAN furniture for a month.

If you get 30 mins, check out a few episodes of House doctor on UK style. or read this..
readme

also spray the house with vanilla air freshner, it apparently makes people happy, therefor like your house




yep house doctor is rather funny. it just shows you how STUPID people are.

S2N

Original Poster:

6,314 posts

286 months

Friday 28th March 2003
quotequote all

CarZee said:

My house has been on the market for the last 3 1/2 weeks and no-one came to view it...I think this was due to an impending war...
Could be. I didn't know you lived in Basra - how are prices holidng up out there?


you're a funny er!

With regards to the selling the house and de-personalizing it I already have! The fresh flowers, it was decorated 3 weeks ago throughout, new kichen cuboard doors, fluffy cushions etc etc......I just had trouble getting them through the door!

simonelite501

1,440 posts

299 months

Friday 28th March 2003
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Well Carz, you'll not be suprised to hear that although the market has be "blown up" out of all proportion, they're going like a "house on fire" (or maybe under fire) at real "knock down" prices!

MikeyT

18,498 posts

302 months

Friday 28th March 2003
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Nowadays though it seems you're not selling a house as such – you're selling a LIFESTYLE

So the big leather sofas, carefully placed object de art and trendy kitchens go down well with people buying into that.

Sod the fact it's on the eighth floor or that there's gonna be a prison built next door.

Picture their faces when they turn up to an empty house with their cheapy chairs and wonder why they don't get the same effect .