I am still trying to sell the house in Steppingley. We have had just ONE viewing in nearly 10 weeks. I know the house is pitched at a small market and have taken on the comments offered here but surely this is getting silly? Only one viewing? Not even curious time wasters? Do the suspicious amonst you have any theories? My brother thinks the EA are keeping til I reduce the price and then will sell it to a mate. There have been 44 full viewings on the internet and 38 sets of details printed out(allegedly!)
I agree. Not to make a direct comparison but I have a mate who always thinks he can find bargain houses at 30% below the market. In fact he finds compromised properties then wonders why he can't sell for the ages. Small, pretty cottages will always find a buyer in a boom but struggle unless you drop the price the rest of the time.
Yes, it would at least settle your mind if you get a friend to ring up and pretend interest in the property. Ask them to arrange a viewing, give feedback, and see how much you actually hear back from the EA, and what they are told.
You will then have an idea of how your sale is being handled. If everything checks out, then you at least know it's just the market that's taking the time... And if there is a rat in the pipes, then you will know and be able to change your EA.
-------------------------------------- ***Do not, I repeat Do NOT feed the Trolls! *** *** All Hail the mighty hamsters! ***
That must be so frustrating Cheryl - especially as your cottage seems so pretty & you obviously love it. All I can say is that because you are appealing to a very narrow market, it will take time to sell & 10 weeks is nothing when you consider some people have their houses up for over a year before they find a buyer! The one thing you've got going in your favour is that because you are going for such a narrow market & because your house is in such good condition, any viewings you do have will probably be good bets. The one viewing you have had... what was the feedback from them?
Seems like an odd place Steppingley. Out of curiosity I checked Google to see where it,s located. Not a great deal of information, except I noticed a strange anomaly. On page one, mentions a parish with 831 inhabitents, but then on page 2, I found this reference.. STEPPINGLEY Swingers STEPPINGLEY swingers couples, find swinging couples in STEPPINGLEY. ... STEPPINGLEY BEDFORDSHIRE Swingers Personals. There are a total of 2574
Fact is, some properties are virtually unsellable - even at a reduced price. I know of duff properties near me that have been up for sale for 3 years. One just come on the market, and is right next to a sewerage treatment plant!So I'll be watching what happens. All EA's can do is market your property to potential buyers, they cannot make them buy it - ultimately the price is set by the vendor, and it is the vendor who is soley responsible for the location and condition of the property.
Curiouser and curiouser. We bit the bullit and reduced the price to just below £200,000. We also arranged a "secret shopper". She viewed the house on Sunday and was not impressed with the job done by the person who showed her round. It was a very young woman ( she thought about 18 )who couldn't answer any of her questions. The agent didn't ring to tell me about the viewing.( Only the second in 10 weeks remember. You'd think she would ). Today she rang to say someone had viewed this morning and offered £190,000 with a huge cash deposit (£120,000) and this is their "final,final" offer. Hmmm..... Curious?
So they still haven't told you that you had a viewer on sunday?! For all you know there may have been lots of viewings that they just haven't told you about!
So...whats your next move? Confront them about the viewing and the fact they couldn't answer any questions? Accept the offer?
It probably NOT the best thing to do but I would just be tempted to have a massive go at the EA for their obvious incompetancy - being rubbish when showing people roudn and not keeping you informed, tell them to stick the offer and go with another EA! But....what it comes down to, is that you apparently have a buyer!
Let us know what happens. I would go with brocolli and confront them about the viewing. How many others do you not know about and, more worrying have they had offer/s they have not passed on? Sorry I sound like a doom merchant.
Could be that the EA is not telling you when they are arranging viewings. I would complain about this.
I wonder if the 190K offer is genuine, or if the EA is trying to convince you that they are getting offers. Wonder if this offer will later be dropped? I guess you could say to the EA you will accept the offer only on the basis that things move now (assuming you're happy with the offer) and if there is no movement in a set time you put it back on the market??
when is the earliest you can get out and use a diferent agent. obviously theres a risk doing it and loosing this ominous buyer with wads of hard filthy cash. on the other hand this buyer would find it hard to see the new sale board and online/paper adverts
Originally posted by CherylMc: The agent didn't ring to tell me about the viewing.( Only the second in 10 weeks remember. You'd think she would ). Today she rang to say someone had viewed this morning and offered £190,000 with a huge cash deposit (£120,000) and this is their "final,final" offer. Hmmm..... Curious?
If you are really suspicious you could ask your secret shopper friend to put in a slightly higher offer and see if that gets passed on to you. It'd trash your relationship with the EA if they pass it on as you'd have to refuse it but it sounds like you've had it with the EA anyway.
Originally posted by CherylMc: The agent didn't ring to tell me about the viewing.( Only the second in 10 weeks remember. You'd think she would ). Today she rang to say someone had viewed this morning and offered £190,000 with a huge cash deposit (£120,000) and this is their "final,final" offer. Hmmm..... Curious?
No - your friend just pulls out offer - found something better / no money / changed their minds - happens all the time.
If you are really suspicious you could ask your secret shopper friend to put in a slightly higher offer and see if that gets passed on to you. It'd trash your relationship with the EA if they pass it on as you'd have to refuse it but it sounds like you've had it with the EA anyway.
To be honest I don't really think the EA is dishonest. (She told me about my SS this afternoon) Even if they are I'm so sick of the whole thing I would give it away in a pack of cornflakes. I won't get the chance since my OH is detirmined to refuse the offer and go to another EA. Could be a good plan. So long as it doesn't get repossesed in the mean time. I just want to cry.
Originally posted by CherylMc: I won't get the chance since my OH is detirmined to refuse the offer and go to another EA. Could be a good plan. So long as it doesn't get repossesed in the mean time. I just want to cry.
I hope repossession isn't on the cards, but just in case that would mean you are paying a mortgage on the property. It may be worth adding up all the outgoings for the property (mortgage, council tax, any utility bills and standing charges, insurance, lost interest on the equity etc) to see how much it is per month.
This "mystery" offer is 10K less than the asking price and sounds like it would be a quick sale. How many months of keeping the property empty does the 10K represent? The figure may help put things in context. Just a thought.
Hmm. I think your OH is right about moving to another EA.
I would say with the 190k offer, set a time limit for completion. If there are no problems with the property, and they have a substantial sum to put towards the property then there is no real excuse for delays.
If they are for real, they will meet the deadline, or at least give a lot of feedback which should prove they are real buyers, not figments of an EA's imagination.
If they don't seem real, or to be moving, then change Estate Agents.
I also agree with the advice to add up your outgoings including mortgage and decide what is the absolute minimum you could accept without going into negative equity and use this as a guide as to how low is acceptable to you (stuff the market. your house is what people will pay at the time and what you can afford to sell it for).
Good luck!
Ary.
-------------------------------------- ***Do not, I repeat Do NOT feed the Trolls! *** *** All Hail the mighty hamsters! ***
Well,I've calmed down and so has he. In the end we acceted an offer of £192,500. The buyer is willing to make a large deposit early on to show good faith and can move fast so it's not all gloom. As has often been said a house is only worth what someone is willing to pay. ( I still think she got a bargain! )
All Hail the mighty hamsters! 
I just want to cry.
-- Good point.
