Not getting many viewers - advice welcome!

[CuddyMum]

We've had our property on the market for 4 months now and I'm getting frustrated by the lack of viewings (6 viewings to date). We have reduced the price to as low as we can now and although two different parties are interested, they have yet to sell their own properties. We did have an offer at Easter but were advised to turn it down by the agents. I regret doing this now :( The house is in an expensive area and has excellent infant, junior and secondary schools all in walking distance. I would appreciate any advice. I have just asked the agent to update the exterior photos.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-37819829.html?premiumA=true

I'm not a million miles away and yes, the market is quiet. For 450k I'd want more land/higher spec. 50k more gets you this Other houses either side of your selling price, of which there are not many, are not so pristinely decorated, might even need the kitchen redoing, but they nearly all offer more land. That said though, you have had 2 offers - Olney is a desirable area and there are not many family homes around.

Fwiw, I think the house is lovely and very easy anyway to put your 'stamp' on it. What might put me off, and there's nothing you can do about it is a) it looks like you have a public footpath running to the front and side of your house and b)closeness to the river? pond?

I think you should rename/re-stage the study as the 'The Snug' or 'Family Room' and move 'Study' upstairs to bedroom 4 - then prospective buyers think they're getting far more livable space. The bullet pointed descriptors make no mention of the 2nd floor.

Thank you everyone :) I guess, I'll sit tight and wait for the right (proceedable) buyer to come along

I second trimming the front hedge nicely for more kerb appeal

Got husband trimming the hedge at the weekend :)

I think it looks lovely - I'd perhaps have less photos on Rightmove - just the better ones. Agree that it might be easier to market as a 5 bed than a 6 bed - perhaps advertise as 5 bed with playroom (attractive to family market?)

Which photos/rooms do you think?

I cannot imagine why having fewer photos would be a good idea!? I always want to see as many as possible, unless some are showing awful things, which none of these are.

Honestly? It looks lovely. i particularly like picture 8 (the study), all the bedroom pics, and the view (pics 4 & 20).

However the living room seems pretty sterile / cold (pics 2 & 5). Yes it's small, there's not much you can do about that. But more than that it looks like a white box with no personality. Compare it to picture 8, for example - the study - which has character and looks lovely.

I'm not sure what would help? Some touches of colour maybe? I don't know! But hope that helps anyway :)

Don't know if you are doing this, but let the agent show prospective buyers around, it's their job to sell ( and you're paying them enough). Go out and don't get involved at all.

We've just sold ours and we had no involvement at all. I know we are lucky in this climate but it only took two and a half months. Good luck, when the time is right you'll sell it and there will be not hitches.

Forgot to say..... Make sure the agent advertises properly in the local paper and the shop window. Ensure they give your details to everyone who walks into the office, even if it's not the type of house they're looking for ( as long as its in their price range obviously).

Make sure the staff in the office have visited your property, especially the manager, so they know what they're talking about to the buyers.

We went to see a couple of properties today and our agent showed us around and I wasn't impressed - he was like a wet fish! I have been going out when we have viewings but I think I might stay for the next one! Saw another house straight after with another agent and she was much more on the ball. She's coming around tomorrow to give me her opinion.

Very well presented but things put me off, the kitchen (and dining room) is too small for a big family that might want a 6 bed house. The living room dimension is ok but the pics make it look small, it loos like there are only 3 seats in there, a 2 seater and a 1 seater, is that right?
The garden also looks small and very overlooked. Could garden pics be retaken from a different angle?

Oh and the bullet list also misses off the double garage and there's n mention at all of off street parking (assuming there is some?)

Lots of photos always looks a little desperate to me. Agree that the garden pics aren't great.

We don't really do off street parking in this road but we have space for 4 cars on the drive. The garden really isn't as small as it may appear - so it could be a dodgy angle. The sofa in the lounge is a large 3 seater. I'll await the feedback from the other agent today. She told me she's very blunt and matter of fact - which is good by me and she's been in the area for over 13 years.

Fair point. It's fairly well stocked now but we're not the best gardeners. Saying that, I'm looking for a very simple garden in our next property.

If the agent was like a 'wet fish' change your agent. I honestly wouldn't hesitate. There is a buyer out ther for you.

It's the garden/stream/pond photos at the end that aren't doing it for me.

Other people have mentioned that the garden could look bigger/better stocked. I also wonder if the stream and the pond will put some people off - particularly younger families. They could both look lovely on a sunny day if you had ducks swimming about etc. but the current photos make them look grey and cold - and what are the blobs of white stuff floating on the stream? Presumably they're not out-of-focus swans? I think you could lose one or both of those pictures.

I would be put off by the garden too, but having said that I wouldn't be put off enough iykwim ? its not a major thing and could be easily sorted and could look fab with a couple of mature plants.

Did you dh manage to trim the hedge at the front ?

other than that I think its just a case of waiting.

I think the wet fish would be a hindrance - I don't like to do business with wet fishes and it doesn't make it sound like he is going to drive the sale.

Pond is completely fenced off. Think the white things were probably snow! There are ducks and ducklings in there at the moment. There is no stream. Husband has cancelled golf and is trimming the hedges this weekend. Still awaiting the other Estate Agent to call me, which presumably she will, as we like the house she showed us around yesterday. Would be good to have some sunshine to take some fresh pictures. Although, I have emailed the current agent some sunny garden shots that I took recently that should be loaded later on.

Well the other agent came today and can't understand why we haven't sold. She didn't like the current photos at all. I asked her about the garden and she said it was larger than average for the area. She likes the privacy that the front bushes offer so they'll just be getting a tidy up this weekend. Have given two weeks notice to current agent who was expecting it. Watch this space for the new brochure with more professional photos in two weeks time :). Here's hoping for some sunshine!

I think you should market it as a 5-bed (or maybe a 5/6 bed). Use bedroom 4 as a study and the study as a family room.

Try also to get a bit more "room" and a bit less "furniture/decor" in the shots.

Good luck, anyway - your house looks very nice. But maybe one last thing - a planer or maybe a hanging basket at the front to try to brighten up the outside appearance a little.

We have a nice hanging basket and a planter right in front of the porch but it can't be seen from the current photos :)