Disappointed by lack of viewings on our house

[mintymellons]

We went up for sale about a week and a half ago. We're using an agent that we've had success with previously.

Anyway, we had two viewings last week and apparently one of those is looking to arrange a second viewing at some point (when??) but other than that, no more first viewings planned for this week.

Our house is in a very sought after location and property usually sells quickly round here. I think the price is ok too.

I'm just disappointed that we haven't had more first viewings in these early days. Feedback from last week was positive btw.

What can we do to get more people in?!

[annh]

You should be asking your agent that question, not us! What have they done to market the property so far? Are you on Rightmove, Primelocation etc? The agent's own website? Have your details appeared in the local property rag? Is your house featured in their window? Ask them how many people they have sent your details to? With what result? As you have had only two viewings, what are they going to do to get more people through your door?

Also, look at your house and the details objectively. Do the photos show the house to its best advantage? Have you checked the words that go with the pics, can they be improved? Are there external factors which are hindering your sale e.g. if people drive past your house are there temporary roadworks which affect traffic, do you have a caravan on your drive which obscures your house, silly things like that which can potentially put off a viewer?

If you are feeling brave, post the link to your house on here and people will give you feedback on the presentation of the property!

[pinksky]

Second everything annh says. Have you put up a board? Definitely worth it.

If you have already thought about all of the above, are you sure you're worrying necessarily? It took us a couple of weeks to get people through the door. I was reassured when I looked at nearby properties on property-bee and saw that the very best were still taking 6-8 weeks to get to 'under offer'.

[mintymellons]

Thank you! Our agent is doing all of the above, our brochure is great, we have a board etc... Perhaps I am guilty of worrying unnecessarily! I'm good at that :)

[CuddyMum]

And remember quality not quantity. We have had five viewers between Friday and Monday and nothing seems to have come of it.

[Viperidae]

I think you are doing well. DB has had 2 viewings in 3 months, agent has reassured him that he is getting loads of hits on Rightmove but viewers are just very thin on the ground and 2 is better than lots of other houses are getting.

[mintymellons]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone.

Funnily enough, two of my neighbours just stopped me outside and said that they'd had a postcard mailshot of our house through in the post today. Can't quite work out the logic of mailshotting other houses in our area, but I'm sure the agent knows what they're doing! Anyway, makes me think that they are being as proactive as I'd hoped they'd be.

[pinksky]

That all sounds good, mintymellons. I was worried too, but as CuddyMum says, quality not quantity.

An EA once told me that the autumn market tends to be more serious/move more quickly than spring/summer. Not sure if that's true, but if so maybe fewer people just looking casually?

[gregssausageroll]

You can't make people view. 2 viewers is reasonable. I am an agent although in a fairly small town with rural surroundings and some clients have had 2 viewers in 6 months.

It sounds like your agent is doing all they can. Early days.

[mintymellons]

Thank you greg, I'm sure you're right. Our agent is quite a cutting edge one using all latest technology/marketing techniques. They sold our last home very quickly when a previous agent had failed, so my expectations are perhaps too high that the same will happen this time.

[likeatonneofbricks]

maybe the issue is the photos on property sites? some photos aer so dark- or of a very cluttered house - that it puts people off. Are you also on a very busy road? these are just wgat i can think of straight away, if you aer in popular location.

[LizLemon007]

I spend a lot of time looking at houses.

I want to know what the square footage is and I want to see a floor plan and I want to see photos of all the bedrooms.

[gregssausageroll]

What do you mean by cutting edge? Can you explain as I often wonder what bigger agents do that I don't!

My post sounded a bit blunt. I didn't mean it to.

[mintymellons]

likea the photos are great. They have a professional photographer ad standard. The house is very tidy, no clutter. On a side street off a main road.
Liz there is a floor plan with measurements and pics of all rooms.
Greg they are cutting edge in their approach, fancy website, only accompanied viewings, just very slick.

[gregssausageroll]

So right move, for sale board, good schedule and photos, accompanied viewings good website, good mailing list a d friendly to talk to? Seems I am on the right track. Good luck with your sale.

I am not very slick though. Jut friendly and honest.

[PostBellumBugsy]

good luck mintymellons.

I'm on the market too, have pristine house, awesome photos, floor plan with square footage, big agency BUT very slow interest. I've checked that I'm priced right by checking what other nearby houses have actually sold for, rather than the asking prices & it seems spot on.

I could be wrong, maybe Greg can confirm, but I think the market is very cautious & buyers are a bit thin on the ground.

[Narked]

You can search for houses sold in the past eg 2 years by street on Right Move. They list the prices they sold for. Just to check the pricing is ok.

[1605]

It is very early days, and I think buyers are sitting on their hands, even in sought after areas, to see where the economy takes us in the next few months.

Santander's SVR rose to 4.75% yesterday. Naturally people are reluctant to buy if asking prices are high and mortgage rates are rising. Something's got to give soon, and it won't be mortgage rates.

To sell immediately, you need the best house at the best price. Instead, most people choose a high price for their "best" house, and then have to wait until they find a buyer prepared to pay a premium for immaculate presentation. This pricing strategy can still pay off, though, if you're able to wait.

[mintymellons]

I think in all honesty we should to drop the price a little.

It was valued between £160 and £165k and the agent suggested we try the very top of this range first, so it's on for £165,995. It's not possible to compare with other properties on the same street as they're large two or three bed victorian terraces and we are one of a pair of 1950s semis at the end of the street. Quite a bit smaller than the terraced ones (they sell for between £200-£230k). We paid £145k for the house four years ago. It had belonged to an elderly lady who'd died, so needed a LOT of updating. It has a brand new kitchen and bathroom and has been fully redecorated. We also have the added bonus of a garage (the other houses on the street don't have this and parking is a nightmare). All in all, I'd say that our valuation was pretty fair, but I reckon if we go down to £159k then we might stand more chance. Another agent had suggested starting at that price, but the one we went with recommended going for the higher one.

[mintymellons]

To hell with it, would you like to see it?

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35869480.html

Go on, do your worst!

[PostBellumBugsy]

Minty - it looks really lovely! But I have no idea if your pricing is right or not, as I live the other end of the country.
I really feel for you, as I don't know what the story is on mine either - my best bet is that the market is just really slow & cautious.

[mintymellons]

Thanks, post. As I said, it's hard to know about pricing as it's very different to the others in the area.

How long have you been on the market?

[Narked]

It looks lovely.

The only things I might suggest are:

-Losing the first picture of the kitchen - the second one is much more flattering

-Investing in some tall green plants in pots that will survive the winter and move with you for the front of the house.

-Consider packing up the cot in the second bedroom and getting a new picture taken of it. Then using a travel cot you can pack away when viewers come.

[TunipTheVegemal]

That looks beautifully presented, Minty.

[littlepiggie]

We are buying a house at the moment and have found the market really slow. Not many houses coming to the market, plus a lot that do come on are priced too high then spend months on the market only to have to drop the price after months of no interest. We were told when we started looking that prices had fallen by around 25% in the last 4 years.

[nancerama]

I would ask around to see what impressions people have of your agent. There are a couple of estate agencies round my way that I would point blank refuse to deal with ever again.

I know you've had good experiences with them in the past, but good and bad reputations can make such a difference.