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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect to get at least one viewing on my house in 5 weeks?

25 replies

Despondenthouseseller · 05/04/2023 08:40

Fell for the estate agents spiel of having just the right buyers registered with them, who would love my house and it would sell fast with them. 5 weeks on the market and not one viewing. Before anyone mentions price, it is considerably cheaper than other comparable properties, as we were encouraged to price it to sell. Unfortunately, I signed a 12 week agency agreement, so it seems that I am stuck with the wrong estate agent to sell my house. Interestingly, this is a joint agency agreement and the first agent is still getting a dribble of interest and viewings. Popular town in south Hertfordshire.

OP posts:

BoxOfCats · 05/04/2023 08:43

You're about to get a load of replies asking to see the photos now

DrMarciaFieldstone · 05/04/2023 08:44

I look on Rightmove, so not sure different agent makes much difference as long as it’s listed, but are the photos doing it justice?

There’s certain features in a house I would never view regardless of price - no off-street parking, garden access through the lounge not the kitchen, no side access.

TheSnowyOwl · 05/04/2023 08:45

If it’s a popular town and the price is right, there is something else wrong because pretty much everything sells if it’s cheap enough.

What’s the decor like? The photos?

malmi · 05/04/2023 08:45

Is it on Rightmove? If not, that's why no viewings. If so, it's got rubbish photos or it's overpriced. Estate agent is irrelevant unless they are actively sabotaging requests to view.

grumbleandcustard · 05/04/2023 08:47

It’s potentially going to be the photos and/or the price. Can you post your RM link?

ppure · 05/04/2023 08:48

I agree, its nothing to do with the agent unless it isn't on portals like right move or they don't answer their phone.
Either the price is unattractive or folk don't like it.

Polik · 05/04/2023 08:48

Agent makes zero difference* as long as its on Rightmove

as long as they aren't one if those estate agents that makes buyers pay a fee to offer. Avoid those.

grumbleandcustard · 05/04/2023 08:49

malmi · 05/04/2023 08:45

Is it on Rightmove? If not, that's why no viewings. If so, it's got rubbish photos or it's overpriced. Estate agent is irrelevant unless they are actively sabotaging requests to view.

People sell without going on RM? I just assumed everything went on there nowadays!

Greenfairydust · 05/04/2023 08:50

Rightmove link?

Usually if you don't get viewing at all:

it is overpriced
the pictures are really bad
something about the area is putting people off
the agent is not advertising the property correctly: it should be on Rightmove so it can be viewed by more people than just the agents' existing mailing list
your agents have a poor reputation so people prefer to view through other agencies.

nicetoseetgesunsout · 05/04/2023 08:51

Sold mine within a week. SE London. Over asking price.

Sundaefraise · 05/04/2023 08:51

To not have a single viewing suggests that something is ‘wrong’ as most people looking in a price range will view something new, but what it is from the details you have posted is guesswork.

NEmama · 05/04/2023 08:54

Sundaefraise · 05/04/2023 08:51

To not have a single viewing suggests that something is ‘wrong’ as most people looking in a price range will view something new, but what it is from the details you have posted is guesswork.

It might be below some buyers search criteria if is priced slightly too low?

ReneBumsWombats · 05/04/2023 08:55

Something is clearly wrong and we'd need to see the Rightmove entry to work out what it is. If it's not on Rightmove, that's the problem!

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 05/04/2023 08:56

Mostly it's the price.

Or there's something in the photos or the layout that's really putting people off.

As everyone has said, it would help to see a link.

unfortunateevents · 05/04/2023 08:58

Why is this a joint agency agreement? Do you mean that the house was on with one agent, the one who is still getting a triickle of interest, and then later you decided to put it on with the second agent? Or did you go joint agency from the beginning which is not what most people do? Have you gone back to the agents and asked specifically what they are doing to market your property, who they have called about it, sent the details to etc etc? To not even get a viewing in five weeks is concerning, so something is wrong about the house or the listing and the agents should know what it is! Time for them to come clean.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 05/04/2023 09:01

Joint agency tends to indicate a difficult to sell property and you are charged more as you have to pay both agencies, so if it's not difficult to sell I don't understand why you would make that decision. But as has been said without a link we can't possibly comment.

