Topic ID 4637
So is it estate agent speak or will there be an influx of houses on the market now its September? Been through the new year slump, the spring recession slump, the summer slump and now entering the month all estate agents have told us is our best chance of finding a new home. EEEK!
Reply ID 66553
Well, apparently it gets busier after the kids go back to achool as people are back from their holiday. Here's hoping!
Reply ID 66561
hoping here too......
Reply ID 66565
I hope so, we've just been outbid - again - on a perfect house for us. Just licking my wounds and trying to get some enthusiasm going for looking again!
Reply ID 66592
I do hope so. We trawled around all the agents in Hertford on Saturday and asked them if they'd valued anything suitable for us. Unfortunately they said not (lower Bengeo cottages). I think it might just be a case of being patient, but at the moment anything that comes on to the market does seem to be overpriced, due to lack of supply. I hope that towards the end of September/ early October prices come down a little. Naive?
Reply ID 66596
quote:Your problem may be that if there is short supply, it's not overpriced. Are your bids realistic? In a time of short supply, they need to be higher than when the market is flooded with properties.
Originally posted by newbie2
I do hope so. We trawled around all the agents in Hertford on Saturday and asked them if they'd valued anything suitable for us. Unfortunately they said not (lower Bengeo cottages). I think it might just be a case of being patient, but at the moment anything that comes on to the market does seem to be overpriced, due to lack of supply. I hope that towards the end of September/ early October prices come down a little. Naive?
Reply ID 66602
We initially offered the asking price a day after the property had come onto the market and then, when pushed, as three others had also bid the asking price, offered £10k over the asking price! Not sure that we can do any more than that really. It's just madness in Hertford at the moment - we're reluctantly looking elsewhere now.
Reply ID 66656
quote:Cripes I feel your pain that you still lost out after offering that amount over the asking price.
Originally posted by newintown
We initially offered the asking price a day after the property had come onto the market and then, when pushed, as three others had also bid the asking price, offered £10k over the asking price! Not sure that we can do any more than that really. It's just madness in Hertford at the moment - we're reluctantly looking elsewhere now.
Reply ID 66660
quote:At least you have a sensible approach. In times like these and in a town like Hertford, OIRO means asking price, or above.
Originally posted by newintown
We initially offered the asking price a day after the property had come onto the market and then, when pushed, as three others had also bid the asking price, offered £10k over the asking price! Not sure that we can do any more than that really. It's just madness in Hertford at the moment - we're reluctantly looking elsewhere now.
Reply ID 66662
quote:Said like a true estate agent ... it's the Shunts of this world who try to unrealistically push the price-up. ... I remember a year ago you were trying to convince the world that there wasn't a recession looming! .......
Originally posted by shuntquote:At least you have a sensible approach. In times like these and in a town like Hertford, OIRO means asking price, or above.
Originally posted by newintown
We initially offered the asking price a day after the property had come onto the market and then, when pushed, as three others had also bid the asking price, offered £10k over the asking price! Not sure that we can do any more than that really. It's just madness in Hertford at the moment - we're reluctantly looking elsewhere now.
Reply ID 66663
For interest I'm hoping to get my house on the market in the next few days so maybe September is the month for houses to appear!! It's a 2/3 bedroom cottage actually on Port Hill near the Hillside. The cellar is being converted into a modern room / bedroom by John Debnam builders. Anyway if it's the type of property you're looking for give me a shout.
Reply ID 66664
quote:Actually, I think much of current society's problems are connected to over-priced housing costs and that to talk them up is as daft as talking them down. It is as it is and those who think they can haggle for a bargain in a scarce market are living in cloud cookoo land. As for the recession, if you re-read my posts, you'll find I did not deny that recession was possible, but that it was being caused and could be prevented, by innacurate press and public gossip. That innacuracy continues, as claims are made (even by estate agents) that prices have fallen, when the evidence, in some Hertford sectors, is to the contrary. To give an example, the Telegraph reported a fall in prices on one page and a rise three pages later, in the same edition!
