Good home more important than price adds - opinions

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LOZHUG

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Hi,

When you see adds good home more important than price.....what do you take that as meaning and how much lower than the price would you offer?

Just wanted other people's opinions as I am rather confused in offering a loving forever home but they will only take £50 less than priced on their add although they say good home more important than price and they want the horse to have a forever home which I am offering.

Thanks in advance

Nice hot choc and muffin in return on this cold day :)
 
Is it possible that you are not the home they are looking for??? It is only the impression I get...so may not be the case..... But to put that on the advert and not give that much off is a bit strange
But I'd take the advert as at least a good few hundred pounds off.....if not a thousand or so (depending on price)
 
I have never sold a horse before but I imagine some people have already advertised their horse at a lower price than they think the horse is worth as a good home is more important, so therefore don't really want to take much less than the price stated in the advert?
Each seller will probably be different though. As mynutmeg has said. She has advertised at horses value and will accept a much lower offer to the right home so you are best asking!
 
I've sold some foals for thousands less than they've been advertised for because I really wanted my horses to go to these particular homes. It's worth it to me as I sell on the understanding that the buyers promote me as a breeder. So it's a win-win situation.

£50 isn't much of a discount if the horse is thousands but if it's only a few hundred then perhaps it is actually priced correctly and as such they're expecting a number of 'right homes' to show interest at the price they already have the horse advertised for. I occasionally do this; undervalue a horse so that it opens the market up to many other buyers who might not normally be able to afford this type of horse, and as such I am able to choose the very best home for the horse.
 
I sold my horse on this basis. I priced him very low and was prepared to drop it further if he went to someone who had time and experience and would keep him forever, if that meant they would be interested in taking him. In the end that's what happened. I sold him for very little, could probably have got a lot more but you can't put a price on a clear conscience.

As others have said, whether £50 off is reasonable depends on the purchase price but that would be normal negotiations in most cases imho.
 
Thanks for your replies. If I was selling and uy that in I would mean it for a good home it seems that they really won't budge.

Given horse is 18 years had breathing probs in 2009 and was on medication for that time but now needs dust free bedding and soaked hay which makes me wonder if there is an element of COPD. Also previous knee problem but doesn't affect him now?? They are selling with tack and rug. His jabs aren't up to date and is in need of new shoes. They are asking £800 and I offered a couple of hundred less for a forever home and they said the least they would take would be £750?

I know all people differ when selling it really there wasn't much point in them putting that in the add in my opinion they may as well have just put £800ono

I may not be the right home they are looking for but needed to check what if they would accept my offer before travelling the 180 mile one way trip to view him.
 
I have one up for sale at the moment, and the home really is the most important thing. Being brutally honest now thats the absolver of my guilt in selling her, in losing the control. I love her to bits but she needs riding every day or is too much to handle. I can't do that, and I'm at the end of a long road in ...not admiting but accepting that. TBH I would give her away to a forever home where she wouldn't be mistreated and kept fed and warm. I'm finding it very hard though as I know she isn't worth much - more sentimental value... hehehe. Although I have also set the deadline in my mind, I'll stop all advertising bar ad's in the feed & tack shops nearby and retire her if necessary. If a person I didn't like came along I'd simply not sell.

Even the most altruistic person will have a lot invested in their horse, they may need to recoup that from either a financial standpoint to put towards the cost of a more suitable horse, or just for that little bit of you that wants to not have failed.

So. I have to agree with Charlotte, she may be advertising at a lower or reduced value already (with something similar to my insane ramblings being taken into account) - and you get a lot of horse for your money - or she may just not think you'll be the forever home she's looking for and is holding out for the next one - or she may not actually be ready to sell, has tested the water and you as a buyer have come along too quickly.

Or is it just me ?
 
TBH, I always read the 'home more important than price' adverts as 'we have advertised this horse at less than its value because we want it to go to a nice home'. Therefore, I always think that they probably wouldn't accept much of an offer. I've never bought a horse advertised like this though so I may be totally wrong :)
 
Clare that was my intention when selling mine.

