Is the property market really slow right now..?

[ChalkyC]

Or is it just that my house is rubbish/overpriced or my estate agents are not doing their job?!?

On the market nearly 4 weeks. 2 viewings (not very serious ones I don't think). It's a great house - quite a big semi and in a village right on the edge of London, so slightly unusual location I suppose. If it's overpriced then fair enough, but if we don't sell it for around the asking price we can't afford any of the properties we are considering.

What should the agents be doing? I feel like they're just sat there waiting for a calls. It went out in a mail shot when it first went on the market but had very little response.

Is it not a good time of year? I thought autumn was good?

I'm getting a bit depressed!

[Middleoftheroad]

We've just sold ours. Its been on since may. At first we got less than one viewing per week. In sept it sped up and we sold it. they pulled out last week. Luckily we sold it again. It took one buyer who really wanted our estate (others had poo pooed it before). you just need one!

Both times we sold for much lower than we wanted - by about 6 per cent lower (14k). Fortunarely we've done the same with the house we're buying.

I think unless you have a house that everybody wants (we saw a house that was incredible and bidding wars began as it was so popular) you may find that it is a bit slow. But don't be disheartened. It takes an average 15 views to sell, which was true gor us. Good luck.

[Roygrace]

We need. Link and we can advise

[ChalkyC]

Not sure I'm brave enough for a link due to inevitable comments about inflated London prices....!!

[Middleoftheroad]

Ps. I did have to get on our agents"backs a bit as they were not proactive.

1. is the house presented in it's best light on Right Move and Zoopla?.when we considered moving agents, another agent told us our photos were not great so we had them retaken.
   
   
2. get some other agents round. When we considered moving agents we realised we had over valued and had to drop by 10k to be realistic as we want to move soon. I know you cannot afford to drop, so if you're not in a rush then sit tight.
   
   
3. what are other properties on for? What did they sell for more importantly? that's the biggest barometer of all

[ChalkyC]

Our agent (well respected, one of the biggest in the area, sold the house to us) did say it was a hard house to value. But used general multipliers and other sold prices - we went for his mid range price suggestion.

Ok - here's a link - be kind!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62311145.html

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I don't think Autumn is the best time to go on the market. Kids have just started school for a year, and people thinking about Christmas rather than house moving.

Around here, the attractive property's are selling quickly. Anything with a bit of a negative - busy road, not the prettiest house etc - are taking longer (rural commuter belt south east)

As you're on the market now I'd sit tight, and hopefully you'll catch the buyers who are out there.

Does it compare favourably with local property prices?

[charlieandlola]

What a lovely house . Has kerb appeal
Conservatory looks cluttered in the photos whereas the rest of the house is minimal

Do an open day ? Create a bit of competition? We did that and had 3 offers on the day .
If that doesn't work then it's overpriced

[bigredboat]

Your home is beautiful, how does it compare price wise with similar properties locally? The conservatory looks a bit cluttered which is probably making it look smaller than it is but I don't think that would put anyone off viewing. Are your agents any good? Are they actually drumming up interest or just waiting for it to sell itself?

[ChalkyC]

Ha yes I ran out of places to hide all the kids rubbish - maybe I could clear the conservatory a bit!!

Agents seem to be sitting back and waiting. I'm going to get on to them soon - an open day could be a good idea.

[Floggingmolly]

Pratts Bottom That's a really lovely house, and there's nothing London like about that price

[ChalkyC]

Flogging - I know, right?!? Best bit about the place

[Cherubneddy1]

Chalky, your house is absolutely beautiful! I was a bit taken aback by the price but I live in Devon where you can buy a country estate for that money.
I would also say from the front it looks rather unimpressive, not sure there's much you can do about that, but inside it's stunning! Beautiful, huge gardens too. Looking at the first picture of the front on Rightmove I'm not sure I would have bothered to look into it further though, to see how truly gorgeous it really is.
What about asking the estate agents to put an internal photo on the front page?
Good luck!

[indecisivedoctor]

The house is lovely- particularly the kerb appeal and setting.

Yes it's expensive but 5 bed commutable to London demands these kind of prices.

Looking at your pics- the conservatory one definitely lets them down. Do you have anywhere you could stash the toys? Maybe rent storage short term. I would dress it a bit more "lifestyle" ish. Also I see why they've pictured the view from the front door but that pic is a bit odd too and I wonder if there's a better way of doing it..

Good luck! It's a pita trying to sell! X

[Spiderpants]

What a lovely house, looks beautiful! Can't offer any advice as don't know the market

[ChalkyC]

This is our closest (geographically) opposition. More impressive looking from outside but not inside and garden and right next to the main road rather than on the village green....

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56406469.html

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Lovely house. Can't see any reason why it won't go. Hang on in there.

[itlypocerka]

The "Pratts Bottom" name would put me off even viewing I'm afraid. I'd be too embarrassed to send out the change of address cards.

[RitchyBestingFace]

Your house is gorgeous and I love the name of the village.

To be honest I think it might be the price. Don't know the area at all but a friend has just bought a house not that far away - detached, outbuildings, picture postcard for much less than half that. Admittedly 3 bedrooms but in context it seems a bargain.

The price might be right for the quality and size of the property but there might be fewer buyers so you will have to sit tight and wait for one.

If you have £800k to spend you can afford many parts of London.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

.......well I'd go out of my way to live somewhere called Pratts Bottom if I was looking in that general area.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

You might be limited by people looking at semis at that price. Not much you can do about it though.

[abeandhalo]

Market is a little slower since Brexit but this is one of the busiest times of the year for selling houses, it should have picked up after summer around mid-Sept & it will drop of shortly as we go towards Xmas.

So if there's not many viewings it might be the price, or the agents not pushing it, or maybe lots of homes of similar value for sale in your area so it's v competitive.

The house looks beautiful though & don't think there's anything wrong with your photos.

[SittingDrinkingTea]

I don't live too far from Pratts Bottom, (to always be pronounced Prahs Botham according to a v posh woman I once knew who lived there). I have two friends in my area who can't sell their houses, one is in a really bad position as they've actually moved to a new area and are renting there. The housing market does seem quite stagnant at the moment, hopefully it will pick up soon.

[Jellyshoeshurtmyfeet]

Beautiful house! Yours is much much nicer than the other house you posted for sale near you.

[PoorPatrol]

House looks fab though I agree with some others who say the conservatory looks cluttered. The bedrooms all seem to have too much furniture in them and photograph a bit small. Is there anyway you could remove some bits and pieces?

I can't comment on pricing but would suggest you get onto your agent ASAP and get them to actively market the house from now until the run up to Christmas. If it still fails to sell, I'd take it off the market and put it back on second or third week of January so it's fresh to market again. You need some viewings or feedback from locals in the area to get a good picture on what is potentially not working for you.

Good luck!

[ChalkyC]

Feedback from the two viewings so far. 1- not big enough for them, 2- the garden is too big!

It's a very local market and so confusing because all the houses around here are different. We're 5 mins to the m25, 5 mins to Waitrose (), 20 min fast train to London Bridge (and in zone 6 travel card zone so good). But we back onto fields. I know it was on for a couple of months before we bought it 4 years ago - we just need some bloody viewings!!