[cathgates]

Hi, I really think you need to consider changing agents. Peebles is right, they should remarket well. I work as an agent, as I've said before, and if there is a little competition between agents as there is with some of us locally, then they will be more than happy to sell your house when others couldn't.
Do check your competition and present your house and price competitively. Ask your agent to be brutally honest with all feedback.
There will be more houses coming on the market in the next few weeks as many couples split up at Christmas time, we have had an influx of new valuation appointments, and also a larger amount of people enquiring about our rentals. Unfortunately for us on the forum, this will not help as it just gives the buyer more choice, but if you do go on with another agent, you will be treated the same as all new instructions - with enthusiasm!!!

Good luck to us all
Cath X

[Belmont Babes]

Thanks all.

Cath - thanks for that insight. The only thing putting me off changing is that we will need to do HIPS and our agent at the moment is charging us 1% inc VAT. New agent wants 1.25% plus VAT and of course the HIPS to pay. I know it is all academic until sold but I would like to know if you think that me not having any viewings since Aug is a little odd? Agents at fault or just the market? I have asked them for an honest opinion and they say they don't think there is anything wrong with house. I have checked competition and think we are sat about right price wise. Fed up of being in limbo land too.

[vixxann]

The only thing putting me off changing is that we will need to do HIPS

We changed agents and as there was no break in marketing (we crossed over and for about two days were on with both at same time) then you don't need to get HIPS done as its a property already on market before they became compulsory.

Vicki

[Belmont Babes]

Thanks Vicki. One agent agrees with that the other one says you do need one!! Who do you believe? I know what I would do anyway...the words get stuffed spring to mind.

Vicki - how's the painting going?

[Andy-Dee]

Just our view......

If you don't have a HIPS now - it will date your house as one that hasn't sold since July 2007. So for £350'ish quid its worth 'appearing' fresh to the market.

Good luck

[vixxann]

Thanks Vicki. One agent agrees with that the other one says you do need one!! Who do you believe? I know what I would do anyway...the words get stuffed spring to mind.

Vicki - how's the painting going?

We spoke to our agent and they reckon to have checked up on this - also I had in my mind that you needed one by end of year anyway but they say that as yet there is no ruling on when houses currently marketed without a HIPS will need to get one. We personally don't want to rush out and get one done as I believe they do an energy efficiency test and I don't think we'd do so well on it :o Could end up having to spend a lot more than £350 so we'll do without as long as possible.

Hubbies just been filling holes and scratches in a few walls tonight so we'll be painting at the weekend :)

[holland]

oooooooo Vicki I feel for you with the filling walls and painting things!!! I remember it not so fondly!!

Posivibes to all as usual x

[cathgates]

A hip should cost you about £365 all in, if it's much more, ask where they get their figures, as this is the cost without the agent making any money!!!, but you shouldn't have to pay, as you have already been on the market, they are supposed to be made compulsory for all existing properties soon anyway - not that I'm saying I agree with them - think they're a waste of time and money just another way to squeeze the cash out of us!!
1% is very good - that's what I'm being charged, and I work there!!!
1.25% is still a good rate, and 1.25% of something is better than 1% of nothing.
I do think it's odd that you haven't had any viewings since August, I can honestly say that none of our properties are in that situation, even the one's at the top of the price range have had viewings - I live in a town near Nottingham and the average viewing price range is around 100k to 200k.
How far away from the first time buyer price are you? They are the key, especially at the moment, once they start to have a little more confidence in the market, the domino effect should start to happen.
Have you asked your agent about other property similar to yours that was on the market when you first came on, is it still waiting to sell if not, ask why theirs and not yours.
Ask them to do a feature in the local property paper for you.
If it's the same as our local paper, all agents take it in turn to have the front page and inside page feature on a property.
You also need to check what they offer against other agents, see how many pages in the paper each have, how often you get to be in the paper, and make sure each page is for your particular branch.
Are you in the window as well as the boards inside?
Check your 'photo's and particulars write up against the others both online, and in branch.
Get someone to do a 'mystery shop' for your type of property, and see how they market you to the prospective buyer, both for your agent and others.
You need to look at what's on offer all round, not just percentage offered.
If you do decide to change agent's, and you give yours the 2 week notice, this can sometimes spur them on to be enthusiastic about your house - even though they should have been all along!!
Hope this helps
Cath X

[BkyMonster]

Argh on the market now. :(
Had 2 realtor open houses yesterday and today, and one showing already and it's only been on the market a few days.
I know there is a rush when houses go on the market, just hope we get a bite.

