I put the Longrider abode on the market a little over a month ago. Realising that this was probably the all-time worst possible time to do so, I went ahead anyway. Hopefully we will be moving sometime in the summer, but the world will not come to an end if we don’t. I’ve asked a price that reflects the investment in time and money that we have made and it is in the middle of the price band for the type of house.
Of course, it is true that value is determined by what someone will pay – but this is a two way street – it is determined ultimately by what I agree to sell it for. I’ve done the maths. To clear our mortgage in the UK and half of the mortgage in France, leaving some fall-back capital should my self-employment hit another lean patch, then I need to get the price I’m asking or within a couple of grand.
If that is too high for potential buyers, well, we will sit tight. There is no hurry. So, should anyone be using the current state of the market to try and negotiate a big discount – or, worse, gazunder us – they will receive short shrift. The house goes at a price that I agree and not a penny less.
That rant aside, I’ve decided to try selling privately. I figured I’d give it until the end of April and then reconsider the possibility of placing it with an agent. I will probably seek out an agent as it turns out – a couple of viewings with no outcome so far. However, what pissed me off was an agent touting for work on the basis of my Internet ad. Now, I didn’t put that ad up so that someone could sell me something, I put it up so that I could sell my property. Mildly irritated, Mrs Longrider told them that we may, possibly, be looking for an agent at the end of April.
At the end of March, they called again. I reminded the caller that this was the end of March and I might consider an agent at the end of April. He did try to convince me that Mrs Longrider told him the end of March, but that one didn’t float.
Yesterday he called again. Now, to my thinking, the end of April comes around the 30th – not the 22nd of the month. Mrs Longrider politely told him to sling his hook.
There was a point where he might have convinced us – if he had listened to what we said and called back at the end of April. As it is, nagging us had the opposite effect to that desired. Let’s put it this way, when I am looking for an agent in a week or so’s time, that agency will not be on the list.
Hard selling comes with a risk; that you piss off the potential customer to the point where they will avoid you like the plague. This gentleman overplayed his hand. A little patience would have paid off. Nagging us lost him his sale.
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Update: A chancer knocked on the door yesterday evening and asked Mrs Longrider if she would accept an offer close to £30K below the asking price. I realise that the market is in difficulty, but that is taking the piss. The response was short and to the point.
Best decision our family made was to up and live in France in 2004. Nothing is perfect, but on numerous occasions I think it is. C’est la vie.
Yet they seem to feel that the hard sell gets results – maybe it does in general. Like that appalling flashing thing saying you are the 999999th visitor or whatever.
You and I will tell them where to stuff it but it seems thousands must follow the flashing lights.
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It works if they hit on enough people – a small conversion rate works if the target sample is big enough. Those odd few who do fall for it are responsible for the rest of us suffering it.
In this particular instance, I was potentially a conversion because I was already predisposed to sign an agent – just not yet. So in this case, the hard sell was a bad decision.
Best of luck with the sale.
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Good luck from one who got out just ahead of the real downturn. Best thing we ever did.
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