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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:
PrimalLass · 30/04/2015 12:23

Try taking the bedroom photo from the balcony?

Original poster
pimsandlemonade · 30/04/2015 12:23

I will say in defence of the location that is exceptionally quiet - no road noise at all, occasional party boats going past - and it is lovely, I will seriously miss living there!
Will probably cry when we actually will manage to sell and have to move out...

OP posts:
PrimalLass · 30/04/2015 12:24

Honestly - your agent is shit if you have a second loo and he hasn't mentioned it. Clearly he thought it would just sell so hasn't bothered his shirt with marketing.

expatinscotland · 30/04/2015 12:24

More and better photos! The kitchen and bathroom especially, and any storage. Better view of the building and more detail about the area.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 30/04/2015 12:24

Gah - should have refreshed before posting.

I could be wrong but that specific agency come across as cheapskates in comparison to their local peers where pictures and general outlay to sell are concerned. Their photos are always terrible, they have to be chased to return calls and emails [that I have made to them at least] and the description is always the bare minimum.

They don't have any local properties on with more than 8 pics and you have 7 so they may have a limit [I think Rightmove charge per pic] so you may have to be selective. That said the pics are still bad.

  1. Why is there a lampshade in the middle of the kitchen photo? I presume its over a table or something so how on earth did they manage that?
  2. Bathroom pic is essential plus it's layout should be in the floor plan which at best suggests it's a shower room
  3. WC should not be listed as store
  4. River view should be from your balcony and not just a generic pic.
  5. Definitely keep the outside pic of flats.
  6. You are in the catchment for an Ofsted outstanding primary school. That should be on the listing even if they are not marketing it to families.
  7. Description or the floor plan is inaccurate - the balcony is off the small bedroom, not the master
  8. Definitely need a pic of the smaller bedroom. I assume it's a nursery style room which is possibly why the EA avoided it.
  9. Living room layout is odd - did they move the sofas? If not, it's worth moving furniture / tv around for the new pics. It may be practical to make space for a small child to play but it just makes it look cramped in the photos.
10. The services charges are a lot of money and the area around the tennis court looks like some tidying up is long overdue. I'd lose that photo first if there's a limit. 11. The description should include a door to door time to Canary Wharf and walking time to Canada Water/nearest supermarket imo. 12. The bed is very large and is there a large stack of cardboard boxes at the base of the bed or is it just an unusual piece of furniture? I'd try taking pics from different angles before buying a new bed but it might be worth it.

See how responsive they are and if not, I'd start looking for a new agency so you can add a new one on as soon as your 8 weeks are up.

DownWithThisTypeOfThing · 30/04/2015 12:24

The sofas do look squished. Could you move the tv to the wall where the 2 seater is and then have a sofa (either would work) on the wall where the tv currently is? The sofa would extend past the edge of that wall but it would enable you to get some space between the two sofas.

Then again, you wouldn't be able to see the Windows from the sofa you moved.

If you did do it, I'd be tempted to put the three seater there to make it feel "squarer" rather than long.

ImNameyChangey · 30/04/2015 12:25

Is it an ex council flat? If so then it does seem overpriced...and if it's not an ex council flat...well...it looks like one.

chipshop · 30/04/2015 12:25

Yes, there are hardly any inside photos which would make me swiftly move on to the next suitable property. I like to see every room and any outside space when I'm looking. Not stock photos of the block of flats.

Original poster
pimsandlemonade · 30/04/2015 12:26

The photographer was late and then clearly in a hurry/didn't care much, so was rushing.

PrimalLass
good idea, I will try that.

In fact I will try taking new photos myself and see if I can do better, as i'm not sure if they send the same guy around he won't make similar mistakes.

OP posts:
Kvetch15 · 30/04/2015 12:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KingJoffreyFanciesDarylDixon · 30/04/2015 12:26

Offers In Excess is bull.

Put a price on it.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 30/04/2015 12:26

What is the giant white ridged blob floating in the kitchen? Awful photos and you could but a two bed terrace with garden in some nicer bits of london for the price.

I also hate "offers over" because it's too vague.

TravelinColour · 30/04/2015 12:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoyScout · 30/04/2015 12:28

Send am email to your agents.

Demand better photos.

Ask them to ditch 'in excess of' and just put a price.

Tell them you'll be changing agent at the end of the 8 weeks unless they drum you up some interest.

Remember they're working for you.