I think the real estate agent is more nervous than we are! :laugh

[Mickstim]

Good luck Becky - I hope it goes much faster for you than those of us who have been hanging round this thread for the last 7 months!

B x

[holland]

Good Luck Becky...

Posivibes to all on thread...barb, still no takers???????????????????????/

J x

[peebles16]

Last post this side anyway just thought I should update. House now with new agents and going back on the market in a couple of weeks. New agents seem very positive especially since nothing comparable on the market in our town and price range (all flats) but sought after cos good sized family home - blooming hope so :)

Just wanted to say a special thanks to you folks on this thread and as Jade would say posivibes to us all for a quick sale :D

Defo up for a big "anyone on the market" thread get together in NZ in 2008

Take care
Karenx

[holland]

Anyone on the market thread meet up wuld be great!!

Good Luck Karen, see you on the other side!!!

Enjoy the ride!

J x

[Mickstim]

I'm up for a good 'anyone on the market' thread get together as long as we can agree on which island!

Nothing yet Jade but trying to keep positive!

Karen - all the very very best and good luck!

Barb xx

[Belmont Babes]

Cath - thanks so much for your valuable insight and help.

Karen - all the very very best for a good flight and start to the new phase in your lives, look forward to a report form the other side soon.

Barb - my stars say today that my patience will be rewarded soon! Blinkin hope so as I am fast running out!

POSIVIBES to all as always.

Nat

PS A get together will be great, let's hope it can be in this first half of the year!!!

[Jennispink]

Just joined the house selling game so thought I'd put us out there for some shared positivity.

Good luck everyone in this new year. something's got to give....right? :)

[Mickstim]

Good luck Jenni. Where are you selling? Seems like London's still going ok!

Barb x

[Kerry and David]

We had decided to go on the market in the New year once all the Christmas decorations were down! Hubby decorated the hall, I did some touching up - all ready to go.... and our neighbours decided to start their MASSIVE extension next door which they have put off for 12 months! They are turning a 3 bedroom house in to 5, a garage on the side, roof higher etc, etc you get the picture!! We are now living next door to a building site with scafolding coming over the fence! Not a good look for prospective buyers I think!
Grrr

K :laugh

[holland]

Welcome Jenni and Kerry to this mad thread!!!

Kerry what a pain in the piddle!

Posivibes to all

J xx

[Jennispink]

We're selling just north of Newcastle, a little town called Seaton Delaval, famous for having the first ever co-op food maket. It was set up by the minig community when they got fed up of rubbish wages!
I'm fed up of rubbish wages too, that's why we're going, no more money but life should be so much better for us in NZ:)

[Ricky]

Hi Jenny and Kerry I hope you sell your house quickly, it seems that the housing market is picking up as we have a couple of viewers in the last 7 days :yes . Now we have to hope that somebody is putting in an offer.

We are by the way in North Yorkishire, how is the market in the rest of the country??

Ricky

[Woolfie]

Happy new year everyone, We had an offer on our house to be sold before xmas.(yippee) but fell through on the friday before. We were completely gobsmacked, even dropped the price by 5k to keep the sale going. So its back to square one, So now in the position of having to see if the offer of the job can wait, until we sell. We both feel down about it. Must try harder next time, as this is only a little set back in the overall scheme of things.

Kind regards

Woolfie

[Mickstim]

Happy new year everyone, We had an offer on our house to be sold before xmas.(yippee) but fell through on the friday before. We were completely gobsmacked, even dropped the price by 5k to keep the sale going. So its back to square one, So now in the position of having to see if the offer of the job can wait, until we sell. We both feel down about it. Must try harder next time, as this is only a little set back in the overall scheme of things.

