| Author |    Topic Search  Topic Options | 
 
  | Lisha   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 2031
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Topic: House Hunting... Posted: 25 March 2008 at 2:57pm
 | 
 
  | 
   We are due to put the house on the market in the next month, so have been having major cleanups around the place, ready for when we have an open home.
 My parents have loaned us alot of money (wahhooooa!) so we are taking it and upgraded or downgrading to a bigger house.  We own a 4 year old house, that we built the same time as we got married, crazy looking back now.    It's just getting a wee bit cramped with all the girls (Lucy's) things.
 Off to look at a open home today, it's massive, 70 years old, and beautiful.. and abit over our budget.
 Have already been to a few open homes and every time I see a new one, I fall in love with it, then come back down to earth and realise the faults it has.
 Hopefully the stress of finding and actually selling this one might be around the corner.... ?    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Sponsored Links | 
 
  
 | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Bizzy   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 10974
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 25 March 2008 at 3:06pm | 
 
  | 
   good luck with it all.  we have our house on the market too but arent in a hurry to buy another one. 
    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | .Mel   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 14 January 2007
 Location: Orewa
 Points: 9078
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 25 March 2008 at 3:10pm | 
 
  | 
   OMG good luck.. I'm too scared to go back into the market, especially with the interest rates going up and up. Blah!
    | 
 
  | 
     Mr Mellow (16)
 Miss Attitude (8)
 Destructa Kid (3)
   | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | muppet   Groupie
 
   
   
 Joined: 07 August 2007
 Points: 62
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 25 March 2008 at 3:22pm | 
 
  | 
   We're just starting to look for our first house now which is an education in itself!  Good luck for selling    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | jack_&_charli   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: christchurch
 Points: 7155
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 25 March 2008 at 4:09pm | 
 
  | 
   we bought our first house this time last year and that was stressful enough let alone trying to sell one!
 good luck, i hope you find that perfect place   | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Bombshell   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Points: 6665
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 25 March 2008 at 4:19pm | 
 
  | 
   good luck - we have our house on market too...is horrid stressful time having open homes all the time!!! esp when you just want to sell....   | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | aussiegirl   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 22 October 2007
 Location: Waikato
 Points: 957
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 25 March 2008 at 4:40pm | 
 
  | 
   
|  Bombshell wrote: 
 good luck - we have our house on market too...is horrid stressful time having open homes all the time!!! esp when you just want to sell....
  | 
 same with us... 
 good luck with it all!   | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Lisha   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 2031
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 March 2008 at 2:57pm | 
 
  | 
   Our house is going to be in the Harcourts Blue Book for Canterbury next week...!    Looks like DH and myself will have to get stuck into the garden and finish little bits and pieces ready for the photos!
 No turning back now    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Bizzy   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 10974
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 March 2008 at 3:13pm | 
 
  | 
   
|  Bombshell wrote: 
 good luck - we have our house on market too...is horrid stressful time having open homes all the time!!! esp when you just want to sell....
  | 
 if i was you...   (i know i'm not tho) i would can the open homes and make it view by appointment instead.  why put yourself thru stress when you dont have to.  or have one a month maybe!
    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Lisha   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 2031
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 March 2008 at 4:12pm | 
 
  | 
   That is what we are doing, on our terms. And having a deadline sale.
    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Kellz   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Gisborne
 Points: 7186
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 March 2008 at 4:30pm | 
 
  | 
   Anyone wanna move to Gisborne?! We wanna sell one of our houses! You'll have me as a neighbour,..what a bonus !!    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | busymum   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 12236
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 March 2008 at 8:50pm | 
 
  | 
   We actually found that the open homes were easier than appointments. You have a whole week's warning for an open home. For appointments (we had a mix of both) you might only get 1/2 hr notice to get the house presentable. Yep, we did it with a 2 1/2 yo, 1 yo and 3mos pg... help! lol
    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Bombshell   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Points: 6665
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 March 2008 at 9:02pm | 
 
  | 
   We had by appt orig and kept getting groups who wanted to come after work and at 7-8pm...i have a bubba who is always in bed around 7pm!   it is still by appt if need be...but most groups come to the open homes
    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Lisha   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 2031
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 26 March 2008 at 9:03pm | 
 
  | 
   Wow busymum... something to look forward too.  How did you keep the house tidy?! I have had a major de-clutter session, and most of it is out in the garage, have to tidy that up also.
    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | Lisha   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 2031
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 31 March 2008 at 9:20am | 
 
  | 
   DH and I have spent the whole weekend racing around the garden, making new paths, laying peastraw to make it look really nice for the Harcourts photos, and we have done it!
 Now just have to keep the house tidy for open homes this weekend.    | 
 
  |  | 
 
  |  | 
 
  | KABJ99   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 15 January 2008
 Location: Mangere Bridge, Auckland
 Points: 293
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 31 March 2008 at 10:10am | 
 
  | 
   Has your agent told you what the average number of days to sell is in your area/street is(not national averages), what similar properties to yours have sold for and how long they were on the market for, and the method in which they sold (all properties not just harcourts)in the last 3 months.
 This will give you a better idea of what is really happening in the market so that you base your judgements on realistic information not historical fact. (You can also check out quoteable values website www.qv.co.nz and get access to reports on properties that have sold in your area - some are free, some cost a little).
 
 If they can't give you this information immediately I would suggest finding another agent who can - any decent good agent should know everything that is happening in their patch - why would you pay that much money in commision for a crap agent and poor service.
 
 Make sure you get regular reports from your agent (minimum once a week, preferably more) on what they are doing to market and sell your property.
 
 PS. I used to work as the Marketing Manager for one of the National Real Estate Agents Chains so have some idea what i'm talking about here and the tricks they use to buy and sell properties
 | 
 
  |  |