StatisticallyChallenged · 30/04/2015 12:30

Actually good point re a table - there's nowhere to eat (at least not visible). If there's space for a table in the kitchen then photograph it. If not, could you possible have a table in the bay?

I would suggest getting the smaller bed if that's a planned purchase anyway. If not, some sort of throw on the bottom of the bed and some coloured cushions to match would help considerably. If you can't find a throw which is long enough to cover the width of the bed then look on ebay for bargainous but lovely fabrics. You'd only need to hem the sides.

Original poster
pimsandlemonade · 30/04/2015 12:30

It's not an ex council flat.
It was originally built I think as part of the Hilton complex of short term rentals.
Considering it was built in the nineties it had/has hardwood floors, marble bathrooms, secure underground parking, communal gardens with a tennis court, which a lot of those new build won't have, but I guess it doesn't look appealing from the outside... I'm used to it, so really can't tell.

OP posts:
ChangingTiming · 30/04/2015 12:30

I think you're not getting views becuase the photos seem rubbish.
You need a photo of the balcony and the view from.
Don't think you need to remove furniture in living room, just get better photos taken of the open plan.
Defintiely if floor plan says toilet not store will add value

19lottie82 · 30/04/2015 12:30

This similar (identical?) flat is up for 45k less

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-49714009.html

Hussarsataparty · 30/04/2015 12:32

This should be marketed as a lifestyle or executive apartment, ideal for the busy businessman or woman who can't get home mid-week, or hasn't got time for anything else but work/socialising but likes the very best of things, hence they could be lucky enough to have this apartment (NOT flat).

Ask the estate agent to take photos of the parking area (?how many spaces?, security etc), and also of the tennis court - they've kinda downplayed this I think. Plus, the floorplan doesn't show what's in the bathroom - does it have an overbath shower, for example? Also, if you've got 2 loos that should be shown on the layout. If they can't get a good angle of the whole bathroom, maybe an artistic pic of taps, tiles, fancy "bathroom" sign on the door just to kinda make the point that it has one.

Not sure if that's a balcony or a covered area off the sitting room/kitchen? Maybe dress this up a bit, get hold of a cheapie table and 2 chairs from somewhere like Ikea, plant, big candle in a glass jar in the background, dress/set the table for 2, pop it in the corner, and make it look very chi-chi for eating at whilst looking over the river.

Maybe get some fancy plants or a rectangular planter of lavender or something, pop it on the bedroom balcony maybe on a wooden bench, stool or something to give it height, get the estate agent to take a pic of it with the bed in the foreground, and the doors open ie look how relaxing and beautiful our view is from our bed, rather than a view of the other bit of the building. And coloured pillows for accents.

Maybe just rent a storage unit or garage to take out all the non-essential things for the short term?

Oooooh, I'm excited for you now............

Hullygully · 30/04/2015 12:32

Agree with everyone else, really shit photos. And I think because everyone thinks the London market is berserk, and the agents have been all gung-ho, you haven't really made the effort to sell the place.

Ditch the giant bed, put some colour and excitement in the place. Lose at least one sofa, people have no imagination, you need to show them how lovely it could be to live in, not make them see past the awful pics.

PrimalLass · 30/04/2015 12:33

Do you have a dining table? I would put one in the big window space if you can. Set it, and take a photo. Huge selling point.

This one looks similar but for more money. It shows the space a bit better.

www.zoopla.co.uk/property-history/flat-94/tivoli-court/rotherhithe-street/london/se16-5ud/34256389

SingingHinnies · 30/04/2015 12:33

what about emptying it, i don't know how it works but this one near me is obviously empty but look's a lot bigger, you can see the dimension of the rooms better and picture where things will go. the bed's afr too big and makes the bedroom look a lot smaller than it is

The shoe boxes would put me off if i way buying a flat, the pictures are all a weird angle when you look at the pics on this one you can picture where everything will go here

reni1 · 30/04/2015 12:33

On the same webpage, 70 other 2 bed flats are listed that are cheaper than yours within 1/2 of a mile. Are they all that much worse than yours? If not, there's your answer.

Original poster
pimsandlemonade · 30/04/2015 12:34

Thanks for all the comments, we are definitely taking action, I think originally (even though I wasn't extremely happy with the photos) the estate agents made it sound like it will sell in 2 minutes, which is why we didn't initially complain about the photos.
And why we are now getting pissed of at them and at ourselves for not doing anything about it sooner.

OP posts:
SingingHinnies · 30/04/2015 12:34

damn phone

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