Op are the tack and rugs worth what they've advertised the horse for? Then i could understand not budging. Otherwise they are daft!
 
I have no idea what the tack and rug is like as I have not committed to travel all that way if they are unwilling to take my offer.

It's interesting to see other peoples perspective and opinions on it. To me if I was to put that in the add I would do my upmost to get the best home. Also add says needs to go ASAP.

I just find it frustrating as people always say its the buyers that are the pain but sometimes sellers aren't helpful. I have been nothing but 110% honest and open with them and am offering a genuine home for life where he will be cared for (I have 5 of these already - field ornaments but wouldn't have it any other way)
I would rather them be open and say no your not appropriate or they are unable to take any less but thanks for the enquiry.
 
I'd not put much stock by it. Their idea of the right home is possibly not the same as yours for a start and normally these all seem to be vastly over priced to begin with.
 
Well, I have been the "right home" for more than one horse that has come to me because the previous owner really cared enough about their horse to find a a place where it would be safe, well cared for and appreciated for what it was, not pushed beyond its capacities. And thus I have horses here which have cost me from £0 = free, to less than a quarter of their asking price. I am not rich, but I do look after horses well, and have unconventional jobs for them to do. I am also quite old and experienced, and able to take on horses with problems that would not suit the average rider. I am also honest, and would never sell a quirky horse on. I regularly have to turn down offers of free horses, but that's my own fault as I have a reputation for taking on difficult horses now.
 
They are asking £800 and I offered a couple of hundred less for a forever home and they said the least they would take would be £750?

I know all people differ when selling it really there wasn't much point in them putting that in the add in my opinion they may as well have just put £800ono

I may not be the right home they are looking for but needed to check what if they would accept my offer before travelling the 180 mile one way trip to view him.[/QUOTE]

They may not have liked you trying to negotiate a lower price without meeting you, if I was selling an older horse I would drop the price but only once the buyer had tried it, had shown they really wanted it and I felt that the home was right, how are they supposed to know you are the right person from a phone call or even worse a text or email, if they had agreed to drop the price then felt you did not suit the horse it can become difficult to then refuse to let you have him, the distance you travel is not their concern other than possibly wanting him to stay nearby.
 
when I bought my boy I found an old preloved add for £800 when I msgd I was told they were going to readvertise him in the spring (2/3 months time) for £1100 but for the right home they'd let him go for the £800! so I paid £800, they never vetted the home as it was 4hours drive away, so not sure how they knew I was the right home! obviously I am but they weren't to know!

so think people just try it on and will accept less if they cant get as much as they want!
 
For me I go through a lot of things before I even start to discuss price, if I'm not happy that you (as a buyer) are offering a suitable home then I wouldn't sell for any price. If you're offering the right home but need me to budge on price then the horse's welfare is all I'm interested in so discussions can be had :-)
 
I would make the 360 mile round trip tomorrow to see the horse if they gave an idea that they are open to offers as they are wanting a good home. But firstly I don't want to waste my own time and secondly don't want to waste theirs which I have advised them of openly.
 
I'd drop the price for someone I thought was perfect if they were stretching their budget because they wanted the horse so much.
The money saved would help them with with the start up costs for tack, saddle fitting, rugs and lessons. Anything that helps to make the transition for my horse better.

To someone prepared to walk away unless they got a bargain or worse, to someone mean, I wouldn't sell at any price.

Fortunately, the few I've sold have paid full price without a quibble.

OP, the sellers can't really decide if you are the right home until they meet you.
 
When I was selling I found it really annoying when people asked how much less I would take without seeing the horse, I don't see the point in getting into that discussion before you see whether you like the horse and whether you are suited. I would go and see him and if you like him then make an offer, they are more likely to accept if they have met you and seen that you are genuine.
 
Maybe they valued the horse low to start with, undervalued it as SF says, to open up the market for this horse. Rather than expecting people to make low offers while saying they are that good home (as above, anyone can pretend they are going to be a good home/home for life, whatever, just to get a bargain).
 
