SeramaSilly Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I know the economical climate is terrible at the moment but due to health reasons we are wanting to move to another town. This town is much more pricey so we will only be able to afford a flat and we have seen one which is perfect. We put our house on the market in July and we have had about 5 viewings since then. We have a very pretty four bedroom semi-detached edwardian house which we decorated for that era - e.g. William Morris wallpapers - which in this age of minimalism and stripped floors is not fashionable at all. I'm afraid that it has made the house quite dark but other than redecorating which would be impossible I don't know what to do. Saying that we have had at least three couples who really loved the house and garden and the period theme and if they could have picked the house up and moved it they would have bought it but they did not like the traffic noise - we live on a main road. Yesterday we had a family come round to look and they were literally in the house for five minutes! Apparently the man wanted a period house but the woman wanted a new house. I cannot tell you how depressed that made me! The flat that we want has put their price down by ten thousand because they are keen to sell and emigrate. We have already come down from 197.500 to 179.950 but came down another 5 thousand to 174.950(I would like to go down by 10 but my husband thinks we would be giving it away). I am desperate to move for my health but don't know whether to stand firm, persuade my husband to drop another five thousand or think about letting out our house and moving. The other thing is we will not be able to take our beloved chickens when we go - do you think anyone would be interested at a later stage to buy for a very nominal amount a classic eglu with run and converter on the understanding that they keep on my chickens. I have an australorp of six, a barnebar of 5, a marans bantam of 6 and a plymouth rock bantam and a gold partridge pekin who are 18 months old and are still laying every other day at this moment. The other ones are still good layers too but are now moulting and the australorp is just such a character. The only thing is I actually upgraded to a big wooden house and I don't really think they would all fit into the eglu so I suppose it would be a case of someone who already has a cube with room for more girls who wanted a cheap eglu. I know I am just ranting but I am feeling so desperate about the whole thing and am just wanting some of your feedback. Sorry for the moan! Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I don't have any advice, just wanted to say I feel for you. Moving house is stressful at the best of times and it definitely isn't the best of times right now. I would say don't worry about your chickens right now, I'm sure it will be possible to sort them out once you've sold your house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 What does your agent say about dropping the price by 10 rather than 5? If it means getting more potential buyers round, I would do it. Some friends of ours have had their beautiful house on the market for 18 months and have only had about 5 people round, but they are asking far too much for it even after reducing the price. My view is that a house is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it, whatever the estate agents say, and that we invariably think our houses are worth more than they are! The rental market is very good at the moment - at least it is here in Cheshire - so it may be worth considering renting out your property and moving to your new town. Our house is a huge old priory which was divided into 2 many years ago - we lived in one half for over 20 years, then bought the other half 5 years ago and moved in there. We rent out our original home, and the rent more than covers our mortgage on the new part, and we have not yet had a fallow period between tenants. Good luck - and don't worry about your hens until you need to. I am sure that you will find a good home for them when the time comes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 really if you put it on the market in July and you have had 5 or 6 viewings, I think you're doing ok; I wouldnt drop the price again just yet. is renting an option? we're putting our house on the market in spring, and like previous posters have said, the chickens are really (I'm afraid) going to be the least of my worries. maybe your eventual buyer would like to keep them?? good luck and fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Moving house is so stressful. The last move we did we rented our house out while we moved into our new one. We have just sold the house after all this time (3 years - but it was not on the market for that long). To me your house sounds wonderful I love William Morris but as others have said you can only get what people are willing to pay for it - not what the estate agent hopes to make in commission! My maths is pants (hence why I have so many chickens! ) but we ended up selling the house for 15% less than what we paid for it 7 years earlier. So it renting your house out isn't an option then maybe reducing the price is. I hope you get some positive movement soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I really feel for you. My daughter an son in law have been trying to sell their house for over a year. They are on a main road, and that is the main reason they are struggling to sell. If you've had that number of viewers, then the price is probably reasonable. . THe problem is, you aren't getting any repeat viewings, so it's either that either people aren't warming