Please give your opinions on why we have not had any viewings on our flat? Listing included

[househelp2025]

Hi there,

We are trying to sell our flat and have not had a single viewing. I know that this is typically either due to the price a property is listed at or something to do with the way it has been marketed.

I would be enormously grateful for any feedback on the listing and what (if anything) might deter you from booking a viewing?

It is a long lease - just shy of 999 years, and has a designated parking space in a private secure car park under the flat.

Is it the photos? Is the price too high? Something else?

Thanks in advance!

Flat listing

Too expensive. I am familiar with the area and know it’s very rough by the station; drug addicts, stabbings. If I’m dropping that kind of money on a flat, I’d be buying in Beaulieu which has a new station coming and isn’t nearly as rough.

I would actually be complaining to whoever administers the service charge, because that large central area below your balcony is basically a car park. What is it meant to be? If it’s not a car park, then shouldn’t there be some grass and shrubs? What does your service charge actually give you? They’re not preventing people from parking there, and there’s nothing else there. Apart from the gym, what do you get for your £200 per month?

For me, I definitely wouldn’t want a balcony overlooking a car park and that overlooked, also looking into the centre of the development is a bit claustrophobic. But mostly I need to see a bit of greenery. It’s devoid of any trees, plants or nature. Even the bedrooms have their windows behind the beds so you can’t look out at something other than the car park. Not sure on price as I don’t know the area. Onsite gym will only appeal to those interested, so if the service charge is high because of the gym, that may put some people off. However it is nicely decorated and done. Hope you get some good luck soon.

I think its the price. You can get new build 3 bedroom houses - quite near to you for that price.

At present there are a lot of properties in the market due to landlords selling up ahead of the RRB. The market is a tad flooded

Added to that, there are rumours of a second drop in BoE rates in 2025, so buyers are holding out for that to happen to secure better mortgage deals

Stamp Duty has risen making previous deposits now at shortfall so buyers need to save more.

Period properties are selling better than new builds due to a lot being Share of Freehold, but also service charges are generally lower

Since Covid, people are still hungry for outdoor space.

Your flat is nice but a combination of the above is the reason for no viewings. The estate agent would be best placed to advise regarding price. A lot of properties I am seeing have reduced prices but still not selling.

The market is the worst since 2009, so please don't take it personally

agree, the estate agent's description is rubbish

also I've read your comments and appreciate that usually there is a lot of light and it's not a car park but the fact in those photos it a) looks quite dark and b) that the only view is over a car park then the description touts it as being "luxury" and "flooded with natural light" just sounds like the estate agent doesn't give a fuck and is just chucking random words at it rather than making any effort to sell your specific property.

There are lots of nice things you could say about it - the decor is great, it looks modern, etc. and agree photos on a sunny day when it is flooded with light might make a lot of difference. Get them to emphasise those, plus the convenience, the services you get, etc. If it's really quiet, in a nice area, near a park or shared outdoor space, or has good soundproofing add that because they aren't things people necessarily expect from a flat so could be a selling point, etc.

With all new build there’s a 10% premium included because it new. No one really noticed this in a rising market for resale value but in a flat market it’s very clear! If you bought in the last 5 years you’re probably looking at knocking 10% off what you paid for it. Whilst it’s a great commuter location not many people need to go in the office everyday so that’s less of a selling point. People want more sense of place and soft landscaping from where they live as they spend much more time there with the WFH culture.

I think it's got good things going for it but some issues:

1. the bedrooms look incredibly small and pokey. Is there anywhere to put the beds other than blocking the windows?

2. the view from the balcony isn't great

3. the open plan sitting room is actually nice and a decent layout but the photos make it look a bit long and dark.

Things I would do to entice people to book viewings:

1. move the beds to a different position if possible. If that can't be done, can you temporarily dismantle one of the beds and set up a daybed or something for new photos to be taken?

