How soon did you start to get viewings?

[Sooperswooper]

Our house went on the market early last week (right move, local paper, in the EA window etc) having had 4 valuations of exactly the same, plus assurances that our house would be snapped up within days due to demand in the area etc etc (i did take all of this with a big pinch of salt!). However, zero interest whatsoever. Not even a phone call or enquiry to the EA. People though probably just my friends and family have been looking on right move but it seems to go no further.

Very similar houses have sold recently in the area for the asking price so there is demand - unless of course the demand has now been satisfied! The EA we went with said that they had a big list of potential people that would be interested, but that hasn't materialised.

I realise that it's only been on for a week, but still, i would have expected a little nip of interest? Happy to be told that my expectations are far too high and I need to relax about it

Will get onto it tomorrow! Thank you.

So just a few thoughts- these are iPhone snaps so not great but in terms of better than the others layout wise?

I think it looks better turned on its side (so the shorter end against the wall) but simply for the purposes of selling (because I think the table is lovely) is there any way you could replace it with a smaller one. Something like this

small extending table

Do you have a separate dining room? If so, I'd get rid of the table all together.

I actually have that exact table stashed away in the eaves, so will dig it out as I think you're right. Not quite sure where I could stash this one though as don't want to get rid of it (though I could just use the smaller ones for photos). Anyway, I'm probably getting too hung up on this so will step back now & keep my fingers crossed for some viewings! Apparently it's going in the paper again so hopefully that will get some interest.

Good luck

I'd definitely getEA to redo particulars to emphasise S facing garden-I would not look at a house that isn't S or SW garden
Round here it's common to quote the vendors in the description.It can be a bit vomit inducing but you can emphasis what is good about location/ house .
I wouldn't worry about average price thing. DD 2 is flat hunting at present and when you look at the 'properties sold on this street' bit, it's obvious it's a mix of houses and flats .
We have been toying with the Idea of moving ( downsizing in fact) If I'm right and you have a kitchen with largish dining/family room 'off' and a separate sitting room it would appeal to me , but a good configuration for families too I would think .Is your garden enclosed? It's hard to tell .

Just popping in to see how it's going Swooper. Hope you've had some more interest and viewings lined up. We've got two on Monday and timeline agreed with EAs about when we re jig photos/wording etc. It's so frustrating though to see houses we like and know our offers will be rejected until we're under offer ourselves.

A bit off topic but Postchildren is a SE garden no good because you get sun in morning not evening? (clueless but quite enjoy pottering in our little south facing garden so looking for similar when we move, hadn't considered whether a SW or SE is better)

Just found this thread. Hi Swooper, how are things going, have you had any more viewings yet? We are in the same boat except we have been on the market a little bit longer than you. We have been on for 7 weeks and had 2 viewings. We are tied into a contract for 12 weeks but would dearly love to change agents. Has anyone ever managed to get out of a contract early?

Hello! Thanks for popping back everyone. That's brilliant to hear allovertheworld - has anything come from that? We've now given our 7 days notice to the EA, got a professional photographer to take new photos, spent about a grand on sanding floors, decluttering, painting/decorating and it is now (even more- if I do say so myself!) beautiful. I hope anyway. It goes on as a new listing, a far better description (including permit parking and gardens) and with a new agent on Friday so fingers crossed. When it goes up will post here to see what the feedback is!

Has there been any interest over the last 2 weeks OP?

If there hasn't then I really think the problem is price.

The original photos weren't bad and some people can envisage a house with their stuff in it (admittedly not everyone!) but if no one has even been through the door the problem must be bigger than just the photos.

None whatsoever. I'm not adverse to lowering the price at all, but it is a difficult one as the new EA really does think that the price is a fair one, and that it is worth keeping on at the same price due to what has sold recently in the area. DH is convinced by the EAs, so I've said we'll try it, but I would be happy to put on for 5k/10k less (for example) and then if that garners interest then it might go for what we were hoping for anyway.

Ahh, fingers crossed.

Hopefully the bit of work we've done might help a little as we got these taken ourselves so they haven't gone up yet- going on with the new EA on Fri...

