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Original poster

Two weeks and no viewings

36 replies

dream75 · 17/07/2015 22:01

We have been on the market for two weeks and have had no viewings. Is the market slow? We are in Liverpool suburb

OP posts:
OrangePeels · 17/07/2015 22:02

Why not post pictures and we can give some advice?

It really depends on the area to how fast the market is at the moment. I don't know Liverpool to comment.

wowfudge · 17/07/2015 22:20

If the photos, blurb and floor plans are good then, unless the market is really slow at the moment in your area, it's likely to be price that is the issue.

RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog · 18/07/2015 00:10

Have you had a look at sold prices in your area on RM etc to see how they compare with your asking price/expectations?

Normally you'd expect a flurry of interest when a property first hits the market, so unless things are pretty stagnant in your location it would suggest that price is putting prospective buyers off......

If you post up a RM/Zoopla etc link or some pics more posters can advise!

hereandtherex · 18/07/2015 07:58

The market is very slow.
In my home town (NYorks) stuff has been piling on for the last 10-15 years.
Its shocking looking at how few places sell - the Land registry data is very soon.

Its not unusual to come across places that have been up for sale for 5+ years. Im not sure whats going on in people heads after that time. SUrely, you need to be knocking 10% off each 6 months.

If you really have to sell in the market you are stuffed.

Floundering · 18/07/2015 08:09

Have another look at the way it's presented . Are the photos good? Can any rooms be re-arranged to emphasise space?

I agree price may need to be reduced, even by £5 k might drop it into the price range of a whole new set of viewers.

ReallyNotAMorningPerson · 18/07/2015 11:09

OP why don't you post a link, MN can offer tips, then ask MN HQ to remove link once tips received to preserve your anonymity.

Original poster
dream75 · 18/07/2015 16:41

Thanks everyone I'm struggling to post link but will keep trying

OP posts:
scarlets · 18/07/2015 17:39

The market is generally buoyant here, but over the last week it has cooled because of the start of the holiday period (I was talking to an estate agent about this last night).

mathanxiety · 20/07/2015 05:15

Have any other houses near you sold in the last little while?

Original poster
dream75 · 20/07/2015 10:37

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50713810.html

Link attached

OP posts:
lalalonglegs · 20/07/2015 10:54

I think July/August aren't ideal months to put a house on the market. The photos on your link show it is a solid house but it doesn't leap off the page. There is no floorplan which I think is a shame. I would put lack of viewings down to the time of year rather than anything else (providing you have the price right). Lots of people will come on and say you need to repaint the kitchen and put plants out at the front which does make it look nicer but shouldn't make that much difference.

RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog · 20/07/2015 11:10

Thanks for being brave and posting a link OP!

I agree with lala regarding the time of year - we sold our house in a slow-moving part of rural Wiltshire last year, putting it on the market on September 1st and had three offers within the first five weeks which was good considering properties could taken upwards of a year to sell in our village/surrounding area. Otoh, in 2012 we sold my parents house in a popular area of Hampshire and put this on the market at the end of July, but had no real interest till Sept/Oct, accepting an offer during the second week in Oct.....

You definitely need a floorplan these days imho and I would be put off viewing a house without one unless it was a very special property that drew me in for other reasons.

It does look a solid house, but lacking in kerb-appeal and I think this can be important when you are selling a property of which there are many similar also for sale - you need something to make your house stand out from the competition rather than simply looking at the RM blurb and moving on to the next one. At the moment I don't see anything that is making your house jump out at me, saying "view me", but I don't know the area and maybe the price is enough to attract buyers, but the timing is not right yet?

The first pic of the front elevation definitely needs tweaking imho and some colourful planters, which you can take with you to your new home (and removal of the bins!) might be the answer......

RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog · 20/07/2015 11:11

Sorry, take, not taken!

Original poster
dream75 · 20/07/2015 11:26

Thanks lala and raphaella. I am trying to get the EA to post floorplan because we did get one done. I agree about kerb appeal and bins. I need to see what I can do and get the front photos retaken.