Originally posted by azzzaquote:Said like a true estate agent ... it's the Shunts of this world who try to unrealistically push the price-up. ... I remember a year ago you were trying to convince the world that there wasn't a recession looming! .......
Originally posted by shuntquote:At least you have a sensible approach. In times like these and in a town like Hertford, OIRO means asking price, or above.
Originally posted by newintown
We initially offered the asking price a day after the property had come onto the market and then, when pushed, as three others had also bid the asking price, offered £10k over the asking price! Not sure that we can do any more than that really. It's just madness in Hertford at the moment - we're reluctantly looking elsewhere now.
Reply ID 66665
Sigh - will Tiny, Harran and Newintown ever find a house they like and can afford? I think Stamp Duty is a big problem for alot of us and as sellers this isn't taken into account when they price just above the stamp duty level which is why haggling happens. I'm off to buy a Lottery ticket...
Reply ID 66667
...and Alx....!
Reply ID 66675
Surely the market always picks up in September, becuase people are abck from holiday!
Reply ID 66689
Hi Michael, I've sent you an email but have never used the Forum to do this before so hope it worked! It if didn't, let me know, otherwise looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks.
Reply ID 66695
Can't reply to emails during the day but will respond to all this evening. So apart from mine, have people noticed a few more properties marketed? Speaking to the estate agent last night he said things were picking up in Hertford.
Reply ID 66697
I haven't really noticed the pick up yet! Well not in terms of there being more houses to choose from, but estate agents are telling me that they are viewing more properties for valuations now, so hopefully the cogs have started moving along a bit
Reply ID 66698
Not Hertford I know but I thought I would share this one - driving into London down through Hendon this morning there is one smug agent who has ventured away from the traditional 'SOLD' addition to their sign and instead replaced it with 'TOO LATE' [V]
Reply ID 66699
you've gotta love them eh
Reply ID 66712
quote:...and newcomer.....!
Originally posted by alxleeks
...and Alx....!
Reply ID 66713
quote:I had a preservation surveyor round today and he said he has started to do a lot more work on houses which are preparing for sale.
Originally posted by alxleeks
I haven't really noticed the pick up yet! Well not in terms of there being more houses to choose from, but estate agents are telling me that they are viewing more properties for valuations now, so hopefully the cogs have started moving along a bit
Reply ID 66721
quote:Not yet but am hoping this is true [:)]
Originally posted by Michael [br So apart from mine, have people noticed a few more properties marketed? Speaking to the estate agent last night he said things were picking up in Hertford.
Reply ID 66722
I really hope that this is true as I'm getting fed up of my daily right-move fix! We're looking for an older-style property. Those of you already in Hertford, which agent(s) specialise in selling these? Is there one that I should spend more time 'getting to know' than another?
Reply ID 67240
So heading into October and the property market of Hertford seems to be slowing down again. Anyone else wondering if they will ever move?
Reply ID 67266
quote:Yep [:(]
Originally posted by Tiny
So heading into October and the property market of Hertford seems to be slowing down again. Anyone else wondering if they will ever move?
Reply ID 67268
We've decided to stay put now as there is nothing in our price bracket available.
Reply ID 67313
Having completed on our Bengeo house at the start of August, idle curiosity compelled me to look on Rightmove once more. Two months have passed and the same few (VERY few) properties are for sale in the 300k-450k price range ...and no new ones at all. To say the market is currently stagnant at this price level is an understatement. If I were thinking about selling now I'd do it immediately, because you can make a good profit in the current climate. On a personal level, we were very lucky to get the house we got - and I wish the same for you guys - but I don't see the market changing before next Spring (and probably not until after the election, when the country votes a bunch of Tories into power).