In a reasonable market you should expect a small rush of early viewings from people already on the agent's books and who perhaps lost out when other similar properties were sold. It then slows down and depending on overall demand for your type of property in your area will level out. I would be worried about the fact there was not an immediate pool of people actively looking. (Think about it the other way. You are looking for, say, a three bed in an area and dont find what you want. You will then want to view each suitable property that comes onto the market as soon as possible.)

The usual danger is that the vendor is surprised to get a good offer within a day or two and thinks he has under-priced. This may not be the case. Instead he has been lucky and the agent has done their job of matching buyers to sellers.

Looks beautiful. Love the floors. Good luck.

Wow, photos are so much better

Well, an update (i am probably being narcissistic in thinking anyone is interested!) but at least the new agents are absolutely on the ball (so to anyone toying with getting a new EA- do it!!). It "officially" went on the market with the new EAs on Friday and even before that they had arranged 5 viewings for which we have had extremely detailed feedback.

The feedback is basically that the location is either loved or hated, parking is an issue (although the EAs are all over it because ironically here, having permit parking is by far the best situation - after having your own driveway of course- and they are explaining that). Quotes from the feedback, both positive and negative are: "Loved the presentation and the upstairs space suited them, the downstairs felt a little cramped, the main room mostly". "upstairs space was great it was the downstairs space again" "Thought the house was very well presented, did feel a little cramped entering via the side of the house and did feel that they would need more kitchen worktop/storage space downstairs".

"Price wise on yours, they didn’t feel it was unfair compared to others they had seen" "Price wise – thought bang on" "Felt it was presented very well and at 395k represented good value for money"

So I guess it's a question of waiting for that one elusive buyer. Not quite sure what we can do about the fact that downstairs is smaller than people would like- I guess it's a typical Victorian cottage. I suppose we could try to shift the piano into storage, but reticent to do that as it's a real pain to do and it actually takes us less space than the sofa that we originally had there.

If anyone might provide comments, I can certainly post the link and also a few others to compare it to.

sooper your new pics look amazing and so glad to hear you got some viewings and decentfeedback. I suspect you're right about waiting for that one person who.comes in and loves it enough to overlook the smaller downstairs.

We're still languishing with on average one viewing a week but not sure whether it's worth moving agents as we can technically afford to rent this place out and still afford a house where we are looking. The stress of being a landlord puts me off but maybe we'll do that and put it back on in a year or 18 months

Still feel.pretty bruised that about lack of viewings and t feel it's my fault as I pushed DH to go with this agent :(

I'd be interested to see a floor plan to see how 'cramped' it is. Good news though!

Your new pics are a huge improvement imho sooper.....hope you find a buyer very soon!

Allover; before you rent it just try a different agent. I genuinely am flabbergasted at the difference in approach, communication and marketing that our new agent has compared to the old one. These- even if it takes a while to sell- I wouldn't begrudge a penny as they are working solidly to sell our house. Don't feel as if it's your fault that you pushed DH into an agent- it's the agents fault!!

I've attached a floor plan. Our house is a bit unusual as the attic has always been converted (or at least since anyone who owned it has recorded!)

Love the new photos! It looks so light and fresh. Good luck!

Thanks! The annoying thing with these new photos is that people are now thinking it's bigger than it is (despite the dimensions being on the floorplan) and so are disappointed when they view. A couple were transposed into landscape, but we've now resurrected the portrait ones (which are more visually accurate) which should hopefully offset any space expectation.

I guess it really is now just a question of waiting for someone to come along now that the initial rush has died down. Which is, of course, the part which I find the hardest as I am not blessed with patience- now that I have it in my head that we are moving, I just want to sell up & get over to where we are going. Well meaning people in rl keep telling me that "it only takes one person" (to which I want to ask where this mythical person is) and that it took them over a year to sell

The floor plan shows the position of the rooms but the actual dimensions are quite difficult to see. It looks as thought you have 2 decent size bedrooms and a small 3rd room, but then the kitchen looks tiny (sorry!) and the reception rooms are both small (if it says 12' x 10' and 12' x 9'). I can see what you mean because the photos do make it look more spacious than it is!