Why isn't my flat selling?

[ratemyflatplease]

Not really an AIBU sorry.

I'm selling my flat at the moment and not getting much interest. I know that ultimately it'll come down to price. But that aside, is there anything in the description or photos that would put you off?

It's in SE London. 3 fair size bedrooms, one tiny box which is only big enough for a single but perfect as an office (which is how I currently have it).

Top floor, so no chance of outside space, which I think lots of people are looking for. Lease has been extended.

Taking a deep breath and posting Rightmove link: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139866227#/?channel=RES_BUY

The point is do people die hard WANT the view of the street?

We basically all have said to move to the light airy upstairs room with skylights (more akin to a penthouse). The person arguing seems to think thats stupid because 'views'.

The first photo not great, a wall with a photo on it and a corner of ?bed. Does not really show you anything of the room. Could they do a video tour of the flat. Flats are hard to sell after lockdown as I think people want outside space.

You could give your living room more illusion of space. Get rid of the glass tv table and put the tv on the wooden sideboard. Get rid of the unit next to the sofa and move it over, bring in the armchairs from the bedroom and face each other creating a seating are separate from the dining area.
I would style the office as and office/dressing area. Get rid of the computer chair for a start and add in something more delicate.

478 replies! WTF? has it been a slow couple of days on Mumsnet or something?

I think I suggested swapping thing around so that the bright, airy bedroom becomes the living room on top. If you then make the current living room a proper dining room (maybe it can be a study too)? then it doesn't matter the living room is on another floor.

With regards to what some say about people being able to look in, I swear by the frosted window films you can get from Brume etc. You can do it so that it just covers half of the window if that's what you prefer. Easy to apply and cheap!

I think all those slanting angles may make people think they are in a German Expressionist film... The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

^^

Lacking in character, except your bookshelves area, that is really lovely shows some life and personality.

Other than that it is like an air bnb. The living area small and the kitchen dated.

Bathroom and your bedroom are the big winners.

Stick the tv on wall or in corner in living room to get more space, get a radiator cover on, the huge radiator is ugly.

You could keep the white walls, but just more accessories, coordination and life! For over 400k you are selling a lifestyle.

Lease length isnt great..

Many leases are 999
Years now

I learnt the hard way and lost thousands on a flaf a few years ago

Would never buy leasehold again now

Learnt that lesson

Just looked at your neighbour 149a who has sold recently, you may be thinking that it’s down to the outdoor space.

And yes that is a big selling point….

But it actually looks fun to be there, like they loved being there; artsy photos, big roomy lounge, with that F&M box, the arty light, decorative pillows and matching throws on the beds, all the little details in the kitchen highlighted including the lemonade recipe - FUN!

To me your flat says “this is Kim, she doesn’t spend a whole lot of time here, she never has people over or eats at the dining table, she sits cross legged on the sofa peering at the tv that never got mounted on the wall… she just about managed to get some midnight blue sheets from ikea for the spare room that isn’t used except to store her clothes, but spends most of her time working, seriously working, like she is on the starship enterprise serious with multiple monitors and masses of equipment… occasionally she gets to curl up in her favourite chair with a beautiful rug and read books to relax… she never cooks and hates the kitchen… Buy this flat and you too can be stuck at the top of the building being very serious too! Though you might sleep well!”

On the bright side dressing your flat is all you need to do and it won’t be expensive! You just need some interior design. And to get rid of the big scary desk if at all possible to dress that room as a bedroom.

That one needs a lease extension

The dining room table and chairs next to the sofa looks very cramped. It all looks a bit bland and needs a bit of colour on some walls to make it look cosy. Too many chairs in the bedroom.

There's a lesson for op in how to present her flat, though...
It even has <gasp> bookshelves!! Which were the only thing in op's that drew positive comments.

@MongoFrogman I like the airyness of OP's one. And that lot seem studenty. 'Fun' maybe but silly and not to everyone's taste. OP's one is very neutral and they usually say that's a good thing when selling.

Lovely bedrooms but not much living space? The dining area looks like an after thought, where are people supposed to sit?

@porridgeisbae

The market for the flat would be young professionals would it not? Late 20s/30s. You know the ones who’ve recently been students and buy a flat prior to setting up home…

Or am I getting the target market wrong?

The kitchen in the other flat was more recently updated and I liked the accessories throughout that showed some personality.

Just like I love OP’s world map footstool and the cushions with St Pancras tickets on in the bedroom because it shows her love of travel and all the books - I can relate to that. It would be great to have more of that around the flat. But she clearly doesn’t have time or inclination. Her suitcase is in her office under a stack of papers so she must travel with work too. It shows in the flat though and some may find that off putting because it is hard to visualise the life there if it is an almost totally blank canvas.

IDK I think we're usually told to have something pretty blank-canvasy when trying to sell.

@porridgeisbae there is blank canvas and then there’s soulless. It needs a bit of dressing and reorganisation of furniture, that’s all. And better photos.

For me it's the living room because who wants 4 bedrooms but only 1 bathroom and a tiny lounge

Most solicitors would advise people against something with that lease length

Particularly 4 that cost too

I will never cease to be amazed by people who look at OP's decor & inferred lifestyle & conclude

"i don't want to buy that property because I'd be stuck with that exact same lifestyle & THAT exact same decor !"

And then you have people saying "You should immediately Spend £3k converting one of those rooms to a second bathroom" but also "I could never live there because it only has one bathroom!" (implying THEY could never spend £3k coverting 1 room into extra bathroom).

I suppose MNrs have taught me that selling houses is selling fantasy with unwritten rules.

It's the price. It's always the price.

Price and lease length

You reduce the price to account for a shorter lease. So it is still ultimately the price.

Leases only really become very problematic when they drop below 100 years. But it doesn't look great in a world where share of freehold and therefore 999 year leases are more common.

@lljkk to be fair a very good agent who got top dollar for us on two properties said it was all about the staging and selling a lifestyle.

Exactly
999 year leases are common

So many costs involved with buying & selling

Makes zero sense to buy somewhere with that lease length - not a great investment on that basis

I learnt this the hard way when younger