Viewers saying flat is too small

[AlabamaArkansas]

Has anyone else selling received feedback that their property is too small?

Our flat went on the market the day before lockdown so obviously no viewings. Since estate agents were allowed back to work we've had loads of viewings but consistent feedback that the flat is too small. Slightly confused as to why anyone would bother coming to look at it really as you can clearly see the size of it in the floorplan.

To be honest we didn't think there was much point keeping it on the market as we thought it'd never sell in the current climate, but as we had so much interest thought we might as well keep it on the market. But not much I can do about the size of it, is there! We've already decluttered as much as humanly possible and put stuff in storage.

Alabama I think some of your replies aren offering clues. People have suddenly found they need more space to work from home (and keep work stuff) and outdoor space. And its nit just room size - its where the windows, doors, radiators, fitted furniture etc are as well

Sometimes when people just feel the property is not for them they make up a reason. But agree with decluttering and so on.

@AlabamaArkansas don’t lower the price without discussing it properly with the people who are involved! People on here traditionally think that properties are too expensive and should be cheaper. (Not everyone, I know).

We had this when we sold our previous house, the second bedroom was tiny, drove me mad, in the end I asked agents to point out size of second room before arranging a viewing and anyone that mentioned it I'd go back to agent and complain!! They soon got fed up of my moaning and found me a lovely buyer who was happy with the dimensions!

Surely if you can't visualise size, you wouldn't leave negative feedback about it?

Thelnebriati Calling it small is not negative feedback; it’s a honest reason why they won’t buy it.

When we sold our flat with a young baby, each time there were viewings all the paraphernalia (high chair, buggy) went in the boot of the car.

You'll simply have to start knocking down walls to make it bigger, there is no other way

Can you reduce the furniture in the rooms to the bare minimum? We took a huge sideboard out of our living room when selling our last house after a few weeks on the market. The room looked really weird to us but we sold it to the next person who came for a look.

I know you don't want to OP but if you post a link, you'll get constructive feedback - at the moment all anyone can do is guess

Apparently there are some Columbos Rightmove ninjas on here who have found it!

OP your property is likely too cheap. You need to see sold prices for equivalent in your area of London.

People on here don't know your local market.

We looked at some properties that were ridiculously small for the price being asked. You don't know what they've seen before

Everyone has spent weeks living and working on top of each other. Whereas we used to go out for work, school, dinner, drinks, holidays etc... now it’s all at home and so everyone’s perception of how much space they need will be skewed. It’s probably not the time to sell a small flat but persevere, the right buyer will come along.

To be honest I find the ea thing of ringing you up and asking why you don't like it a bit weird. If you don't like it, you don't like it. Why ring you up and hasseyou about it? Passing it on to the seller is also weird as it's usually something that can't be changed.

When it's happened to me as a buyer, I've felt put on the spot and said whatever random thing came to mind - in reality it's usually a combination of factors.

As for why people might view a house and then say they don't like it because of a reason they could have worked out from the listing (size, proximity to certain area). I think some people view houses that they know aren't quite right, but are hoping that they may love it on sight enough to overcome that problem. That isn't unreasonable because no house is perfect.

We had someone view our house, they didn't like that it didn't have a garden - well don't come and view a house without a garden then?

Don't have any furniture at all, OP. In fact, paint it all in vantablack and have it as a cocoon. Someone will come along and tell you it's too cluttered.

Haven't RTFT so sorry if this had inevitably already been said, but usually too small equates to “too small for the price”.

BobbinThreadbare123

Make sure the estate agents aren't causing the issue in the way they describe it, for example do they refer to it as an "upsizer" because that could mislead people. Are you in a desirable part of London? Stress this in the description and up sell any green space etc in the vicinity if the goat has no garden of its own.

You say you've had a new kitchen - how recently? Is it still something people want (no wood work surfaces which can be a pain to maintain) or is it starting to look a bit dated so oriole immediately think they'll need to replace it sooner rather than later?

Have you replaced/upgraded the bathroom? I think the worst kind are stark white with no colour - they just look clinical. Has it got a bath and shower.....is it over bath or stand-alone? If it's over bath , don't have a horrible shower curtain, invest in a decent screen.

Shutters! Ugh! Dust traps and immediately say you are trying to hide something......a dodgy view or you are overlooked with a nosy neighbour or the neighbours wander around naked!

Parking space/garage is it clearly marked as yours? Is it easily accessible or are there potential rights of access that would deter purchasers?

How long is left on the lease? Are there any service/management charges that could be putting people off?

Think about what attracted you to the flat (presumably pre-child) and focus on those key points. No issue is insurmountable......a bit of decorating, putting stuff in storage, dressing the space to appeal to couples, show how a workspace could work in the flat etc. Biggest issue right now is buyers are wary of the market collapsing and bring left in negative equity, especially if the are FTB's. Even if you get an offer you may find that it is reduced further along the process do keep that in mind if you go stay on the market.

Goat!!! Thanks autocorrect. That should say flat!!!!!

Ha this is bringing back memories. So many people saying they wanted a 3rd bedroom, yet they knew when arranging the viewing it was a 2 bed cottage.

I suspect they were suggesting they could get 3 bedrooms in another location as a bargaining tactic, to which we'd remind them they're free to buy in a less desirable area. (Or a polite alternative to 'off you fuck')

In the end we got our full asking price because we'd compared the alternatives and priced ours right in the middle. How does the flat compare to what else is in the area 10% above and below your asking price?

Shutters! Ugh! Dust traps and immediately say you are trying to hide something......a dodgy view or you are overlooked with a nosy neighbour or the neighbours wander around naked!

You clearly don't live in my bit of London because nearly everyone has got them, they are seen as very naice. Have to say we love ours and they always get positively commented on in feedback.

How does the flat compare to what else is in the area 10% above and below your asking price?

10% above is a similar size but a slightly nicer bit of the area (like right next to the park) and 10% below is again a similar size but in a scuzzy bit of the area/further away from the station.

Sometimes that is just something people say when there isn’t really a reason, but they just don’t like the property. It’s quite annoying when EAs ask for feedback from viewers. Most of the time it’s just that you don’t like the house for no tangible reason, it just doesn’t grab you.