Anyone else struggling to sell a house at the moment?

[MrsJohnDeere]

No sign of this much talked of property boom where we are.

House on the market since July. No offers. Put the price down. Now thinking of changing agents but not sure if that would help at all.

Fed up. Please tell me I'm not the only one!

[Zoway]

Just bought a house. Looked at so many. Lots of agents dont seem to sell a house. Its just on their books.

Do the photos flattwr your house or could they be better?
Have you asked friends for advice -eg what one thing could we do easily and cheaply to make it nicer.
Curb appeal. Do u have a nice front door?

[Zoway]

Ps are you getting viewings but no offers or not even any viewings.

[MrsJohnDeere]

Photos are fine.

7 viewings. Only negative feedback is that we're too rural (we are rural but 10 mins max from a nice town).

[BrownSauceSandwich]

Sounds like really helpful feedback

Have you had a look at what houses are actually selling for round your way? The headlines talk about national average price rises, which are ludicrously low if you're in London, and ludicrously high anywhere else. The average in Scotland has, apparently, dropped.

Things are gradually starting to shift here in the northwest, but there semm to be a lot on the market that were bought 2007-08, and the sellers are trying to get the price they paid and more, which probably isn't very realistic.

[MrsJohnDeere]

There's very little for sale at all, but those that are selling are at the very bottom of the market (1 bed flats, tiny 2 bed terraces) or the very top (5 bed detached). We're a 3 bed semi.

Zoopla suggests houses are selling for below the asking price but there has been nothing similar to ours recently.

[Housesellerihope]

We're really struggling too - on the market since April, only two viewings so far. Ours is in a very remote, rural area and its not unusual for it to take a couple of years to sell where we are. We just keep telling ourselves "it only takes one buyer" but its hard to be patient. We've dropped the price once but our agent advised not to drop it again or people will just wonder what's wrong with the house. They are going to tell prospective buyers with a lower budget than our house price that we would be possibly interested in offers. Doubt that helps but just wanted to say you're not alone!

[TombOfMummyBeerest]

Yep, me too! Been on the market for a month now. Had several viewers, one open house, only feedback is that it's too small. Trying to make it look spacious and clean, with a toddler, is next to impossible some days.

[specialsubject]

round my way they sit there for two years because people still want 2006 prices. Not happening, folks.

[LadyKooKoo]

7 viewings since the start of July? That is less than one viewing a fortnight. I know you said you were rural but surely there should be more people coming through the door than that?! The price is either too high or the photos are not good.

[vj32]

But if the small houses are selling, there will be people looking for the next size up!

We sold our 2 bed terrace quickly and fairly easily to an investor but then found nothing on the market that we wanted to buy. We wanted a three bed semi. Nothing around. So we had to buy a few miles away from where we really wanted to be as there was just nothing on the market between about £225 and £325.

If you are not selling the chances are it is priced too high, photos are rubbish or your agent is rubbish. I have come into contact with all the agents in my town (there are loads for some reason). They vary between competent, not very good and seriously offensive. And yes, being on with a couple of agents would put me off a bit. Not enough if I really wanted the house, but enough if I thought it was just a maybe.

[madabootthehoose]

Been on the market for nearly a year. I linked my brochure for Mners advice. Changed most of the pics. Have had lots of viewers but couples. It's a family home. Loads of space, too much for two people really. I am going to change agents, fresh start next year. Its very hard just waiting and hoping.

[MrsJohnDeere]

Glad it isn't just me!

Have decided to change agent but can't decide which one to go with. They all talk so much rubbish to get you on side!

1/2 beds are selling (albeit slowly) as buy to let properties. People in them die or move out of area to places where their money will stretch to a 3/4 bed, from what I have seen (it is a place where everyone knows everyone and their business).

The only house to sell quickly here in the last 7 years was one sold to a family member.

[cavell]

Now isn't a good time to try to sell. Could you take your house off the market and re-launch it in the spring? Obviously, I don't know what your décor is like but you could spend perhaps spend some of the intervening time making your house more "neutral", de-cluttering and cleaning?

[MrsJohnDeere]

We are as neutral and decluttered as can be! I do worry that neutral can border on soulless?

Need to sell ASAP (job relocation) so will stay on the market . At least we have a chance of selling, however small, whilst it is on the market.

[clubnail]

I am just wondering what someone thinks an agent can do to sell a property? No agent could sell me a property - I go in, have a look, and if I like it, I offer. No one could influence my decision apart from OH.

OP, I would rather see a nice neutral place and imagine injecting some soul in myself. That said, I'd see past someone else's taste if I liked the place.
Helpful! :) Good luck. What's the timescale for you to have to move?

[MrsJohnDeere]

I kind of agree re:agents but maybe they can promote it more, sell the benefits of an area to viewers, persuade someone who may not have thought of looking at our house to come and see it etc.

Timescale: needed to move 2 months ago. Dh working and renting in our new location.

[cavell]

Could you maybe try an open house viewing?

[MrsJohnDeere]

No not going to post a link. Not brave enough for that and want to keep some anonymity.

Can't rent this house out, mortgage people say no.

[Viviennemary]

First time buyers houses are moving a bit round here. But not exactly a property boom!

[cavell]

"I do not understand why someone would come and look at a rural property if they don't want to live rurally."

These sort of comments are annoying and we've had similar (i.e. people commenting negatively about things that are amply clear from the particulars). But I think they really translate as "We didn't like your house enough to overlook the fact that it is more rural than we'd like/The garden isn't big enough/The kitchen is outdated... ".

Everyone likes to think they make their purchasing decisions with their heads, but I think their hearts play just as big a part. So if people "fall in love" with a house, they will overlook the fact that it isn't quite what they originally wanted. But if they don't get that "feeling" you are left with the "It's very nice, but..." . That's why I think "dressing" a house for sale is worthwhile. Let the purchasers fall in love with the life they could lead in your house.

We are going for a second look this weekend of a house that ticks lots of boxes: spacious, development "potential", big garden, nice road. But the location is not what we originally wanted. My husband is willing to compromise on location for the big garden he fancies. I'm not so sure. But if we don't go ahead, it will be on the grounds on "wrong location" - a fact which we already know. No doubt the vendors will find this a very annoying reason and I totally understand that. But we are seriously looking and there simply isn't anything else on the market for us to look at at the moment.