Reply ID 67314
quote:Isn't that what started in the first place?[;)]
Originally posted by homeless
Having completed on our Bengeo house at the start of August, idle curiosity compelled me to look on Rightmove once more. Two months have passed and the same few (VERY few) properties are for sale in the 300k-450k price range ...and no new ones at all. To say the market is currently stagnant at this price level is an understatement. If I were thinking about selling now I'd do it immediately, because you can make a good profit in the current climate. On a personal level, we were very lucky to get the house we got - and I wish the same for you guys - but I don't see the market changing before next Spring (and probably not until after the election, when the country votes a bunch of Tories into power).
Reply ID 67315
I am looking to sell but received some stark news today. This recession will stay as it is for some time yet. I am told by someone 'in the know', it will be at least 3 years before an upturn will approach and it could be 6 years before some of us get back to a status of financial normality. Horrendous, allowable overspending by all of us (me), ludicrous mortgage deals (stupidly me) and a government with a bail-out process built on internal party panic. I've been told by my ITK that this will get deeper during 2010 and any properties coming onto the market will be the same as in the early 1990s. Good old repossessions. I'd be interested to hear from anyone else that has had similar information.
Reply ID 67320
quote:heehee - yup!
Originally posted by shuntquote:Isn't that what started in the first place?[;)]
Originally posted by homeless
Having completed on our Bengeo house at the start of August, idle curiosity compelled me to look on Rightmove once more. Two months have passed and the same few (VERY few) properties are for sale in the 300k-450k price range ...and no new ones at all. To say the market is currently stagnant at this price level is an understatement. If I were thinking about selling now I'd do it immediately, because you can make a good profit in the current climate. On a personal level, we were very lucky to get the house we got - and I wish the same for you guys - but I don't see the market changing before next Spring (and probably not until after the election, when the country votes a bunch of Tories into power).
Reply ID 67344
So not positive at all then. Wonder if this will mean a decline in Hertford estate agents too...hopefully goodbye Shepherds and WHB...are you actually allowed to view their houses if you don't sell through them?
Reply ID 67346
quote:There are certainly some elements of that for any national economy too tightly aligned to the US or, like our own government, slightly timid of the right-wing regime which previously existed there, but some local Hertford property experiences indicate the opposite. I suppose it depends on so many factors. What you spent, when you spent it, how you financed it and what you bought with the money. Those who were suspicious of a Labour who looked so much like Conservatives, ironically, are most likely to survive now and become Hertford's "old money". I wish you luck on a personal level.[:)] In the insulated pond of Hertford, it's hard to use national trends to predict anything, so concentrate on your own strategies and instincts.
Originally posted by James007
I am looking to sell but received some stark news today. This recession will stay as it is for some time yet. I am told by someone 'in the know', it will be at least 3 years before an upturn will approach and it could be 6 years before some of us get back to a status of financial normality. Horrendous, allowable overspending by all of us (me), ludicrous mortgage deals (stupidly me) and a government with a bail-out process built on internal party panic. I've been told by my ITK that this will get deeper during 2010 and any properties coming onto the market will be the same as in the early 1990s. Good old repossessions. I'd be interested to hear from anyone else that has had similar information.
Reply ID 67370
quote:You can complain to the Estate Agents ombardsman and the NAEA (national association of estate agents) if they do this, naughty naughty . If everyone who is selling thier property goes on with all the agents you should cover all bases. They don't charge different rates for multi agency now. This should also make them work harder for thier sale. Beware of Steven Oates, if you are buying through them and they don't sell yours they will stitch you up by selling beneath you. They have done this to us twice this year ! Decided to stay put for a while.
Originally posted by Tiny
So not positive at all then. Wonder if this will mean a decline in Hertford estate agents too...hopefully goodbye Shepherds and WHB...are you actually allowed to view their houses if you don't sell through them?
Reply ID 68047
Newbie 2 and Tiny, are you still looking for a new property?
Reply ID 68170
Yes still looking. Just been gazumped for the second time on a property we wanted. Beginning to think that its just not possible for us to buy a 2 bed near a station in Hertford. Fourth house to be snatched away by the property god once solicitor details exchanged and surveyor booked. Arghhhhh!!!!!