2. make the balcony look a bit more welcoming with some greenery (pot plants or a screen) and an outdoor rug to make it more about the space and less about the view

3. try zoning the living area more (i.e. use rugs / artwork / paint or similar to differentiate the seating area from the kitchen area) and take photos which emphasise each area on its own rather than the room as a whole

I dont know the area so I can't comment on the price exactly but seems expensive for a flat. I personally don't like the bedroom photos you need teo curtains not one. Too much grey no colour in the bedrooms or bedside lamps, you need nice thick throws or additional pillow stacking making it look more "grand" even tones of beige and black and browns with more mustard coming through. Walls are white and bland id add more art work onto them also the curtains if hung nicely would hide the view of the flats opposite. Theres what looks like a picture stuffed behind a plastic set of drawers again screams the room is small theres no room to even put the picture id remove those from the photo maybe put an artifical plant or just leave it bare there. I dont think he balcony photos are too bad but maybe suggest the photos facing inwards to the apartment so u can see the balcony rather than out onto the street. balcony could have some lanterns or plants to make it more homely.

If people are parking their cars there, it’s to all intents and purposes a car park 🤷🏻‍♀️
Even if it was empty of cars, it looks pretty brutal, tbh.

Sorry if this has already been said but the first photo of the bedroom I thought, Uh oh, no room for a wardrobe, so would have skipped by, when actually the wardrobe is there but out of shot.
I think the price for a 2 bed with easy access to London seems about right (I'm also a similar distance from London but in another direction) and the service charge is high, but for a young couple who could cancel their gym membership as a result of having access to their own gym just downstairs I think it isn't horrendous.
Good luck @househelp2025 ! A few tweaks to the photos and a bit more time might be all it needs.

High service charge would put me off.

You haven’t even had it listed for a fortnight year, I think you’re panicking. Presumably the EA suggested pricing it at that level? It looks to be in a good condition, although I don’t think the photos are brilliant tbh. They do make the bedrooms look very small. I think that by including a photo of the gym and communal area, you are only appealing to a young professional demographic, so that might limit interest. But I wouldn’t panic just yet, give it another week or so and then discuss with the EA.

The photos are nice, it's well presented but just too expensive.

The rooms are small, especially the bedrooms, the service charge is pure extortion and the price is a good 100k over what I would be willing to pay for it, even without the service charge.

Well it looks a little overpriced to me - and yes I dont know the area, just looked at what that price would buy nearby.

The first photo would be better dropped. It gives the impression of a dark flat and while the second photo is brighter that first impression means you are looking for dark thereafter.

The service charge is very high and I know that's for the concierge and gym so wont look so high to anyone already paying for a gym but then some gyms have a better look that that one.

It's all a bit beige and industrial for me but i'm not your target market. I'm not usually a fan of red but I'd be tempted to swap kettles and toaster in the kitchen for something a lot brighter - but not yellow - and brighter towels in the bathroom. Even your clock and chairs are dark. Perhaps a flowering plant like an orchid in the bathroom. I'd have some screening on the balcony for more privacy - maybe this one https://www.micasia.co.uk/p/TEXBS_1282 No picture of the second bedroom?

Worth mentioning the grammar schools, you might get someone with just one teenager wanting to be in catchment.

I know that area and it's not bad and has decent amenities. Very commutable for London. However, the things that put me off:

The balcony looks really soul-less. And looking over a car park. I'd put some big plants out there to soften the view. And introduce a bit of colour.

Double beds blocking both windows is a real turnoff. Makes the bedrooms look boxy and inconvenient. Is there any other way of configuring the space? If not, can you at least put the space bed in storage and arrange the room so the window isn't obscured. Maybe a home office?

The annual service charge is over £2k it's buried in the small print!

Has it always been a 2 bed? The floor plan looks.like ot may have been a spacious 1 bed at somempoint as it seems odd that the en suite is on the smaller bedroom?

If you don’t use the second bedroom I would maybe get rid of the bed and set it up as a home office space.
It may make the room look less cramped and make the flat look less like a very cramped family home and more like a cozy home for a single person or couple.

If you are retaking photos, I would put back out the other 2 chairs. Hope you sell soon

I think it’s gorgeous inside but the view from balcony not so much can that be removed from the listing ? Maybe make the balcony look a bit more inviting plants screening lights and seating maybe ?

Despite long lease I wouldn't touch any property with one, even if it's 999 years

What is it if it is not a car park? Unfortunately the pictures certainly make it look like a car park.

Maybe it’s the angle of the photo, but it looks like the space couldn’t take a proper sized table.

Thete’s no reason for that sort of bleak hardscaping if not for use as a car park