VENDORS ARE having to be a lot more creative to secure a sale at a decent price these days if the case of one southside seller is anything to go by. With their house on the market for over a year – and having cut the price a few times to stimulate interest – the seller finally secured a sale by agreeing to live on in the house, after the deal was done, rent-free for a year and paying rent for another 12 months before finally moving out.

The arrangement, which suited the buyers as they would be abroad for two years, allowed the vendor to claim a higher price (12 times the monthly rent of €2,000 equals €24,000) than otherwise would have been the case. It also allows the vendor to bank the sales price, minus any outstanding mortgage, for two years while also giving them a couple of years to find another place. Not bad in a declining market. Now, vendors, get those creative juices flowing.