Kind regards

Woolfie

Woolfie - we had the same thing happen (and it was our agent's fault it went wrong) and it certainly leaves you feeling soooooooooooooo low. Let's hope we all get some better news soon!

Barb

[Belmont Babes]

A big Hi and welcome to Jenni and Kerry. Hope you don't have to hang around on this thread for long.

Woolfie - sorry to hear that...just goes to show that the saying's true "you haven't sold until signed". Hope you get another buyer soon.

All the best to all as usual.

[holland]

oooooooooo...there seems to be a flutter of viewings and things....hopefully things are picking up??

Good Luck everyone, hang in there, NZ is worth all this stress I promise xx

j xx

[Ricky]

Our viewers liked the house but didn't put in an offer :no . We are in a bit of a downer but the year is still young and hopefully we are getting more viewers in the future.

Ricky

[cathgates]

The market does seem to be picking up a little, we have had a few more requests in this weekend for viewings - even got one myself!!! It did seem strange though, to answer the 'phone to someone asking to view a property and then giving my address!!!
It did seem to go well - my oh showed them round, they took a keen interest, asked about nearest shop, bus routes etc, even took a walk to the bottom of the street and back again!!!
Unfortunately I'm not able to ask for any feedback myself so was a little distracted at work today, will be asking my fave person at work tomorrow to give them a call!!!

Cath X

[Kate D]

Oh boy, I think I'm insane by comparison...

I got my job offer just before Christmas and submitted my EOI today. It's a race between that and WTR to start a job out there before the end of March and my house isn't even on the market yet!!! Right about now I'm regretting having taken a week's holiday away over Christmas in anticipation of it being the last break before the madness descends... Gotta do some real basics like replace various assorted blown light bulbs around the house, touch up quite a few bits of paint, move the last of the rubbish out the garden, and get some of the marks off the carpet before the place is even open for viewings! Anyway, estate agents are on the agenda for this weekend and they will have to be entrusted with a full set of keys. Just as well I thrive under pressure...

Seriously I am totally resigned to my house being empty for some time pre sale, no family near by, so will rely on the grace of a couple of not quite so near friends to help me out if required. On the plus side, I've got an offset mortgage and I'm ahead of plan so I can take payment holidays for at least a few months until I sell if needs be. I knew there had to be an upside in there somewhere!

Kate

[nickydwuk]

Still in the throws of getting the house 'sellable' if there is such a word :p . Just some paper to scrape off and the wall underneath to be painted so it looks tidy. As for getting rid of the rubbish it will take my boys the part of 6 months I think to sensibly clear their room so viewers will have to take it as they find it. The agent assures me that all viewers are looking at are size of rooms but I'm not so sure. Have told the agent we will be ready to put it on the market at the end of the month. Had the HIP inspector round yesterday to take all the details for the HIP. We have decided to pay for this up front then it is ours and if we go multi-agency or change agents we haven't got a problem with it (also it saves us about £50). :laugh

[jgander]

Hi - our house has been on the market since August 07 - 1 viewing! We have now had a job offer - for me to start in 6 weeks (gulp!) so the price has been dropped and need to sell in 4 weeks !!! While I wish you all luck, I could do with some too!!!

[Mickstim]

Hi - our house has been on the market since August 07 - 1 viewing! We have now had a job offer - for me to start in 6 weeks (gulp!) so the price has been dropped and need to sell in 4 weeks !!! While I wish you all luck, I could do with some too!!!

I do wish you loads and loads of luck and a very fast sale!!!

B x

[cathgates]

I've just had a call from work, and a couple who came yesterday, want to come for a second viewing tomorrow:clap They are in rented at the mo, and have been approved for a mortgage:nice1

Fingers crossed they want to put in a good offer:clap

Cath X

[Ricky]

I hope you get an offer Cath, good luck.

Ricky

[Carey]

OOOO, hope it goes well for you! Sounds positive!

[Mickstim]

Oh Cath - that sounds very positive. Good luck with that!!

