LordThornber Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 As if I needed reminding of how frustrating the process is let me share the comments from our first viewer.. They're a couple who rent an IDENTICAL property to ours and live 100 metres away. Her, hmm, the lounge is smaller than ours. Him, I want a drive for the car (we have a detached garage) Her, I want a conservatory (the rear of the properties doesn't 'fit' well for a conservatory) Great start 8-) 8-) We've done all the usual, de personalised, de cluttered, fresh paint, etc etc but does anyone have any nuggets we may have overlooked? Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Don't envy you Martyn. When we sold our last house, we went away, as OH had just retired! and left it to the agent and my son . We never actually met the Guy who bought it. He was 83, and downsizing , and moving closer to son. DOWNSIZING, well his old house must have been huge, because ours was 4 bedrooms, double garage, (which is what sold it ) sadly he only lived for another3 years in it. Don't know what it is like selling up north, but we had no problems in the home counties, and even here in Portsmouth they sell quickly I am sure the right buyer will come along, the first ones where probably just being nosey!! PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 Thanks Pauline, its only been on sale 9 weeks but I'm impatient and definitely NOT a suitable candidate for the process. We've another viewer tomorrow but they're being shown around by the agent. As for those nearby who viewed first, myself and Lady T just looked at each other and said what a ****** waste of 4 peoples time >:-( We got viewer feedback the other day from a viewer last week. They told the agent it wasn't big enough for them, which was fine but whilst here all they both said was how roomy it was! What was the point of the feedback? Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 LordThornber - 2015-04-22 3:57 PM Thanks Pauline, its only been on sale 9 weeks but I'm impatient and definitely NOT a suitable candidate for the process. We've another viewer tomorrow but they're being shown around by the agent. As for those nearby who viewed first, myself and Lady T just looked at each other and said what a ****** waste of 4 peoples time >:-( We got viewer feedback the other day from a viewer last week. They told the agent it wasn't big enough for them, which was fine but whilst here all they both said was how roomy it was! What was the point of the feedback? Martyn 9 weeks!.............You want to try selling in the sticks...........silly offers by the score *-) ...............or you agree a price, and just before exchange they use the survey to try to screw another 20k off the price........got a quote for the work 400 quid :-| .............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duetto owner Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 barter with the estate agent over his fee, some estate agents also charging a introduction fee to buyers on completion [get a feee both ends] many would be buyers walk away from them, also avoid estate agents that stretch photos as it does not give an honest outlook on the home, on phots some take the most awful photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antony1969 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Coffee machine ... Bread machine ... Relaxing music ... Works every time for moi and makes potential buyers feel like there a million dollars Your up against it Martyn ... Blackburn , not exactly Huddersfield is it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Tell em.... Antony of O&L fame is your neighbour ;-) ........ Should reduce your rateable value at least :D ........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duetto owner Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 offer them aa ccup of coffee, we had this once viewing a home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Make sure it's dressed well and smells nice. The Kitchen and bathroom are the 2 rooms that sell a house. Coloured bathroom suites are a definite turn off. It must be white and modern. Make it look like you are selling a lifestyle, with tasteful ornaments and pictures decorating the rooms. Good luck. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 ..............and shut your ferrets out in the back garden. :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 malc d - 2015-04-22 9:25 PM ..............and shut your ferrets out in the back garden. :-| A ferret proof garden has to be a winner Up Norf :D ............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 Thanks for all your help so far.. We've pretty much done the 'Kirstie & Phil', neutral colours, new white bathroom suite, windows open, illuminate any dark corners zzzzzzzzzz Offering a coffee, hadn't thought of that, might be useful in some cases. Part of my problem is we sold one last year in 11 days, fair price too, and completed in 2 months, happy days :D As for location Antony, well we sure ain't Virginia Waters but equally we ain't Brierfield.. Thanks again Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caddies104 Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Martyn I worked for the Halifax Estate Agency for several years after retiring from my main job, taking clients around houses. The advice so far is all good and what you have done so far is spot on so let me suggest some other ideas.. Let the agent take them around as they will not personal with items.. What is the outlook like from the front and back window..? What are the neighbours like? eg any rubbish outside their door.. Any signs of damp, can be easily remedied .. Does the entrance look inviting.. Ask a friend to give an honest opinion of what they think as you may be a little biased! Is there any maintenance charges that could be high? Maybe.. Have the coffee machine on, always a nice smell, assuming they like coffee.. That's all at the moment...good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Selling houses can be very stressful and it sounds like you were exceptionally lucky last time. We've just exchanged on our house but it took almost exactly a year. We're on a main road and it's a big house so we had to be realistic about a smaller potential market and some people driving past and not even bothering to view because of the location. We are also semi-rural with a septic tank and that put one buyer off - she wanted to be rural but was horrified at the prospect of a septic tank. The OH did the Phil & Kirstie thing with fresh flowers for viewings and hiding the dog. We didn't get many viewers - less than ten altogether - but eventually we got a buyer for whom the house fitted like a glove, because his wife likes the house itself (never mind where it is) and he was taken by our separate outbuilding as an office for his business. The Estate Agent earned their fee by undertaking drawn out negotiations after a silly, cheeky offer and a slow, reluctant climb up to an acceptable amount, but we got there eventually. We