After reading all the replies i would say in my opinion 360 mile round trip (incl. petrol) + all the little (or not so little) problems the horse has had or still has, for £750 its not worth your time or money. There are many horses out there a lot closer to you and im sure if you put the money which you would have used for petrol towards the £800 your sure to find a horse which is healthy and suits you.
 
dogatemysalad said:
I'd drop the price for someone I thought was perfect if they were stretching their budget because they wanted the horse so much.
The money saved would help them with with the start up costs for tack, saddle fitting, rugs and lessons. Anything that helps to make the transition for my horse better.

To someone prepared to walk away unless they got a bargain or worse, to someone mean, I wouldn't sell at any price.

Fortunately, the few I've sold have paid full price without a quibble.

OP, the sellers can't really decide if you are the right home until they meet you.
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This. OP you are coming across as stingy! If your budget is 600 pounds, don't be replying to ads for 800 horses. If you don't think this horse is worth 800 then you discuss that with the seller after you've seen and tried the horse and decided you want him. They're selling for next to nothing anyway, if tack and rugs are halfway decent they probably come to at least 300 pounds second hand value on eBay, making it a trained riding horse for 500 pounds (albeit an older horse with a few health niggles) and you want 200 pounds off without even seeing the horse! It doesn't come across as a nice forever home at all. If the price of the horse makes it too far away for you to go visit then look for something closer.
 
I will accept lower than market value - if I know it IS a good home, but for that i would require references. My thoughts are that if someone beats the price down too much they may not have the resources to care for the horse when there is no grass and hay prices go through the roof.

Earlier this year I refused a good offer for a 3 year old Shagya, from Spain, simply because the purchaser asked no questions about health, illness or injury. This made me suspicious. He offered the asking price based on a photo and video and planned to buy un vetted.
 
LOZHUG said:
I would rather them be open and say no your not appropriate or they are unable to take any less but thanks for the enquiry.
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That's exactly what I'm doing at the moment. She's advertised at peanuts so I wouldn't be willing to take a lot less than she's advertised for but because I want the right home and I am vetting before people come to see her but I'm honest as to why I either don't want to accept their offer or why I don't think they are suitable. I've found with her being so cheap it's attracted all sorts!
 
LOZHUG said:
I have no idea what the tack and rug is like as I have not committed to travel all that way if they are unwilling to take my offer.
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I don't get why you would make an offer on a horse you haven't seen (for which you have listed quite a few problems) quite honestly. Not to mention promising a 'forever home' to a horse you haven't set eyes on. Couple of hundred less on a cheap horse is a lot.

Sugar_and_Spice said:
This. OP you are coming across as stingy! If your budget is 600 pounds, don't be replying to ads for 800 horses. If you don't think this horse is worth 800 then you discuss that with the seller after you've seen and tried the horse and decided you want him. They're selling for next to nothing anyway, if tack and rugs are halfway decent they probably come to at least 300 pounds second hand value on eBay, making it a trained riding horse for 500 pounds (albeit an older horse with a few health niggles) and you want 200 pounds off without even seeing the horse! It doesn't come across as a nice forever home at all. If the price of the horse makes it too far away for you to go visit then look for something closer.
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Agreed. The 'in need of new shoes' comment was a good one. That happens. Not really something to beat an owner down in price on imo :D
 
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nix123 said:
After reading all the replies i would say in my opinion 360 mile round trip (incl. petrol) + all the little (or not so little) problems the horse has had or still has, for £750 its not worth your time or money. There are many horses out there a lot closer to you and im sure if you put the money which you would have used for petrol towards the £800 your sure to find a horse which is healthy and suits you.
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This.

If you have a budget of £600 I'm sure you can find a horse with less issues to add to your collection!
 
I actually can see the OP's thinking - it is wasting everyone's time to go and see a horse you can't afford. I found my horse advertised at twice my budget, and I wouldn't have dreamed of just going to see him without sending an e-mail first explaining my situation and budget, and asking if it would be okay to see him anyway. Luckily for me she said yes, but I wouldn't have been at all offended if she had said no. And as a seller I'd rather know that upfront before spend my time showing you a horse only to find you can't afford it.
 
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