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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why nobody wants to buy our flat?

300 replies

pimsandlemonade · 30/04/2015 11:26

or to even see it?
We are trying to sell our 2 bed flat in London zone 2.
We have already found a lovely house we like (out of London) and our offer is not officially accepted until we get an offer on ours.

When we listed the flat the estate agents made it seem like it will be superfast considering a fairly central location, very good condition of the flat, lovely views etc.
Before the listing was up on Rightmove we had 2 viewings booked - 1 was a rental investor, made a very low offer which we won't accept. The other one cancelled the viewing and now, nearly 2 weeks later we have not had anyone to even see it!
I just don't get it!
We have already dropped the price a bit as we thought maybe the initial asking price was too much (again, the initial price was recommended by the estate agent, I suppose to get up to choose them), but still nothing.
The estate agents are saying that because of the election everything has slowed down and they expect it will get better next week...
I'm struggling to believe anything they say at this point.

Any advice, comments?

OP posts:
DoJo · 30/04/2015 19:49

Also, ask them to remove their bloody watermarks from the photos! Nobody is going to try and copy them, and they just add to the feeling that you are looking at something cluttered.

Pumpkinpositive · 30/04/2015 19:53

Jesus fuck, you could get a mansion round here for that amount of money.Shock. Move to Scotland when you finally sell, Op! Grin

I linked to the property spec w/o even looking at any of the comments and immediately thought "not enough photos", "very bland/generic looking" and "by gum, that's a big bed!"

So I concur with previous posters. I think the size of the bed in particular makes the bedroom look rather cramped.

BareGorillas · 30/04/2015 19:55

I am so nosy, Grin what everyone else said re photos and colour and any storage out of closed cupboards suggests lack of space.

And wow at the price, you can get a 3 bed detached on the beach front for that round our way!

All the very best with your move

wheresthelight · 30/04/2015 19:55

sorry not read the full thread but have had a quick look at the link and my first thoughts would be;

the pictures are pretty poor and there aren't really enough to get a good idea of dimensions etc

the bedroom one - shoe boxes look cluttered, makes me think you have no storage space. hide them away or hire a storage locker and clear out and clutter as it massively outs people off especially with flats

kitchen - pans hanging from the ceiling is a pet hate of mine so might be worth getting rid for new photos also get from more angles as gives no idea of what ot looks like

lounge - photo really doesn't give enough idea of size unfortunately so I would definitely get more

I dismissed any houses where the bathroom wasn't shown as it generally means that it's cos it's crap and needs ripping out so I would certainly get them back to take pics.

good luck cos it looks a beautiful apartment and should be snapped up if the estate agent is good at their job!! have a look round the area and see what other agents are selling apartments in similar buildings and look at their listing and pics. some agents are shit so might be that you need to find a better one

wheresthelight · 30/04/2015 19:56

sorry not read the full thread but have had a quick look at the link and my first thoughts would be;

the pictures are pretty poor and there aren't really enough to get a good idea of dimensions etc

the bedroom one - shoe boxes look cluttered, makes me think you have no storage space. hide them away or hire a storage locker and clear out and clutter as it massively outs people off especially with flats

kitchen - pans hanging from the ceiling is a pet hate of mine so might be worth getting rid for new photos also get from more angles as gives no idea of what ot looks like

lounge - photo really doesn't give enough idea of size unfortunately so I would definitely get more

I dismissed any houses where the bathroom wasn't shown as it generally means that it's cos it's crap and needs ripping out so I would certainly get them back to take pics.

good luck cos it looks a beautiful apartment and should be snapped up if the estate agent is good at their job!! have a look round the area and see what other agents are selling apartments in similar buildings and look at their listing and pics. some agents are shit so might be that you need to find a better one

mathanxiety · 30/04/2015 19:57

Grey, not red or black gloss for the kitchen. It is not the OP's problem that this may be the avocado of future decades. All she wants to do right now with her flat is get someone else to make a reasonable offer, and gussying it up to reflect a Now lifestyle is the way to do that.

I think right now it looks bland and the square tiles are dated. Put together with everything else it gives an overall impression of a lifestyle that is 'meh'. (This is not meant as an insult to the OP, btw. Just a comment on the visual impression of the product.)

It would cost relatively little to give it a lot more oomph. Liquid sander, paint, clear gloss coat, tiles, tile cement and bob's your uncle. The little tiles come in sheets with webbing at the back.

I agree with Hissy -- this is an amateurish job of presentation.

MummyLuce · 30/04/2015 19:58

I don't think it's over priced particularly. I would have guessed at it being more if I had been shown it without the price. I think you just need to wait on it. My advice would be to go with a more well know agent eg winkworth, foxtons etc. you always always get waaaay more viewings with them

BreeVDKamp · 30/04/2015 20:06

Sack the EA and instruct HouseNetwork! They'll have it up online in about 2 days with amazing pics, great details (that you write first of all, then they estate-agent-ify it, so you can include all the good stuff), floor plan, local info etc. You choose the pics you put up.

But get the new furniture first!!

SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 30/04/2015 20:07

I like the layout in the second picture on this one although I think the pictures are too high and too far apart. Also the stack o crap next to the window should go.