OP posts:
ChilliAndMint · 20/07/2015 11:26

I'd be inclined to put some planted pots out the front and get a nice big house number ( the Moorish ones are nice).

Lawn could do with a tidy up too.

Just needs a " polish" really and something to give it kerb appeal.

hedgehogsdontbite · 20/07/2015 11:32

I agree with the pp, you need to include a floor plan and work on the kerb appeal.

I would also add that the layout in your living room looks very strange and muddled. It looks like you can't sit comfortably and watch tv and you have dinning furniture at both ends.

I like the kitchen but the floor tiles let it down. Can you cover/replace them. Also the washing machine is sticking out. Is that because it doesn't fit?

In the bathroom I'd get rid of those black tiles, I think you can get tile stickers to go over the top, and I'd replace the toilet seat with a white one. Also pull back the shower curtain so we can see the shower.

The rest looks fine to me. Your back garden is nice. Does it have a seating area? Can you include a photo of that too?

springsprang · 20/07/2015 11:35

Agree with the outside pics as above. Also could you tone down the kitchen blue walls and orange floor tiles. Also the green pattern wallpaper. How big is the garden? Maybe a tidy up, grass cutting and better pics, what is the red thing?

hereandtherex · 20/07/2015 12:05

No, I disagree with trying to tweak this + paint that.

Assuming the house is on rightmove - and you'd be an idiot to choose an EA not on RM - then you can pretty guarantee that any active buyer in the area has had a look.

As an active buyer, I look at the floorspace and bedrooms and ignore the internal decor. I can repaint the walls but I cannot magic a bigger house or an extra bedroom.

Then I look at the price.

If the house is on for too much than my interest stops there.

diploddycus · 20/07/2015 12:10

I agree about a floor plan. Also, is it really a town house? Looks like a terrace.

ChilliAndMint · 20/07/2015 12:25

Just looked at the dimensions..it's got one massive bedroom, perhaps there is a possibility of making a third bedroom..have neighbours done this?.

IssyStark · 20/07/2015 12:35

Get the floorplan on and maybe get the outside photos taken again (with addition of some nice planters at front (which you can always move to the back for back photos of seating are if you have one).

I wouldn't bother with repainting etc at the moment as that's money that you can't take with you.

I think your main issue is price. The most recent sale on your road (in 2013) was for a house with one more bedroom than your's and it went for £78k. Looking within 1/4 mile of your postcode, the only 2 bedder which has come close to your asking price is in a better setting (opposite a park), and is larger (based on pictures) than yours with a eat-in kitchen, squarer living room, a converted loft space and a larger and better kept garden. You are asking £95K: it's the price.

ExConstance · 20/07/2015 12:37

Another vote for a floor plan, I wouldn't look further without one.
Easy enhancements are planters at the front and a bit of a lawn manicure and garden furniture at the back. Moving inside I don't think the pictures are well taken but the one room that looks a bit inhospitable is the living room, the furniture seems to be arranged in straight lines - could you place it to look a bit more use friendly and perhaps add a rug ? It looks a nice solid house, I suppose somebuyers will be looking for a more "finished product" or wow factor but lots of people prefer to redecorate throughout when they move and I'm sure there is one of them somewhere who would be perfect for our house.

Twodogsandahooch · 20/07/2015 12:44

I can't see much wrong with your house itself. It looks clean and neat and you can see past the bright paintwork. I don't think it's worth reprinting

It must be the price etc.

Original poster
dream75 · 20/07/2015 12:54

We put it on at 95k expecting offers of 90k. The last house to sell in the road was sold at a loss because the people needed to move. The back garden is large and south facing but I don't think photos show it at its best. We have a habit of buying furniture that is too large for the house which is why living room looks odd. I hadn't really thought about changing the layout but can see what you mean.

OP posts:
firesidechat · 20/07/2015 13:03

It's misdescribed as a town house, when it should be a terrace. Town houses are on at least 3 floors.

The decor probably isn't to most people's taste, but it looks very clean, tidy and well looked after.

A floor plan would be useful.

The only thing I didn't really like about it was the narrowness of the living room, but there's not much you can do about that. Having said that some posters may come along with an idea on how to make the most of the space.