B x

[cathgates]

Thanks guys, they're coming at 10, so less than an hour!!!
Better do my final inspection of each room then watch another episode of wanted down under!!!

Cath X

[Jennispink]

positive vibes:raebanana

i was taking note of the for sale boards as I was driving in to work, looks like more are under offer, or am I just dreaming?:roll

[cathgates]

They've gone - and oh my goodness!!! have offered just £950 below asking price!!!!!:raebanana
They want to come back on Sunday afternoon, I think they want to see what parking is like at the weekend - always ok, but will ask the neighbours to keep cars on drives, which they usually do anyway.
I have know started to think - are we ready to go yet? I need a new passport, police checks need to be done, decide on which shippers to use, decide who we will exchange money with.............:exit
I do hope that the market is starting to turn for everyone as Jenni hopes.

Cath X

[Belmont Babes]

Cath you lucky girl you! Really pleased for you. Don't worry about all the things left to do just make sure you sell first. The rest will happen. Good luck X

[Belmont Babes]

A big welcome to Kate and jgander X

[Rusty]

They've gone - and oh my goodness!!! have offered just £950 below asking price!!!!!:raebanana
They want to come back on Sunday afternoon, I think they want to see what parking is like at the weekend - always ok, but will ask the neighbours to keep cars on drives, which they usually do anyway.
I have know started to think - are we ready to go yet? I need a new passport, police checks need to be done, decide on which shippers to use, decide who we will exchange money with.............:exit
I do hope that the market is starting to turn for everyone as Jenni hopes.

Cath X

Fantastic, just the curious in me as why just £950 below? - just less for the sake of it?

[Mickstim]

Cath - that is wonderful news! Also curious about £950 - sounds an odd amount to reduce by!! Have some well deserved bananas :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

B xx

[Ricky]

Cath - That's brilliant news, hope the rest goes smoothly. Some more bananas
:raebanana :raebanana

Ricky

[jgander]

They've gone - and oh my goodness!!! have offered just £950 below asking price!!!!!:raebanana
They want to come back on Sunday afternoon, I think they want to see what parking is like at the weekend - always ok, but will ask the neighbours to keep cars on drives, which they usually do anyway.
I have know started to think - are we ready to go yet? I need a new passport, police checks need to be done, decide on which shippers to use, decide who we will exchange money with.............:exit
I do hope that the market is starting to turn for everyone as Jenni hopes.

Cath X

Well done & congrats. Let's hope your good luck rubs off!!!! :-)

[cathgates]

Thanks guys:) we're on for £127,950, they're offering £125k for the house, and £2k for fixtures, fittings, wardrobes etc. I haven't said yes, said I'd got to talk to oh, so may agree yes and try and negotiate moving date to give shippers enough notice.
I really hope everyone gets a sale soon.

CathX

[vixxann]

Cath fantastic news - hope it all goes through smoothly :clap
Things will come together for you I'm sure

Hope house buyers become more frequent in general this year - for everyone :)

[Andy-Dee]

Great news - first sale of the year - have some :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

[M&J]

We have some good news too!!!! Lets hope this is the start of things to come for everyone.

We had an offer just before Chirstmas but they had to sell there house. Well can you belive it they sold it a week later!!!! All the surveys have now been done and everything looks good to exchange end of the month. And the bonus is we got more money than the last two near sales!!!

Lets hope it is third time lucky!!

[Andy-Dee]

More nana's M&J :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana things are looking up.

[holland]

Waaaaa Hooooooo:cheers

2 sales congrats:clap

Whose going to be the third???? oooo, so chuffed, things are looking up!

Posivibes to all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

J xx

[macuser]

Congratulations on the sales. Hopefully this is a sign the market is picking up.

Good luck to all of us still selling.

Helen

[cathgates]

Congratulations M&J:raebanana may your sale go smoothly.
Cath X

[Belmont Babes]

Huge congratulations M&J, I hope it all goes "tickety boo" for you. :raebanana

[vixxann]

spoke to our agents this afternoon - wanted to see if they could chase up our last viewer (i'm talking November here:( ) to see if he's sold his yet as he was "quite" interested. Anyway don't know if that will come to anything or not - don't even know if they'll try to be honest:uhoh

But she did say they are hoping things are slowly picking up - they've noticed more sales in terraced houses and more viewings on houses further up the scale. So hopefully it will filter through to us by spring she said (we're on at £320K for 5 bed detached) Anyone else been told how things are in their area?