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=14928029&sale=29459108&country=england

First picture of this one shows table in window

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=28563493&sale=41759234&country=england

First picture of this shows building as green and leafy

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=41045317&sale=1215703&country=england

Coumarin · 30/04/2015 20:09

Those pictures are rubbish. Your kitchen looks lovely for example, but you can hardly see it in that shot. (Major KitchenAid envy btw).

You must feel very overwhelmed by all these comments. Flowers

mathanxiety · 30/04/2015 20:30

I don't think your main selling point is the view. It is a nice interior space and location for a certain age group at a certain stage of life. That age group isn't going to be spending its time gazing out the windows at the river. You need to emphasise the interior and what a nice nest/retreat it is from the pressures of work, how far from gyms and shops and transport.

Imustgodowntotheseaagain · 30/04/2015 20:50

The pics aren't great, and I would absolutely want a floor plan for a flat. Is anyone else in the building for sale? Have a look at their pics :)

PrimroseEverdeen · 01/05/2015 08:34

For me the thing that would really put me off is the offers in excess of. I think that's the real problem. I would get the new photos and floor plan on and reduce the price to 460.

MrsMcColl · 01/05/2015 08:55

But math, isn't it the flat's riverside location that makes it (potentially) worth the high asking price? The same space elsewhere in the same area, without the river on one side, would cost less.

Littlecaf · 01/05/2015 08:59

Ok, being kind.....

The property doesn't look homely - is it rented out at the moment? For the price, it feels like a generic flat. Does it have Thames views? If so, a picture showing this would be helpful. The first photo is of the block, which from the rear looks a little ugly (not your fault, the architects!). Blocks along the Thames are many and the competition will probably be high, so your flat needs to stand out - my guess from the photos is that it doesn't. While the price many reflect the size and area, we found that peopd will only part with the asking price if the property is perfect - if not, the expect to get either no offers or less.

Best of luck!

nettlewine · 01/05/2015 09:10

I dont think the "riverside location" is a selling point either as its a bit far away and in that area most flats have a view of water, I think some of the ones right on quays around the corner are better as they are right next to the water, not with a football pitch in between.

I dread to think how much my former flat at shad thames is worth now, that did have a great riverside view.

pinkdelight · 01/05/2015 09:13

Sorry, haven't read the entire thread, but I did live in Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays for a long time and although it's geographically central, that bit of Rotherhithe is pretty dead. Nearly 500k is a lot for somewhere without some decent transport, culture and amenities right on the doorstep. Apart from the river, there's just lots and lots flats like yours, and nothing is making yours stand out, expect the price, for the wrong reasons. If you want to sell, you'll need a much more competitive price.

Lucyloves101 · 01/05/2015 09:17

This seems really, really reasonable to me for a flat in that location! I think it must be election based. What about suggesting an open day? More photos would help but you really shouldn't have a problem selling this! I would be very surprised if it is still around in 2 weeks.

nettlewine · 01/05/2015 09:19

Really really reasonableConfused I'm sure most people living in the block understand the crazyness of London prices.

They have been falling for months in the lr figures

MrsMcColl · 01/05/2015 09:19

I thought it did have a view. Then I'm misunderstanding. I can picture that block - beside the Hilton? - and thought it had the river walk on one side of it. Maybe I'm wrong.

MrsMcColl · 01/05/2015 09:26

Nettle - I have Shad Thames envy - that must have been fab! Yeah Rotherhithe isn't comparable. But a flat at Shad Thames would cost way more than this.

Dowser · 01/05/2015 09:27

This thread has gotten me to look up how much my aunts pokey 1 bed flat in chiswick was sold for when they bought it 30 years ago for £38k.....a whopping £319,000 in 2009. You couldn't swing a cat in it. There was a galley kitchen through an arch off the lounge which had obviously been all lounge at one point. There wasnt room to put a proper sized dining table. There was a pokey bathroom and a medium sized bedroom. It would have driven me crazy in there.

Dread to think what it's worth now. In fact I think it's up for rent at £750 per week. I don't get anywhere near that a month for both 3 bed houses I rent out.

London is just crazy, stupid money. So glad I don't have to live there.

Hope it sells soon op .

MrsMcColl · 01/05/2015 09:30

But people do want to live here Dowser. Hence the high prices - that people pay.

bruffin · 01/05/2015 09:36

I do agree - I also find it suspicious if any rooms are not shown/ assume they are horrible.

I don't necessarily think so, have had two houses on the market in the last year and for some reasons the estate agents don't feel the need to put on pictures of all the rooms. My mums which went on the market last week doesn't have pictures of the either bathroom or the 3rd bedroom. The third bedroom is pleasant but very small and the bathrooms are nothing special but nothing wrong with them

Blinkinwinkin · 01/05/2015 09:44

we had our zone 2 property on the market this time 5 years ago, right before the election. It was on in February, had an offer quickly then the buyers changed their minds in April. So we were keen to get it shown again and to hopefully replicate a quick offer scenario as we'd seen something we wanted to buy.

It was our experience that the market ground to a halt, whilst everyone decided to "wait and see" what happened in the election. It didn't really make sense to me, but we did find that mid - end May it all picked up again and we got our property sold and all was well that ended well.

Ask your agent if they are finding a wider reticence amongst purchasers pre-election?