Property seller: I'll drop price of home by £1k every week
A HOME seller has taken an unusual approach to selling an East Yorkshire property by slashing the price by £1,000 each week until it is sold.
John Parker, who runs property part-exchange company Home To Home Exchange, is testing the resolve of buyers with his bizarre offer.
The asking price of the one-bedroom flat at 42 Ingle Court, Market Weighton, has already plummeted from £135,000 to £89,500.
Now, in a last-ditch attempt to trigger interest in the property, Mr Parker is prepared to take an extreme approach.
He said: "I run a part-exchange company buying and selling properties.
"This one-bedroom property is ideal for a young professional.
"I have had this property for a while now and it was originally on the market for £135,000.
"That has now dropped to a very competitive £89,500, but it is still on the market.
"From today, I am going to bring the price down by £1,000 each week."
Mr Parker has tried this approach a couple of times before which has proved successful.
He said: "I have done it a handful of times in the past four years in other parts of the country.
"I would like to think this kind of approach is unique. I have certainly not come across anyone else doing it, certainly not in East Yorkshire.
"It is a way of drawing attention to a property that already represents great value.
"I came across this idea after seeing someone selling a three-piece suite by dropping the price by about £20 each week."
The state of the current housing market is the only reason Mr Parker can think of for the property failing to sell so far.
He said: "How house sales go always depends on the local market and what people in that area are looking for.
"I have had quite a few viewings and almost sold it a few days ago.
"I am surprised it hasn't gone yet, but I expect it will now."
Mr Parker won't reveal how far he is willing to go before withdrawing the offer.
"I cannot give a figure on what will be the lowest price, as I don't want to show my hand," he said.
"But this is a determined campaign and will go on for a few weeks.
"It is a case of whose resolve is the strongest – mine or the buyer's?"
Chris Clubley & Co Ltd is acting as agent for Mr Parker.
Sales negotiator Angela Midwood said: "This is certainly an unusual approach and not something I have come across before.
For hundreds of homes to buy or rent, see the Mail's Property Guide on Thursday.










12 Comments
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by bambi80
Monday, January 30 2012, 11:58PM
“ill buy it wen he gets t 3 grand hahahhaahahah”
by myhull
Monday, January 30 2012, 12:40PM
“I think he's missing the point,
It's not that his property is too expensive, its that prople dont have that much cash and in this climate morgages are becoming more and more difficult to get
He should offer it to the RBS boss haha”
by AD4MHull
Monday, January 30 2012, 11:30AM
“Is this man a clown? His value of the property and his tie would certainly suggest so!”
by loubylou116
Monday, January 30 2012, 10:45AM
“From personal family experience, at another Mcarthy and Stone development in Swanland, the only way the flat got sold was to sell to one of those companies that specialise in buying retirement flats for cash. The amount received was lower than it would have been on the open market (and the flat I am referring to was also a small one bed, priced lower than the above now) but there are so many empty retirements (Inc MW, Swanland and Cottingham) at these complexes absolutely nothing is selling. Older people can get mortgages depending on their circumstances but its expensive.”
by Ianm_hull
Monday, January 30 2012, 10:28AM
“"This is certainly an unusual approach and not something I have come across before" - what, do you mean dropping a price until it's affordable? £135,000 for a granny flat was way over the top.”
by GetRealPlease
Monday, January 30 2012, 10:25AM
“What estate agent told Mr Parker that a 1 bed flat in Market Weighton was worth £135,000?
In my experience estate agents too often tell the seller what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear (i.e. the truth).
I just checked RightMove. Builders are selling similar flats for £133,000 but they are not doubt throwing in all sorts of extras at that price, including a hefty retention fee no doubt (which is basically a cash back fiddle that never gets reported to the Land Registry).
The only 1 bed flat that's Under Offer in Market Weighton right now is on at £63,000.”
by Yelrubsol
Monday, January 30 2012, 10:20AM
“A bargain at £135,000.”
by soozhull68
Monday, January 30 2012, 10:05AM
“He doesn't seem to know his market, it wouldn't suit a young professional, it's in a development for the over 55s!”
by charleswelton
Monday, January 30 2012, 9:26AM
“"And I'll adverstise it in the Hull Daily Mail, then it will be sold the next day"”
by GP200
Monday, January 30 2012, 9:12AM
“Correct me if I am wrong but don't you have to be OVER 50 yrs old to buy one of these Retirement Flats/Homes ??”