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

It looks cold and unwelcoming.

Get some large plants- like 4-5ft - to fill some corners of the lounge.

As PPs have said, consider swapping the larger bedroom to make it the living room.

What is lacks are side tables, standing lamps, or table lamps, a bit of colour, or greenery.

Even a bit more artwork on the walls might help.

We have just sold our 2 bed flat in a commuter town.
We had been on the market for a year before our first offer in July (we exchanged today)
There has been a lot going on about leaseholds and legislation around cladding with lenders and it's honestly been an absolute nightmare trying to get our buyer to find a lender that would lend.
(For context our building is exempt from any cladding legislation but our buyers first lender made things very difficult)

I wonder if people are getting wind of this in general and it's putting people off leaseholds. That said the market in general is painfully slow at the moment anyway.

The telly looks abandoned and a bit last minute throw it on a table. Can you wall mount it for viewings?

I'd look at your furniture arrangemant in the sitting room. Would the sofa be better underneath the window - better light for reading - and the cabinet where the sofa is now? The cabinet is probably narrower than the sofa so it wouldn't make the room look so narrow.

I think flats just aren’t selling that well at the moment. I tried to sell mine and have recently given up, I’ll try again next year when hopefully a combination of falling mortgage rates and stable interest rates will improve the market.

My estate agent said that the only flats selling were ones where the seller was willing to take a significant hit on the price.

It's the living space OP. For a 3/4 bed property, the lounge is just too small.

hang the TV or switch walls TV and sideboard? Small L sofa facing TV and window?
Could you lose the sideboard?
Get a collapsable table and chairs
That radiator in there really prohibits what you can do with that room

And this is where people are different-I like sloping walls and rooms which aren’t square!

As others have suggested I’d swap the main bedroom and living room…my living room in my old 1 bed flat was bigger than yours, so for a 3 or 4 bed flat more living space would definitely be an advantage. Your flat looks like it has a lovely “feel” though😊

Actually @Yellownotblue has a point about the 2nd bathroom - could you pay someone to do drawings for a 2nd bathroom in the tiniest "bedroom"? That might just swing it without having to move every item of furniture you own!

Like others, for me the issue is the size of living room for the number of bedrooms (It's bigger than mine, but I have a small 2 bed). Looking on the floor plan it's actually quite a decent length, but because it's narrow it just makes it a 'box' style space.

Living room space hacks:
I'd ditch the big tv unit - hang it off the wall instead and you've got a better room
Remove 2x chairs from the dining table - pop them in bedrooms instead / storage. (I have this in my living room and bring the extra chairs out when needed for guests, but otherwise it's too much in the space)
Introduce a floor lamp or table lamp to create more interesting lighting in the room for more character - it's too boxy with just the overhead spots.

I can imagine it being a really good shared rental flat for young professionals - nice big bathroom, at least 2 good bedrooms + 1 cheaper 3rd, and a shared living space people don't use that much because they're out all the time.

Good luck!

I think you'd do better to market it as a 3 bedder.

That living room is tiny. A family of 2 adults and 2 or 3 kids would be hard pushed to fit in there.

Make the current living room into a dining room/office and the biggest bedroom into a living room. Redress the office as a kids room/nursery.

it would mean some jigging around of furniture. You might need to buy or borrow a cot and you'd need to put some stuff in storage for a while but it would make it much more sellable.

Agree with this , I'd try make the master the living room , more appealing with the book case and 2 windows make it look lighter

Yes we just sold our flat but took a 30k drop as we were so desperate to move

It's very top heavy, I think the living space is very small for a family, or for the number of people that would occupy three bedrooms. Is it possible to present the small living room as a family/play space and a more grownup living room upstairs. There's lots of space it's just a little unconventional, it is nice though.

Problem with switching the bedroom and living room is that the bedroom only has a velux (if I'm looking at the right bedroom.)

You also don't want the bedroom (photo is at a funny angle) as your main, first photo!

Get some greenery and flowers.

Maybe put some books in the living room. Make it looked lived in and homely.

Are people looking at a different flat? It looks nice to me and I can immediately see how I'd make this lovely yo live in foe me.

Tv looks weird there tho

Well first of all there's no 'West Dulwich', that's Gypsy Hill and it's nowhere near a tube. Also, I think PP are right when they say a two bed with a balcony is probably more desirable than a 3/4 bed with no outdoor space. I was happy in my two bed garden flat (North London) with two children until we moved. But I wouldn't have considered somewhere like this. It reminds me of the flatshares I lived in when I first lived in London. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but it just wouldn't suit most people. Also, it's opposite an industrial estate which would put me off.

Could be loads of reasons, but the one you can do something about immediately is not market it as a four bed flat.

For me it's definitely the living room that's the issue. It doesn't help that you have an ugly radiator taking up most of one wall. Agree with a PP's suggestion of switching that to a vertical one. Plus it needs some dressing to make it look cosy. You can't make it bigger so you have to make it as appealing as possible.

While I don't disagree with suggestions to switch living room/bedroom, I can't see it would work in practice due to the layout. But it's worth considering.

I think @DonnaTellMeThis has just proved my point. Drop a quarter off the asking price eh? Is this seriously all you have to contribute?

That's much smaller than OP's flat in square footage and doesn't even have a separate kitchen. I don't think its any better value at all.

It’s the proportions.

it’s a lovely flat, great area, good price. BUT you’ve got 3/4 beds and a tiny living space.

if you have a 4 person family living there that will be very cramped. I’d want a proportionally bigger downstairs, maybe losing a bedroom.

too many bedrooms for a couple or single person.

You’re brave OP! Some of the comments on here are pretty harsh. When I looked at the advert I honestly thought the flat looked amazing, lovely & light & a good price for the area. On closer inspection I can see what people mean about the layout & would perhaps relist as 3 beds. I also like the fact that it’s a neutral colour without lots of statement walls/ prints. It’s more of a blank canvas.
I honestly think it’s mostly the time of year. The market will pick up next year. Also I know it’s harder to sell flats post Covid. Do you live near a nice park/ green space & could a pic be included?

If you dressed it as a 2 bed with a home office, dining room and livingroom upstairs with those lovely bookcases you might get more interest than you'd think.

It goes from being a cramped 4???(yeah, not really) bed to a spacious 2/3 bed and when people see those extra rooms that you wouldn't expect with a 2 bed they mentally file them away as potential to turn into bedrooms if they need to.

I think it’s just that mortgage rates are high and people can’t afford it!!!

Very normal for London.

Most flats are leasehold, and that level of service charge is very standard (although I'd want to be clear what is covered within that, I'd expect buildings insurance, some sort of communal cleaning, maybe sinking fund).