[Mickstim]

Congrats M&J!! Have some bananas too :raebanana :raebanana

We have just had an offer from some people who came to view three times but it was a ridiculous one - they wanted to knock £60 000 off our £400 000 asking price. The agent was disgusted and said they are relying on people being desperate and them being cash buyers. We may be desperate but not THAT desperate!! Our agent says that the market is holding firm and he doesn't forsee any major drop in prices, so let's hope!

B xx

[pinkninny]

Our house has now been on the market two and half weeks, with estate agents, but tried selling it via little house company but had nothing from either of them yet. house round here have just started to move so fingers crossed. want to sell soon as as hubby now got job offer.
i must say getting fed up off keeping the house like a show home and no one coming round the day i leave a mess i'm sure someone will want to come round.
been looking at houses over in NZ and boy are they different from over here, but looking forward to looking round at houses and starting our dream.

good luck to every one selling there house and hope it works out well
ninny x x x

[NZ Hopeful]

i must say getting fed up off keeping the house like a show home and no one coming round the day i leave a mess i'm sure someone will want to come round.


You have just reminded me of when we sold our last home... I was SO fed up with the whole thing we were on the brink of losing the house of our dreams and the estate agent rang to book a viewing.

The poor people came and I hadn't really tidied and I hardly spoke a word to them just pointed into rooms and said 'living room, dining room bedroom 1 2 3 etc - have you got any questions? No? Goodbye then!

And the estate agent rang 5 mins later - they had offered the full asking price :clap I couldn't believe it! So when ours goes on the market at the end of the month that is the approach I am going to adopt! It worked last time :D

[Mickstim]

Funny you should say that NZhopeful. The last 2 houses I have sold were on a day when they were in a right mess and I didn't get a chance to clean up. Maybe people feel more at home then!

Welcome to the house selling nightmare forum Ninny and just wait til you have been keeping your home in pristine condition for 7 blinkin' months!!!!

Barb x

[Belmont Babes]

Yeah, 8 months now!!!! I am also sick of plumping cushions, and tidying. Agents have told me that things SEEM to be picking up...

[M&J]

Well I spoke too soon, it has happened again!!!! The purchasers buyer has pulled out!!!!! Our purchaser is still interested but here we go again back on the market for the 4th time!!!! I dread looking at my e-mails every morning now!!!

:wah

[Mickstim]

Oh M&J that is such a pain!! Our agent just phoned to say the guy who made the offer may be willing to up it 'a little' and will let us know tomorrow. Now he is basically telling me that if we get an offer we should grab it. I wishe we had someone impartial we could discuss this with!

Bx

[cathgates]

I think the more expensive the asking price, or the more bedrooms, the slower the sale. The domino effect does take a while to filter up, especially when people are taking cuts in their asking price as it means they have less choice each time they move up. As for bedrooms, we would all like 4+ bedrooms, but this does come at a price, and unfortunately, not many can afford it - if you have a need for more bedrooms, it usually means you have a large family and therefore higher running costs and less to spend on a mortgage!!
We often get asked for 4 bedroomed houses, but under 200k, in the area I live in, this is possible, but not as often as is demanded.
Decide what your bottom line is to acheive a house purchase in NZ plus to pay any other commitments you need to, then, if there is room for negotiation, see if you can offer your house at a price that cannot be ignored. Decide wether your wanting to be in NZ is greater than achieving a healthy bank balance after a house sale.
Don't get me wrong, I am well aware that there are not many people in this position, we are lucky, we have no mortgage, are selling for £127k our house is considered a second time buyer house, and, once our bank loan, flights and shipping is paid, we should have roughly £100k left, not quite enough to get us a nice 3 bed in Tauranga area, but we shouldn't need a big mortgage, but if we had to sacrifice maybe another 10k if we'd been on the market a while, we would have seriously considered it.
I hope that everyone is able to sell in the not too distant future, because everyone on this thread deserves a sale.
Lets hope that the thread starts to become full of waving bananas!!!!