Polik · 05/04/2023 09:03

FYI, if I see the same house on Rightmove twice (through different agents) it's an immediate red flag to say something is wrong with the house and so I'd open the listing already warey.

This is especially the case if listed with two agents (on right move) at the same time. This just puts the two listing right next to each other on Rightmove. It's marginally better if the second agent is several weeks after the other.

PurpleBananaSmoothie · 05/04/2023 09:04

How cheap is it? If it’s priced too cheap people might be thinking there is something wrong with it. There is a minimum level at which you know 2/3/4 beds are going at and any lower than that and you’re in the shit bit of town or it has structural damage or there’s neighbour disputes. Have you pitched it at the minimum to be appearing in most searches?

Are the photos any good? Did you get professional photos done? We’ve just sold ours for over asking, it needs work doing but the photos captured the good bits and showed the work that needed doing. Ours sold in a week and so 5 weeks and no viewings, something is wrong.

Polik · 05/04/2023 09:14

Another pointer to maximise visibility on Rightmove- price to suit Rightmove price brackets. Eg tons more visibility at 425K than £430k due to the £25k price brackets.

At 430 you're at the cheaper end of someone with a 450 budget, but someone with a max 425 budget won't see it.

Leftoverssandwich · 05/04/2023 09:16

Can I check I’m reading your post right? You’re getting viewings from one agent but none from another?

Could just be that there’s a smallish pool of buyers right now and one agency has a more attractive listing and is being more proactive.

It’s definitely not OK for an agent to not be busting a gut for you, but multi-agency does cloud the picture a bit.

It might be different markets in different places but multi-agent suggests a problem to me always - I noticed recently when looking in your broad area that it seems to be way more common there that the markets I’m used to - but I would worry about why someone was using more than one agent to sell.

Mitchumforthewin · 05/04/2023 09:16

Agree with the others. The agent is largely irrelevant these days, no-one goes in and ‘registers’ like in the olden days. Now you just look on Rightmove, call up and view, regardless of who it’s on with.
post a link and we can help (if you’re feeling brave!)

Dixiechickonhols · 05/04/2023 11:08

Is it coming up on right move correctly? There’s ones near us that are on wrong town. Totally bizarre.
If it’s 2 agents and cheaper than comparable houses I’d assume a major issue.

Original poster

Despondenthouseseller · 16/04/2023 18:39

We have now been 6 weeks with additional agent and not one viewing, still getting one a week with the original agent, both are advertising my house on Rightmove. I thought that instructing a second agent would increase my chances of selling. We've found the house we want to buy, they took it off the market for two weeks to give us a chance to sell and it is back on the market and we don't want to lose it.
I'm baffled. I can only concluded that our house is not a good match for the second agent, despite their persuasive sales spiel that got them the instruction, but obviously isn't working on potential purchasers to get us any viewings!😠

OP posts:

Inthesamesinkingboat · 16/04/2023 18:44

Sounds exactly like my situation. Estate agent just keeps telling me things will pick up next week. Been being told that for 6 weeks now. It’s not the price because I’m happy to cut the price but the estate agent just says things are slow…funnily enough when I was signing the contract they had buyers lined up, blah blah blah.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 12/05/2023 13:11

I think the living room picture makes it look bigger than it is so the feedback would be it’s too small as it doesn’t look as people imagined it. Id make small changes like putting the dining table where the round sofa was tucked out of the way and then using the rest of the space for sofas. There is no real focal point in the room at the moment and my brain isn’t seeing it as living space, just a fabulous hall or a dining room. I’m guessing the downstairs bedroom was the original living room.

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