then had delays because red herrings were brought up - we think to purely delay exchanging (while wanting to set a completion date, because he had a plan to get the office converted to a time scale) because that delayed having to pay the deposit and I had to deliver an ultimatum. Selling houses is not for the impatient, the timid or the faint hearted. Anyone who doesn't think estate agents or conveyancing solicitors don't earn their money would change their mind after our experience. We've also been viewing houses, including one or two being sold by the owner, via one of these fixed fee agencies which get you on to Rightmove. Unrealistic prices and not well presented and they are still on the market. Everyone prices houses expecting to be chipped down so that's unavoidable - but be completely realistic about what your house is worth and be prepared to drop to that price, maybe even lower if you want a quick sale. But patience is absolutely essential and you cannot take anything for granted - it can be finger-biting stuff right to the end. So I suppose don't do it at all unless you need to and then resolve yourself to a stressful period and keep your fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 StuartO - 2015-04-23 9:14 AM We are also semi-rural with a septic tank and that put one buyer off - she wanted to be rural but was horrified at the prospect of a septic tank. Townies Huh *-) ............A septic tank is a bonus in my book ...........saved us a fortune in water rates over the years B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynneroy Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 9 weeks is not long, but good luck for a quick sale. Our has been on the market for 18 months, lovely seaside resort in Wales, a couple of minutes from the beach, and we have still had no luck. We were the reserve house last year for " A Place in the Sun" but the garden wasn't finished so we missed out on that. It is a very frustrating time, we just want to be sold up and ready to travel, so we wish you good luck and hope the next viewer loves it. Lynne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 Thankyou again to you all. Price? Well we decide to be guided by the agent, I had misgivings, l thinking he'd overpriced it but... Anyway my own instincts kicked in and we reduced the price by just over 4% after 2 months and that has happily restarted the viewer stream. Got one tomorrow with the agent doing the showing. Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duetto owner Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 do not rely on the agent to price your house some are good some are just wide boys, who will over price you home so you sign with them rather than one that offers a fair price. go on rightmove look at what similar houses are priced at and which estate agents provide good write ups and good pictures. Also look at zoopla to see what the selling prices were compared to those currently on sale. a clean clutter free kitchen helps a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 The smell of a good coffee (whatever that is) is always a winner. Also the smell of fresh bread. You yourself don't need to eat it but get it going and programme the machine to end half an hour before the meeting so the flavour will waft all over the house and place the loaf to cool conveniently nearby (warm) leave the machine lid open, more rich wafting. If another visitor tomorrow ... then cook another loaf. It provides a caring and homely atmosphere (not organic as that turns some people off) Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pampam Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 I agree with the others ,about selling a lifestyle ,when i was selling ours i moved the dogs out , and put posh sunloungers on the patio with ice bucket and bottle of wine etc on garden table (it was early summer abd late afternoon) also get rid of all knicknacks and photos of family etc if a bit chilly have heating on low so house is welcoming , coffee is a good smell so is bread also is jacket potatoes : give viewers plenty of time to walk around on their own , and put classic fm on low to hide any unwanted noises cheers good luck pp Cor its so stressfull ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted April 27, 2015 Author Share Posted April 27, 2015 Thanks again. As I've said before, we've done the Kirstie & Phil, the depersonalised look etc. I had a quick chat with the guy doing the accompanied viewing last Friday. After he'd had a walk around the house to familiarise himself, I asked him how did it appear to him and therefore a potential buyer. He said the number one factor in selling a house is the first impression, so of course I pressed him for his and he said it was extremely tidy, clean and neutral in appearance. We shall see...... Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antony1969 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I always do the viewings myself Martyn , that way if any questions are asked you are the one that knows the answer not the estate agent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Just put ours back on the market, after a good tidy up as the place has been left empty since the 21st Dec, although I did get someone to come in and cut the lawn a couple of times, cost me 80 quid...... so decided to up the price :D ....... Got a viewing tomorrow ;-) ............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caddies104 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 antony1969 - 2015-04-27 8:43 AM I always do the viewings myself Martyn , that way if any questions are asked you are the one that knows the answer not the estate agent Perhaps, but the agent does this for a living and if professionally done can sell the house without getting into .... "I made this, I painted this, " etc... Which the buyer is not interested in.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antony1969 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Caddies104 - 2015-04-27 5:21 PM antony1969 - 2015-04-27 8:43 AM I always do the viewings myself Martyn , that way if any questions are asked you are the one that knows the answer not the estate agent Perhaps, but the agent does this for a living and if professionally done can sell the house without getting into .... "I made this, I painted this, " etc... Which the buyer is not interested in.. I'm sure the buyer wouldn't be interested in those things you quote but might be interested in what are the neighbours like ? Do those trees down the border have an order on them ? and the rest I've spent a lot of money with estate agents over the years and found that I do a better job showing someone around a property I've brought back to life than any estate agent , others may have different experiences With respect every potential buyer is different and the questions they ask if genuinely interested differ too so unless the estate agent reads minds I fear you are wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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