Reply ID 68172
quote:I have sent you an email regarding the above, which I hope is of interest.
Originally posted by Tiny
Yes still looking. Just been gazumped for the second time on a property we wanted. Beginning to think that its just not possible for us to buy a 2 bed near a station in Hertford. Fourth house to be snatched away by the property god once solicitor details exchanged and surveyor booked. Arghhhhh!!!!!
Reply ID 68242
quote:is this with different agents ? what is going on with all this gazumping - we are supposed to be in a property recession !!
Originally posted by Tiny
Yes still looking. Just been gazumped for the second time on a property we wanted. Beginning to think that its just not possible for us to buy a 2 bed near a station in Hertford. Fourth house to be snatched away by the property god once solicitor details exchanged and surveyor booked. Arghhhhh!!!!!
Reply ID 68266
Yes two different agents a third gave us the right run around on a different house. So i think that its a Hertford thing with agents happy to let properies that have been 'taken off the market' be sold to other people. I don't know. It just seems so difficult.
Reply ID 68277
To me that is just poor management by the Estate Agents of this town. Do they not want to sell properties in town? After all, in the current financial crisis a sale is a sale and 2,000 extra in commission is not the be all and end all. For me once a property is off the market and under offer its in the process of being sold. Therefore offers should not be taken on them until (if at all) situations change ie vendors/purchasers pulling out. Its high time the FSA or some regulating body cracks down on Estate Agents as they are a law unto themselves, like the banking industry. Should we introduce the Scottish way of buying houses in Hertford/UK. At least then guzumping would be a thing of the past. Rant over.
Reply ID 68278
quote:Estate agents act for vendors and take orders from vendors. Nothing is binding until exchange of contracts. These are the rules. In my experience buyers take far too long to proceed with purchases after offers are accepted and often drop out or haggle or simply mess you about. I say leave the property on the market and listen to offers until exchange of contracts.
Originally posted by Bubbaoshea
To me that is just poor management by the Estate Agents of this town. Do they not want to sell properties in town? After all, in the current financial crisis a sale is a sale and 2,000 extra in commission is not the be all and end all. For me once a property is off the market and under offer its in the process of being sold. Therefore offers should not be taken on them until (if at all) situations change ie vendors/purchasers pulling out. Its high time the FSA or some regulating body cracks down on Estate Agents as they are a law unto themselves, like the banking industry. Should we introduce the Scottish way of buying houses in Hertford/UK. At least then guzumping would be a thing of the past. Rant over.
Reply ID 68280
Estate Agents also work for themselves and for their commission. If they feel a property is worth more than the offer thats been accepted they will still offer/line up people to try and get them in for the asking price. Being a vendor I know that i would be willing to accept x for my property. If I got that i would accept and then sell to that person. I wouldn't then turn around to the agent and say keep it on the market as i want extra. I would have turned down the first offer. Give the purchaser the chance to purchase, if after a period of time things stall then re consider your position. I know of agents that have played a bidder off against themselves (the agent) so that they get the full asking price and make more cash. Yes, that could be for the benefit of the vendor but when they are doing it they are thinking of the extra pound coins that arrive in their bank.
Reply ID 68284
quote:Who were the Estate Agents?
Originally posted by Tiny
Yes two different agents a third gave us the right run around on a different house. So i think that its a Hertford thing with agents happy to let properies that have been 'taken off the market' be sold to other people. I don't know. It just seems so difficult.
Reply ID 68295
None of the new agents in town. When we accepted the offer on our property, we were offered more after and didn't take it as we felt we had a moral responsibility to sell it to original person. Who themselves is excited and happy and planning living in our property. Why really upset someone for a few thousand pounds more at then end of the day we would have just had to pay more commision and i would have felt terrible about it. But then i believe in Karma and that's probably the wrong house buying approach. On all the houses we had offers accepted on we were prepared to move as fast as the solicitor could do the paperwork, so no dilly dallying from us!