to it, maybe because it's on a mina road, maybe the layout/decor, maybe a combianation of that and the price. Many buyers these days seem unable to see the potential in a property and only see what is already there, and seem to expect that they can move in and not do anything. If it isn't decorated to their taste, they seem to fail to consider that they can always change it. It might be worthwhile talking to the estate agent about whether neutralising the decor would make the house more saleable. I'm not suggesting that you rip out any period features, but it might be that something relatively simple could make a big diffference. It might be that going for a neutral wall colouring would lighten the house up and make it appealing to a wider range of buyers. I know it seems like sacrilege to do it, but you are moving anyway (don't mean to sound hard, just trying to be practical). Decluttering (which you would need ot do anyway if you are moving to a smaller place) and depersonalising may also help. House DOctor (haven't seen that for years) used to have a lot of success that way. As others have said, sorting out the chickens can be something to tackle once the house is sold. Hope you get it sorted soon xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 WitchHazel is right about depersonalising and making the decor more neutral. A friend of mine had to sell her house when she got divorced, and she got some professional advice to help make the house as saleable as possible. She was told to remove all photographs and personal objects, and to get a new, neutral coloured carpet in the hall as that was the first area of the house that potential buyers would see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I would agree with the idea of depersonalising. When we sold our last house, OH went through the whole place with cream emulsion. It looked very bare, but that allowed potential buyers to see the space and light which were very much in its favour. Light decor and lots of mirrors! It may not fit the period of your house but it would remove the element of taste that can put people off. If you cannot do it yourself, have you considered paying a decorator to do it for you? The other thing that made a huge difference was to make sure that all the little jobs that needed finishing, which we had been happily living with, were done. We paid someone to come in and do them all (in a fraction of the time it would have taken us) and consider that it was money invested in getting a sale at the best possible price. It is horribly stressful, but I wish you luck, and would agree that re-homing your chickens is something you could do once the other details are taken care of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I know just how you feel. We have had our house on the market since the end of june. We have had on average one viewing per week. Everybody loves the land (3/4 acre) but most have thought the cottage is too small. It stresses on the details that it is grade II listed and that there are low ceilings and beams and that the rooms are small but even though they read all that they still insist on coming then complain about the size. We are fed up cos we have found a property we want and our offer has been accepted. We are in the throes of trying to get a mortgage so that we can buy it without selling (which is hard as we are retired although we are only 55) we have been waiting for well over 10 days for Santander to say yes or no. They kept requesting further information which we sent them straight away whenever they asked and we have slowly lost the will to go on. If we havent heard anything by monday - we are going to withdraw our offer. So we are going to have another depressed weekend wishing the days away until monday. So stressful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 relax about the chickens...I am sure if push came to shove I could find room!!! omg!!! did I say that?????...as to your house..renting it might be an option...look at property management companies who guarantee an income. Have you considered changing your estate agent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 Thank you for all your replies - you are so kind. I have just spoken to my estate agent who I think is very good and was recommended to me by several people - I was with someone else for a month! Basically he said that 169.950 would be worth a final go - if I can persuade my husband to go with that. I have decluttered the house to within and inch of it's life and the estate agent doesn't think that neutralizing the colour scheme would work because someone else would always prefer something else. They also do rentals and he said the market is very buoyant at the moment and we could probably get a tenant within days but of course we would have to buy the flat first so the house is vacant and that would probably take us up to near christmas and the worry then is that we would have two mortgages and maybe no tenant! I do feel for you new country girl as well. I presume you are on Rightmove and that gives photos of most of the rooms with the dimensions and also a street view. Apparently our house has had the most hits with our estate agents because it is so attractive on the outside. Linda I may well take you up on your offer if you are serious and throw the eglu in for free if only my girls will get a good home. So sorry for my moan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Yes SophieP we are on rightmove. I am just fed up of cleaning everywhere and making it look nice - knowing damn well they will decide it is too small. People should have to take a test with the Estate Agent before