Why have we had very little viewers?

[Rita1003]

Hi all, our house has been on the market since early March. Up until now we have only had two viewings. We received an offer which we accepted but the sale fell through because they failed to sell their own property and their own buyers were not solid.

I'm surprised we have not had more people through the door however and wondered if anyone would like to click on the link and give feedback on the photos? Or anything else on the ad which may be putting some people off. All feedback, good and bad, gratefully received.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43387819.html

[DebbieOfMaddox]

Buzzard, I think that's what the rest of us mean by not looking lived in.

[BuzzardBird]

Oh, I see I thought you meant it was too tidy? I am a dick.

[momb]

It's a lovely house.
I agree with all the comments on the quality of the photos. They are letting you down.
The others in the row which have sold over the last couple of years for 20k less are 2 bed and largely unmodernised. The one in the middle of the village which looks amazing on the inside which is SSTC at 140K has a front door opening right onto the road.
But, it looks like a main road and you have little/no back garden, which will put off family buyers. You should mention flat access from the back, highlight that it is an end terrace, show the back door, maximise the potential of the back garden, show your parking spot, improve the detail in the listing using more positive language (mention fully modernised, new wiring/plumbing heating as appropriate) and remove the dimensions of the bathroom from the listing. I saw those dimensions and thought the bathroom and thought it was tiny, then went an measured up my perfectly adequate one and it's hardly larger.
My biggest one: if you have central heating say so. There's a radiator in one of the picks but a picture of a convector heater in the storage bedroom which makes me wonder.
Good luck!

[SueDNim]

Definitely buy the freehold or state the term of the lease and ground rent. It isn't normal round here to have leasehold houses and I wouldn't look further than Rightmove if I saw "leasehold".

[Kissmequick123]

Remove the awful photo of the slab garden. Keep the exterior garden with the hill. Brighten up the exterior with plants.

[Kissmequick123]

Not sure I'd buy a leasehold. Can you own the lease?

[PiratePanda]

Buzzard - wrong Pirate. Our political views could not be further apart!

[SpottieDottie]

The lack of a garden puts me off, though I love the size of the main bedroom. I prefer a large hall but thats only because I have an old house with a massive hall -it's another room.
My first thought was it's expensive for a terrace as it's more than a semi is round here. Overall though I think it's lovely.

[Rita1003]

Here's our new dining table.

[Pannacotta]

That looks much better in your dining room, both the size and the colour.
Like the chairs too. Fast work!

[LadySybilLikesCake]

Oh, that's lovely. It may help to decorate it a little for the pictures, a table cloth and a bunch of flowers or something (makes the house look like a home).

[Pannacotta]

Still think a bigger picture or mirror above the fireplace in your dining room would look better than the current one which is a bit undersized.

[RockinHippy]

I agree with a lot of what has already been said & I also think Right Move are absolutely useless & doing you no favours with the amount of effort they are putting in with trying to sell your property - poor descriptions & very poor photos.

We had exactly the same problem with them when trying to sell my parents place a few years ago - & those photos were taken in the summer - but they still managed to make the front of their property look like something from the Amityville Horror - IME they don't take professional photos & they use wet behind the ears agents with poor quality cameras as standard issue to take the photos.

It took me half an hour to edit the photos & make them look brighter & sunnier & more time to rewrite the blurb

As you are doing this & getting help from a professional photographer, if you still intend to use this second rate estate agent - Make sure you also renegotiate their sellers fee, because they sure as he'll aren't making much effort on your behalf.

Good luck

[SueDNim]

When we sold our last house we insisted on being given the draft details to edit. It made a massive difference to the listing. We also checked that you could read the floorplan details as we had seen lots of listings where you couldn't.

[Bunbaker]

"When we sold our last house we insisted on being given the draft details to edit"

So did we, but any good estate agent would want you to do that anyway.

[LadySybilLikesCake]

Mirrors on the wall opposite a window will reflect light into the room, making it appear lighter then it really is. It could do with being a fairly large mirror though.

[pinkdelight]

I come from the area and agree with eatmydust that most folk will use estate agents with premises in town, maybe Burnley, Colne or Barrowford. If you aren't getting viewings, you shouldn't be over the moon with your EA. They clearly don't have the contacts with buyers in your area looking for homes like yours. As the selling point is the school, you need an agent who can point young families in your direction eg you can't afford house x near Wheatley Lane school (or whichever) but how about this great home in Blacko? With the best will in the world, that ain't gonna happen with your EA. Might be different if you were less rural and more people spotted the for sale sign, but i'll bet the problem is simply nobody knows you exist. Rightmove is fine if you're searching for an area with limited properties, but unless someone searches for Blacko specifically, how will your house come up? Only if someone searches with a wide radius from Colne or somesuch and you'll be one of many. Your house is v nice though. Sure you'll sell it when buyers are pointed in your direction.

[Crutchlow35]

Rockin - rightmove are not the agent. Right move are a portal that all agents use. The agent the OP is using is an online agent and IMO not a good one. If they were good the OP wouldn't be asking for help!

[RockinHippy]

Yes of course you are right crutch

having a bit of a brain dead day thanks to migraine - it was a estate agent & not actually right move with my parents place too of course & I did manage to re-negotiate their fee - though M&D changed their minds & didn't sell in the end & moved back - but they had a hell of a lot more interest in the propert with better photos & description - & I agree the OPs agent looks pretty useless

[Rita1003]

I'm weeding the front garden and the partner is painting the front door and putting new door furniture on it. We are exhausted. However it is the photos which are the main worry. But they are going to change. Already emailed agent to change the write up too.

[Selks]

What about the option to buy the lease, OP, are you considering that?

[HenI5]

Love the new dining table and chairs.
I saw this yesterday and didn't get a chance to comment that although the house looks well maintained and tidy it also struck me as cold and not particularly engaging especially with the dark photos.
The idea of photos is to say to prospective viewers you want to live here.
It's good for marketing not to have so much overwhelming personality which might alienate some viewers, but you do need something to draw people in and the landing/stairs/hall and empty rooms don't do that.

Two things I could add are that by showing that the house changed hands so recently and at what price. it's possible that viewers are put off by thinking you're trying to sell on at a quick profit - your Agent should do a bit more to emphasize that you've spent a lot on the place, maybe a phrase like 'comprehensive programme of updating and refurbishments'
I think they should lead with this and also the car parking situation which isn't all that obvious.
Request that they use your strongest photographs first and perhaps end with the lovely view and showcase the house's top features right at the start of the text.

Secondly have you spoken to your Solicitor yet about the sale? what's their advice regarding the Lease?
If as you say leasehold is a very common occurrence in your area they may advise against purchasing the freehold. What are the competitive legal costs associated with buying and selling one as opposed to the other (in fees I mean)
Here Leasehold property is only really apartments and ground rent is much higher.
It might just be the right thing to give prospective viewers all the information and take action (or not) only when you've settled on a buyer.

I hope things pick up for you, you're doing all the right things now to be proactive.

[Mothergothel1111]

What colour is the door? Black , blue and red most popular.

[DelGirl]

I definitely think it's leasehold that's the problem. For £300 you'd be mad not to buy it. Lovely house btw. I don't think the garden photos are great tbh but hopefully your friend can do better.

[Rita1003]

Door will be red. Leasehold will come off the ad. If they enquire about the lease will explain the circumstances and either pay it for them on completion or negotiate something like that. It did not remotely put us off last year, in fact I asked a tonne of friends and no one was remotely bothered about leasehold as long as it still stands for many many years.
The offer we did get - which only fell through due to them losing their buyer, they did not even mention the lease once. It will come off the ad - and will go from there.