If you want to sell a village or rural property, there is an undeniable charm about a pretty village location in a true rural retreat away from noisy roads. While there is a lack of close neighbours or an inability to pick up groceries nearby, there is an element of appeal for living in the countryside with clean air and away from the hustle and bustle of an urban lifestyle.
If you have tried to sell your rural property on the open market and now wish to sell it quickly, this is where we can help.
Whether you wish to sell your country or village house, equestrian property, a farm, a smallholding or property with land, Property Saviour are here to help. We are experts in helping you sell your rural property. We are not estate agents. We are cash buyers.
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How To Sell Your Rural Property?
Homeowners approach us once they have tried unsuccessfully to sell their rural property with a local estate agent.
When it comes to selling properties in urban areas, estate agents look for comparable sold properties within a ¼ mile radius, and it’s easy to find a similar 3-bed Victorian terrace house in a cul-de-sac position, calculate its floor area and work out an indicative marketing price.
Unlike built-up town or city areas, estate agents will struggle to find comparables in rural areas.
No two country properties are the same. A rural property will not have the same comparables, and an estate agent will have to look up within a 10-mile search radius. How can you compare a 5-bedroom barn conversion with 8 acres of land with a 5-bed farmhouse with 2 acres – all within a 1-mile radius?
This is a typical scenario
You have invited one of the most respected local estate agents into your home. He/she will have given you an indicative value based on similar properties sold on Rightmove Plus and Zoopla Pro. You have been given a valuation range. You asked them how they reached the figure they have proposed for marketing your home.
They’ve assured you that they have sold similar properties in the area, used a house price calculator and taken into consideration the price you have paid for the property and any capital growth since.
Your estate agent is confident they can sell your home and are happy with their valuation. You decide to go ahead and sign up with them for a six-month exclusivity to market your rural property.
Now, 6 months have passed, and you’ve had some interest with a few viewings but no offers. Your rural property is in a perfect village setting, and you do not understand why your agent hasn’t sold your home.
Your personal situation has changed, and you wish to sell your rural property to downsize to be closer to family as you have health worries or another situation that necessitates a quicker-than-normal sale.
You are now told to reduce your asking price. You try this, but it does not work, and 12 months later, you decide to change to another estate agent who seems to know what they are talking about.
You ask them:
- Which rural properties have you sold recently?
- What is your average percentage of the asking price to the selling price?
- How many potential ‘active’ buyers do you have on your mailing list?
- What does your marketing plan for my home look like?
- Do you have any experience in surveying, valuing and selling land?
What does a great rural estate agent look like?
A great rural property estate agent should be able to:
- Provide you with solid comparable properties that have sold in nearby villages
- Demonstrate their ability to survey, value and sell land, preferably backed up with a RICS qualification
- Be transparent and have an average percentage of the asking price achieved over the last 12 months
- Be able to confidently demonstrate that they have motivated, ready, willing, and able buyers who would be looking for a property just like yours – and offer to do an open house to invite these buyers for a viewing
- Talk you through their marketing plan.
Sadly, very few good estate agents fit into the above category, leaving many sellers wondering if they can sell their properties without using an estate agent.
Don’t fall for liar buyers
Rural estate agents often boast their mailing list containing thousands of buyers. Not all of them will be ‘active’ or be able to buy.
A sizeable proportion of these ‘buyers’ would be people who aspire to buy a country property sometime in the future if they hit a lottery jackpot or inherit a lot of money. Buying a rural property is a dream for most people. Those who wish to buy a property may have to sell their own home or are not ready to move due to jobs or children still at home and unable to move to the countryside.
A few genuine buyers will have bought their unique village property but remain on a mailing list, and the estate agent will have time to qualify the mailing list to see who is still looking to buy and has funds in place.
Most estate agents’ marketing plan is to put your property on Rightmove and wait for the phone to ring. But what if you need to sell now?
99% of all estate agents are not great at marketing, can’t think creatively to sell your property and won’t proactively sell it. This is why homeowners who are fed up with trying to sell their rural property look online for a quick sale.
Even if you have hired a great estate agent, success is not guaranteed. A potential buyer may not have the finances in place or use a difficult solicitor who raises countless enquiries to frustrate your solicitor, and the relationship may break down.
Reasons why a rural property sale might collapse?
With any rural property or houses in villages, several important considerations can result in an abortive sale such as:
- Access issues – for example, through a neighbouring property
- Drainage, utility services or any rights running over 3rd party land and vice versa
- Tenancy issues and or illegal occupation of land by a local farmer
- Rural subsidies and grants such as Countrywide Stewardship or Basic Payment Scheme
- Sporting or mineral rights
- Environmental matters such as land contamination
- Boundary and mapping – a detailed plan for sale purposes demonstrating that the boundary is in the right place
- Is the property registered with the HM Land Registry? If not, this can add up to six months to your conveyancing and could put off any potential buyer.
Do you have an empty rural property to sell?
With an empty rural property, the risk of theft is substantially increased as thieves can take their time removing lead from the roof and removing any copper pipes and valuables.
With no neighbours nearby, they can easily smash the door or window without fear of being caught. The professional thieves target long-term empty properties that can look slightly abandoned with overgrown grass in a remote location.
We’ve heard of thefts whereby thieves are wearing hi-visibility jackets pretending to be builders to any dog-walkers or farmers to carry out their sinister act.
While squatting in residential properties is illegal, it’s up to the owner to prove that the squatter gained entry illegally, as squatters can claim the front door was wide open, and they moved in.
There is also the risk of adverse possession whereby a local farmer or a resident can ‘take over’ your property without your permission, particularly if you are not nearby, and after 12 years, claim it as theirs by applying to the Land Registry. In cases where the owner has relocated or is ‘missing’, this can favour the applicant, i.e., the person applying for the adverse possession.
If you have an empty property, you must ensure you have empty property insurance. It is best to speak to an insurance broker to check what your property will be covered for, as most offer you a very limited cover, i.e. theft, fire and lightning.
It makes sense to sell your rural property for cash if you need to sell now. But would you sell your home privately or via auction?
How to sell a farm property?
You can sell your farm property to us. We’ll make you a cash offer, enabling you to conclude the sale in ten days or quicker and there are no fees to pay.
How to sell a rural home?
Rural homes have a limited market as only people who live nearby or moving to the area may wish to buy it. We can make you a cash offer for your home and buy it within a few days or at a timescale that suits you.
How can I sell my rural property FAST?
Property Saviour will buy any house fast in any condition. We love to buy unique properties in the country and urban areas.
We’d love to hear from you whether you own a charming village cottage or a true rural retreat. We will make a cash offer on any village or rural home regardless of size or age.
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