Reply ID 68296
quote:Wasn't it nice to know that if your original buyers dropped out then the were others already wanting to buy it (and for more). This means you don't have to start marketing again and should also put pressure on the buyers to move quickly. I cannot see anything wrong with this.
Originally posted by Tiny
None of the new agents in town. When we accepted the offer on our property, we were offered more after and didn't take it as we felt we had a moral responsibility to sell it to original person. Who themselves is excited and happy and planning living in our property. Why really upset someone for a few thousand pounds more at then end of the day we would have just had to pay more commision and i would have felt terrible about it. But then i believe in Karma and that's probably the wrong house buying approach. On all the houses we had offers accepted on we were prepared to move as fast as the solicitor could do the paperwork, so no dilly dallying from us!
Reply ID 68318
Tiny, I agree with you. I'd feel terrible. But I was shocked to see Kirsty on Location, Location, Location the other night, advising the people to put in an offer on a house, because they could always drop out later!?! It's like it's become an acceptable practice (although not to me!).
Reply ID 68320
quote:I am not surprised at this
Originally posted by susan-w
Tiny, I agree with you. I'd feel terrible. But I was shocked to see Kirsty on Location, Location, Location the other night, advising the people to put in an offer on a house, because they could always drop out later!?! It's like it's become an acceptable practice (although not to me!).
Reply ID 68331
quote:It's a shame that not everyone has your moral standards Tiny. I once let my house in Hertford instead of selling it, just so that I could meet the vendors time requirements, only for them to sell the house that we had agreed a price on, but not until AFTER I had agreed my letting.
Originally posted by Tiny
None of the new agents in town. When we accepted the offer on our property, we were offered more after and didn't take it as we felt we had a moral responsibility to sell it to original person. Who themselves is excited and happy and planning living in our property. Why really upset someone for a few thousand pounds more at then end of the day we would have just had to pay more commision and i would have felt terrible about it. But then i believe in Karma and that's probably the wrong house buying approach. On all the houses we had offers accepted on we were prepared to move as fast as the solicitor could do the paperwork, so no dilly dallying from us!
Reply ID 68374
Just can't understand why people can't treat people how they would want to be treated when house buying/selling. Maybe the vendors never know. Just hoping November brings us a nice house and no one drops out, gazumps us or generally mucks us around so we loose other options and spend money on surveys. Perhaps this is what house buying is all about.
Reply ID 68382
I recall when we last moved house (3 years ago) that we offered under the old 'best and finals' system on a few properties and lost them by small margins. We were approached by the vendor on one of these properties some 3 months after losing out on it by £2k as the person he had accepted tried to drop him £50k on the asking price the day before exchange!! As we were about to exchange on the purchase of our current house, we felt it was unfair to pull out and karma that we were not mean't to buy his house - and it was his tough luck for being greedy [:)]
Reply ID 68386
A last minute attempt to drop the price just before exchange has sadly become common. Outrageous and caddish behaviour. Perhaps English law should be changed to allow physical assault in such circumstances, or failing that, we could copy the Scots and make a formal offer a binding contract.
Reply ID 68397
Something has to be done about this system. The only people really making money are the solicitors and surveyors. The larger estate agents in Hertford have created this problem but they only get thier commision when it finally goes through. You would think that any of them would be happy with one sale but they would rob thier own granny for a multiple sale. At the end of the day if you are selling your property then you are in charge NOT the estate agents. If we all had morals and were good for our word this wouldn't happen. We have been let down by buyers and "lost" 2 houses to higher bidders after surveys etc. We would never stitch someone up and treat them the way we have been treated - maybe that is just us, but we like to sleep at night !!