they are allowed to view. Only joking - the fact that I was an Estate Agent myself for 20 years makes it worse. Good luck with everything - hope you find a buyer soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Don't just declutter, get rid of as much as possible, this may help Newcountry girl. When we sold our last house it was a tiny three bed semi. Before we put it on the market we decluttered and moved a lot of furniture out (to relatives or got rid of stuff we no longer wanted). We left each room with a bare minimum to suit the room eg just the desk in the spare room and cot/wardrobe in the other room. It did look a bit like we lived in a show house but it worked, our buyer gushed about how spacious it was. We did the same to the flat we sold before and in that case decorated the enterance hall to make a light impact. Maybe ask a trusted friend for brutal advice on what one thing would make a difference. Moving is very stressful, you will get there and your chickens will easily find a new caring home if needbe. Goodluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Nothing new to add to the good advice already given. Just wanted to pass on my good luck wishes, it is such a horrible time. I think we all totally underestimate the stress (and expense) of moving house. Won't be something I'll do again in a hurry. Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 Thanks for your kind comments again sparkysmum and catieb. New country girl I know just what you mean! We hadn't had a viewing for a few weeks so we had lapsed back into our old untidy habits and then suddenly we got a call that someone wanted to view in one hour - I rushed round the house like a whirling dervish and I was actually sweating when they arrived - doesn't do your blood pressure any good does it! Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 We moved in August so I know how you feel. All I can add is look on the price comparison webb sites to see what prices houses have sold for in your area. We also looked at what other houses are up for sale for, how long they have been on the market. How much similar houses have been sold for recently and then put ours on the market at a realistic price. We were lucky and sold within about 5 week. My daughter has done the same and put her home on the market at the end of August and she hopes to exchange next week. Houses have not really gone up in value now for several years. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Stress levels are really high at the moment. I know its self inflicted cos we dont need to move except that we want more land and a bigger house. I have decluttered everything possible - but the fact remains it is a small cottage built in 1750. Just have to keep smiling. I am stressed anyway at the moment cos my mum died in August and i have been sorting everything out back up in yorkshire . I have been having problems with the Halifax too. Mum had her deeds in their deedstore. I had an appointment at their Boston branch (a 35 mile round trip for us) I took in the probate, death cert and everything and paid £175 for the deeds to be released. They said I should receive them in 10 days. After 20 days i still hadnt received them but had a letter from them saying we needed to pay the £175 to released them. I was tearing my hair out and it took 2 days of constantly ringing them to get through. The girl apologised and said she was sorry it was their mistake and she would arrange them to be sent a s a p. After waiting another 10 days i started ringing again. When i got through the chap i spoke to said "Oh yes - the mortgage dept are sending you a letter asking for the probate as until we receive it we cant release them" I pointed out they had had them for a month. He then checked his computer and said "Oh dear yes I am so sorry" He promised to get his supervisor to request the deeds be immediately released. We shall see...... Sorry for the rant!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 To be honest I think if houses don't sell it is because they are overpriced. We sold our previous house in 2009 and didn't even put it on the market. We have bought and sold many houses and the longest it has taken us to find a buyer was 10 days and it was only that long because negotiations took a few days. I know most people don't find that helpful because they think they know what their house is worth but if you don't have a buyer then the price is wrong. Obviously some people would rather have a high price and wait 2 years to find someone prepared to pay the price they want but I guess I'm just not that patient, life is too short and buying/selling is stressful enough without having people traipsing around your house for 2 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 New country girl I do feel for you - I thought I was stressed! I have brought my 4 bedroom house price down by over twenty thousand since July and I really do feel it is competitive looking at other 4 bedroom properties on Rightmove and if I put it down any lower we would not be able to afford the one bedroom flat we have absolutely fallen in love with who have also lowered their price by ten thousand. I guess we'll just have to make a decision very quickly what we have to do! Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 Oh and Chicken Shack I took your advice and looked up a price comparison website and it recommended 215.000 and I have it on the market now for 174.950 - it is just crazy! Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 New country girl I do feel for you - I thought I was stressed! I have brought my 4 bedroom house price down by over twenty thousand since July and I really do feel it is competitive looking at other 4 bedroom properties on Rightmove and if I put it down any lower we would not be able to afford the one bedroom flat we have absolutely fallen in love with who have also lowered their price by ten thousand. I guess we'll just have to make a decision very quickly what we have to do! Sophie x When you say price comparison you don't mean something like Zoopla do you? Zoopla et al are notoriously inaccurate. Have you looked on www.ourproperty.co.uk ? You probably need to be looking at either very recent prices on your road or prices around the 2004 period. Obviously it helps if you have an idea of what sold when, the condition the properties are in, whether they have had extensions etc. It isn't an easy market but 1 bed flats are some of the hardest properties to shift so you should be in a good position to negotiate once you have a buyer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 Oh thanks Shirl I will look at that website now Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcountrygirl Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Speaking as an estate agent with over twenty years experience sometimes it is pricing and sometimes it is not. Pricing can always be blamed - but the fact is - everybody can sell a house if the price is low enough. The fact is that at the moment there is a glut of property on the market and most people will go for the cheapest option if it has the basics they want. Our cottage is somewhat different in that it is grade II listed and there isnt much to compare it with. There are only two other properties in the whole of Lincolnshire as far as i can tell that are currently on the market . Both have the same size and layout as ours and both are asking a lot more money - one is £219950 and the other £235000. Neither have any land just a cottage garden and ours has 3/4 of an acre - and we are asking £179950 or offers around, so I dont think the price is an issue. We have a lot of interest as most people just want to get a look inside. It states clearly on the details that it is an old cottage and has small proportions and low ceilings. It also gives the measurements for the rooms. Still - they keep coming and then complain its too small. We are not in a rush to sell as we can buy the one we want without - but obviously at some point we would like to sell it. If someone made me a reasonable offer i would take it but am just sick of timewasters. The last couple who came - yesterday - spent ages with us saying that they knew it would be small, the agent had stressed it - but it didnt matter cos there was only the two of them. Every time we entered another bit of the land - they kept exclaiming how they couldnt believe the size of the land it was much more than they thought. They left saying they loved it and would definately be in touch. Today the agents rang with feedback - there wasnt enough land - they were looking for two to three acres!! I rest my case - if they think they can get a detached house with 2 - 3 acres for the price we are asking (even in Lincolnshire) they are in for a shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I sympathise with all of you trying to sell, we've been trying since the beginning of June House was valued by 3 agents, all came back at £359,000, chose one agent and put it on at £354,950 as we thought that was slightly more realistic, having kept an eye on local prices. Well here we are now nearly in November having changed agents - first was about as useful as a chocolate teapot - and reduced the price, originally to £349,950 and now down to £329,950 but nothing, not even had a viewing this week We too have had so many timewasters, from those that stand here and spout forth about how perfect it is and then say the bedrooms are too small/garden too small etc etc, to those that just don't turn up We decluttered and put everything into storage back in May never thinking it would still be there 6 months later and even with most of our "stuff" gone, it is not easy keeping everything clean and tidy with 4 children (admittedly DD is now away at Uni), 2 dogs, 2 cats, 5 chickens and a corn snake. There is nothing else I can do, I make the house look like a show home for viewings, it is only 14 years old, has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and we have maintained it well in the 9 years that we've been here. We are on an estate but on a lovely quiet no through road, with good schools, a supermarket, doctors surgeries, swimming pool, health club and crown land (ideal for walking the dogs) all within walking distance and we are 10 mins from both the M3 and M4. I just despair now because I just don't know what people seem to expect and it's not been helped by the fact that our neighbours on both sides have also put their houses on the market since we did and I have no clue as to why they thought that would be a good idea Fortunately the agent hasn't put a board outside the 3rd one, yet Good luck and best wishes to everyone trying to move Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I really feel for you. Don't get stressed it's not worth it! Think positive - you have a roof over your heads! The only advice I can give is if you are very desperate to move then have you thought about putting you house to auction? There are also companies that will buy any house off you, but obviously will give you a lot less than it's market value & could be a bit dodgy. Auction may be the way to try. Good luck & all the best to you! You Will move - trust me! (lots of positive vibes being sent telepathically). Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
