Owning your own home

pretty dam close

So, the owner of the place we're trying to buy is back to looking as her sellers couldn't find anywhere. She's also 5 months pregnant. Perhaps being a bit pessimistic but starting to feel like this'll drag on another couple of months and she'll just land up doing the same and taking it off the market. This whole 'I'll sell you my flat when it suits me' situation is mega frustrating and expensive given we're the ones stuck paying rent.

EA fees... geting 1.5 offers, most folks have mentioned 1% is possible. Without sounding like a dick I dont think its going to be hard to sell my place so not sure I'm keen on handing over 5 figures... thoughts?

Stick it on Purplebricks or whatever then I guess. They won't go lower than 1% + VAT (ha!) in my limited experience. Could try negotiating for a staggered agreement where they get more if they sell it for a figure beyond your expectations, and less than 1% if they sell it for way less. The trick they will pull on you with this kind of arrangement is that the lowest will always be 1%+ VAT...

Thanks again, we did a lot of reading up and read a lot of horror stories but also every leasehold flat seems equally (or not far off) as much of a gamble.

Yeah that's true. Leasehold is a bastard and even share of freehold can be an absolute clusterfuck. It's why we like houses :)

Ex LA stuff isn't just about the horror stories though - there are other things that are specific to ex LA but I guess if you've done enough reading around you'll be prepared.

Stick it on Purplebricks or whatever then I guess.

To be fair, I just did a couple of viewings through Purplebricks and it was all good really. Asides from the fact they did the 'open day' trick, the EA was knowledgable and quite open. From the buyer POV you have direct contact with the seller, through the website.

E.G - I couldn't do the open day. Purplebricks on phone said "sorry, it's just the open day". I messaged owner through Purplebricks website and the owner obviously contacted their rep and said get me in. So they did.

I gave them an offer, and that's just on the website too, so goes straight to the owner.

Worth a look I reckon.

I'd prob be happy with 1% but Keatons want 1.8 or something and Currells 1.5...

shake hands on 1.3% including VAT

INCLUDING?

Ok, if thats the going rate... have seen properties on from Purple Bricks and the pics look like amateur hour.

With flat sale pending, I've had an offer accepted on a house. 3% under asking. And approx 13% under the price of a nice 'done up' one that just sold across the road.

But will be pretty much a full renovation.

have seen properties on from Purple Bricks and the pics look like amateur hour.

Take 'em yourself.

?

I'm not sure. I would be any better... and I dont have a (digital) camera...

We took quotes from 2 each, 2 online, 2 brick & mortar, went with brick and mortar with good rate (1.3%). Mind you we started in Nov and havent completed yet lol. Having said that if the same situation had happened with an online one they'd have fucked off along with the 1st buyer (2 buyers fell off). I can't rate our selling EA's enough.

Go for the retro market.

I have actually thought about using a film camera but its a step too far...

there is a market for it

themodernhouse.com?

hmmmm I kinda avoid them because I feel you dont get good value as a buyer on there... as its all about moving every single bit of furniture out of your flat and replacing it with a plant and one book... might give them a call though.

Just sent some bad phone pics to them to see if they will be interested, going to be a real black eye if they say no...

Alex Neil estate agents used to unofficially go down to one pc plus vat

Amazing. I was (jokingly) going to suggest I'd hit upon a great new property website idea. As ever, someone's already done it. (See also, the breakfast pie).

farm to table .. as they say

Lol

The agent won't like that.

I actually set up an Instagram and designed and half built my own website to sell, but think I was getting carried away...

Instasell