Reply ID 68399
conveyancers making money - you have to be having a laugh. Most of the time the time on the clock vastly exceeds the time that was actually spent doing the job. What does it cost for the average sale or purchase now on a decent sized house? 1200 quid plus vat and disbursments? That amounts to about 6 hours of my time at 200 quid an hour. You get a retarded client who is ringing you up and emailing you everyday (which happens) then there is no profit in the job...
Reply ID 68400
quote:Have you considered alternative employment?[:D]
Originally posted by exiled_in_Reading
conveyancers making money - you have to be having a laugh. Most of the time the time on the clock vastly exceeds the time that was actually spent doing the job. What does it cost for the average sale or purchase now on a decent sized house? 1200 quid plus vat and disbursments? That amounts to about 6 hours of my time at 200 quid an hour. You get a retarded client who is ringing you up and emailing you everyday (which happens) then there is no profit in the job...
Reply ID 68402
I'm actually a litigator now and have been for some time - I've never been busier.
Reply ID 68403
My heart bleeds for you, but you win some you loose some. If you quote a price for a job and it takes you longer for any reason - tough. Why shouldn't a "retarded" client have questions about the biggest purchase they will probably ever make. This is my point really - it may just be a job to estate agents, solicitors and the like but for us trying to move it is our lives not just a business transaction.
quote:
Originally posted by exiled_in_Reading
conveyancers making money - you have to be having a laugh. Most of the time the time on the clock vastly exceeds the time that was actually spent doing the job. What does it cost for the average sale or purchase now on a decent sized house? 1200 quid plus vat and disbursments? That amounts to about 6 hours of my time at 200 quid an hour. You get a retarded client who is ringing you up and emailing you everyday (which happens) then there is no profit in the job...
Reply ID 68408
quote:Thats garbage anyway. Conveyancers all have receptionists on minimum wage who process these calls and emails. Very rarely do you ever get to speak to the actual person - even when they give you a direct number!
Originally posted by exiled_in_Reading
conveyancers making money - you have to be having a laugh. Most of the time the time on the clock vastly exceeds the time that was actually spent doing the job. What does it cost for the average sale or purchase now on a decent sized house? 1200 quid plus vat and disbursments? That amounts to about 6 hours of my time at 200 quid an hour. You get a retarded client who is ringing you up and emailing you everyday (which happens) then there is no profit in the job...
Reply ID 68436
quote:Because in my experience they don't read the letters you send them which answers most if not all of the questions they could have. Still, most people go with the sweatshops staffed with paralegals, who will do it for a few hundred quid, and who will in my experience balls up the job - which in most occassions wont show for a few years...
Originally posted by Nikiduck
My heart bleeds for you, but you win some you loose some. If you quote a price for a job and it takes you longer for any reason - tough. Why shouldn't a "retarded" client have questions about the biggest purchase they will probably ever make. This is my point really - it may just be a job to estate agents, solicitors and the like but for us trying to move it is our lives not just a business transaction.quote:
Originally posted by exiled_in_Reading
conveyancers making money - you have to be having a laugh. Most of the time the time on the clock vastly exceeds the time that was actually spent doing the job. What does it cost for the average sale or purchase now on a decent sized house? 1200 quid plus vat and disbursments? That amounts to about 6 hours of my time at 200 quid an hour. You get a retarded client who is ringing you up and emailing you everyday (which happens) then there is no profit in the job...
Reply ID 68437
quote:In what way?
Originally posted by exiled_in_Reading
[quote] Still, most people go with the sweatshops staffed with paralegals, who will do it for a few hundred quid, and who will in my experience balls up the job - which in most occassions wont show for a few years...
Reply ID 68438
quote:I'd imagine things like the "ransom strip" which fronts some of the cottages in Bengeo Street, thanks to a council admin error in 1984. Sold several times without being noticed.
Originally posted by Harranquote:In what way?
Originally posted by exiled_in_Reading
[quote] Still, most people go with the sweatshops staffed with paralegals, who will do it for a few hundred quid, and who will in my experience balls up the job - which in most occassions wont show for a few years...