How to market a property in different areas?

[k4mi]

My parents are selling (or trying to) a fabulous family home in the Peak District. The house is quite unusual in that it is a converted chapel, comes with a holiday cottage (at the back) and a workshop too. It is an ideal property for a family looking to escape London / big city and is modern/well presented as my mum is an interior designer.

They are struggling to find the right audience to market the house to, it's reasonably priced for what they are selling (around 600k I believe) in a very desirable village location but other than appearing on people's very specific property website searches I guess it doesn't crop up.

Does anyone have any experience of how they might spread the word/attract buyers in a different way? I was wondering if anyone knew of any websites that you can advertise property privately?

They are really looking at families wanting to relocate to a country village who perhaps work from home a bit (as there's a studio / workshop) and also want a holiday let! I guess it is rather specific but if anyone has any thoughts it would be welcomed.

Thanks

[Toecheese]

Sounds lovely. What about asking the times property section to do a mention? They used to have a regular article looking at different properties for sale round the country.

Do post a link for us though!

[k4mi]

Thanks Toecheese that is a good idea! I could definitely contact some property supplements about it and see if they have any spots coming up.

This is it:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-23491644.html

[Jaffacakesallround]

I think you've already done it for them!

All properties that are with agents are advertised on Right Move

I'm always looking at various other locations because we plan to buy another home for weekends at some point.

[Jaffacakesallround]

xd posts.

I think anyone looking to buy always goes to Right Move first.

If they are selling it as a possible self catering business then they ought to market it through the business magazines and media.

[Theincidental]

Lifestyle publications for the area might be worth a shot too as most of their readers are out of the area the mags are for, e.g family in Surrey read Cornwall mag. The estate agents might put it in their or you could suggest it.

[Jaffacakesallround]

I honestly don't think you can beat Right Move. it's where anyone would go first.

The property market is stagnant- we are looking to buy in that area though not at that price- and I have seen some very nice houses that are still unsold after up to a year on the market.

Have they tried dropping the price? How long has it been on the market?

[k4mi]

Yes they already dropped the price from 660k (I think)...been on the market approx 6 months and it's obviously not the sort of house everyone is looking for as has the holiday cottage etc. Don't think they want to drop the price too much more but will suggest.

Good ideas about local mags and industry press, I hadn't thought of the business publications but that is definitely worth a shot.

[lalalonglegs]

Which agent are they with? It may be worth looking at one of the big hitters (Savills, Knight Frank, Jackson Stops & Staff etc) who have a network of offices and deal in very aspirational lifestyle homes. They will know of people in the south east and London who are selling up and considering moving away but they may not have considered the Peak District yet. If the house is very photogenic, they will do a fabulous brochure and will punt it out to all the publications that run "escape to the country" style editorial as well as perhaps printing them in their own agency glossies.

[Jaffacakesallround]

If they put the house with a large agent then the agent will advertise it in the right places- broadsheet newspapers, country life type magazines and so on. That will be part of what they are paying for, in commission.

I'd say they are being a little naive in thinking it will sell quickly because it's a home for a particular buyer- ie house plus annexe- and although the annexe could be used for lettings it could also be for a granny annexe.

I notice there are no details of the cottage that goes with it, or the turnover for the rental if it's being run as a business. Buyers want to know those facts.

[k4mi]

Very good points raised, will get on the phone to my mother now! Agree re the facts on the annexe / turnover and have suggested this..think they need to consider a bigger agent.

[Jaffacakesallround]

Just to make them feel better- or worse- there is a lovely house that's also an upmarket B&B in the same area - further south towards Ashbourne- which is £750K and has been for sale for over a year.

Most houses which have a self catering annexe will be advertised as something like ' Current rental income in region of £15K per annum... regular bookings'....blah blah

But as we are looking to buy in the area in the longer term I keep an eye on what's for sale- small properties are being snapped up if they have character, but larger homes are sticking unless they are close to the larger industrial towns for a commute etc- eg Sheffield and Derby.

Hope they have some luck!

[Jaffacakesallround]

OP- just one more thought.

Is there a chance they can sell the 2 properties separately, depending on the access and layout? That might be more attractive to buyers.

The other thing is converted chapels are a bit 'marmite' properties. Some people are a bit squeamish about living in former churches and chapels due to all the funerals that have passed through the doors. Not logical but I have heard people say this.