Cath X

[vixxann]

Barb - thinking of you - hope you get an offer you'll be happy with

good luck to all other sellers :clap

[Sam B]

OH M&J - NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't believe it. Not again. Poor you. So sorry.

[Andy-Dee]

Poor M&J

Ok Jade and Barb - I'll get the cauldron out and its back to the 'power of three' again. Lets see M & J's purchaser puller outers 'spitting cherries' by morning!!:D

[holland]

Ok Jade and Barb - I'll get the cauldron out and its back to the 'power of three' again. Lets see M & J's purchaser puller outers 'spitting cherries' by morning!!:D

He he he

What a blinking nitemare M & J!:(

Barb...GOOD LUCK I have everything crossed for you xxxxxxx

Posivibes to all xxxxx

So chuffed this thread is still going strong, it was my lifeline when I was selling in the Uk...keep posting everyone!!:D

J xx

[robertrippon]

Hi guys

We are in the same boat too, been on the market since last October, only had one viewing and the market is so slow here in the East.

Just had our ITA and we are going to sit on it a while unti we get any interest in the house..

I agree that you need a bottom price to accept to start a new life in New Zealand , what sort of money would it cost for a 4 bedroom house in Whangerai, any ideas ??

Rob, Jo, Jake , Sam, Ben & Robert

EOI submitted September 07
EOI picked September 07
ITA offered January 17th 08

[holland]

Hi Rob and Family,

Welcome!!! This link may give you an idea:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/CategoryAttributeSearchResults.aspx?search=1&mcat=0350-5748-&sidebar=1&132=PROPERTY&selected135=2&selected136=&134=9&135=2&136=&153=&29=&122=0&122=4&49=0&49=0&x=70&y=13

J x

[robertrippon]

Hi Holland

Thanks for that, will have a good look,

cheers

Rob & Jo

[Mickstim]

As we are retiring in NZ the price we get for our house is IT so we feel we need to get as much as it is worth. We know we can buy a nice house in Tauranga and have some left over, but what is left over needs to supplement our very meager pensions (which will not rise when we are in NZ). We are both happy to work but don't expect to get 'real' jobs or to earn a fortune! So......... what we get for this house makes an enormous difference to the rest of our lives, and when we are offered £90 000 below our original valuation we just feel we need to hold on and fight it!

Welcome to the thread Robert!

Jade - will it ever end? There will always be new people coming onto the market so I think you have created a monster!

B xx

[Belmont Babes]

Robert welcome to the thread.
M&J feel for you, just not fair X
Barb - I think you are doing the right thing, cheeky offers don't wash with me either!

[blearyjane]

Mickstim - such a huge drop is outrageous! (unless your house is worth 4-5 million!) I think you are right to hold on and wait for more.

We have been on the market since November - 4 viewings, no offers - so depressing!

Good luck to everyone selling.

[cathgates]

I hope I didn't offend anyone when I spoke of deciding what your bottom line is. I was just trying to give another angle that maybe would be a help to some people.
I really wish the market would pick up and become very healthy, but it won't not for the moment anyway.
As I say, it will take time to filter up to those of you wot av got a posh gaff:D but it will happen.
Again, no offence meant:o

Cath X

[Mickstim]

Not offended in any way Cath - I always find your 'insider' insight really useful and informative!

To make us feel better we have just had another viewing and this couple absolutely raved about the house and said they just didn't want to leave it to go home. They stayed an hour and told us we could come and stay with them if ever we are over in the UK (stay in this house, that is!!) They were so incredibly keen, but their house has only been on the market for a week so they are not in a position to buy yet. However it did make us feel so much better 'cos when people try to beat you down it makes you feel like your house is rubbish.

Posivibes everyone!

B xx

[stu70]

Those wishing to get on the real estate band wagon in NZ, be very careful. There is tons of reasons to believe a slow down (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10485691)firmly in place but with proper planning one might be able to benefit from this.