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Original poster

Help me sell our flat!

56 replies

Readynano · 10/10/2017 21:37

Hi,
I saw the popularity of the thread the other day so I thought I could ask for some advice about ours!?
Been on the market a few weeks and after a few initial viewings it's gone really quiet and I haven't even heard from the agent for over a week.
We're facing some really major financial issues if we're not sold before next spring and in the back of my mind I'm starting to panic after being told horror stories of 6 months for the legal work!

Here's a link (hope it works) : www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68933042.html

Any advice happily received

OP posts:
stripysleeves · 11/10/2017 01:10

How many agents did you have price it? They overestimate to win your custom IMO.

We had 4 quotes - one at £250k, two at £279k and one at £290k (and they wanted us to sign a 16 week contract).

It sold for £250k in the end.

ftw · 11/10/2017 01:44

Is there room for one of those tiny tiny tables in the kitchen? Because then you could lose the table from the living room.

Agree with PP that either the living room is weird or the photo of the living room is weird!

Nakedavenger74 · 11/10/2017 03:00

Hi OP. I think it might be price. There's a two bed flat on in East Grinstead for the same price which seems roomy and is beautifully decorated. I don't know the area but really question whether yours is worth the same.

I'm the same as everyone else. It seems very studenty and very old fashioned with the pastels and the mismatched furniture. The lounge seems cluttered. I know it's one bed but I hate seeing a single sofa in a room. I think about entertaining friends and where they are going to sit so it implies there's no room for more furniture or social gatherings and I'd be put off immediately.

Agree ditch the rugs and the extraneous wood furniture. If you aren't going to drop the price I think an investment in some nice matchy funky hire furniture and some neutral paint should do the trick.

JT05 · 11/10/2017 08:33

Lovely bathroom. I agree with previous posters, but have a couple of small points.
In the bedroom put the wicker chest at the end of the bed and the pine drawers where the chest was. This will open up the entrance and take the eye across the room making it seem bigger.
Ditch the plastic boxes and net bed drape.
In the sitting room get rid of the tall book case, put the table on the end wall and dress it with a runner. Gather your, pictures be selective and display on the end wall.
Obtain a new sofa, cheap Argos one if necessary. Arrange it slightly across the room at an angle to the tv corner. This will stop the long corridor effect of having all the furniture around the walls.
Choose some new overlarge cushions to suit the sofa.
Paint the nest of tables and arrange them either side of the sofa with a lamp or plant on.

Fosterdog123 · 11/10/2017 09:26

Forget the decor. Yes, it could be improved but it's not awful. It's the price/competition. Look at the other comparable properties. There are loads of brand new flats for sale at or below your asking price. There's a lovely maisonette at the same price. I think you're £10k - £15k over-priced.

5rivers7hills · 11/10/2017 09:37

Have a look on RM for how other small flats are presented - the placement of your furniture emphasises that your living space is small and backward. The agents haven't done a great job of the photos for the living room.

Apart from that kitchen is fine, bathroom looks great. I'd loose the clutter olon top of your drawers out of your bedroom and the plastic boxes.

It does look a bit student-y and isn't selling an aspirational lifestyle to me. I know that stuff shouldn't matter but it does! People are rubbish at seeing past the current mis matched furniture and plastic boxes.

RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 11/10/2017 09:43

Re the sofa - why not get a more modern throw and don't drape it over the back. Something like this: www.susiewatsondesigns.co.uk/throw-shetland-heather-mix-2.html

and you can take it with you when you go!

user1471495191 · 11/10/2017 09:54

I would get rid of the red wall in the kitchen, along with the shelves on that wall. The room looks dark with no natural light? So I would paint the wall white and maximise the lighting for the photo.

And yes to reorganising the living room. Could the bookcase go back flat against the wall (or be removed)? Could the sofa move forward to allow the dining table to have it's own space behind? Agree with losing the purple throw, and I would also lose the pin board which both feel a bit studenty.

Bearbehind · 11/10/2017 09:58

I think people could see past the decor in this property as the basics are there, it's just needs a lick of paint/ furniture more to their taste..

Unfortunately it looks like it's down to price again.

I'd pick a new build over a recently built property every time.

With a new build you'd likely get to chose fixtures and fittings and have the benefit of it all being pristine which, for the same money, isn't the case with a second hand property.

sundowners · 11/10/2017 10:05

A coffee table would help massively in the living room, would provide instant focal point and gives that laid back/cosy/loungey feel you need there as it looks like a mish mash of study/living room at moment with no real warmth.

Low coffee table- like this- www.roselandfurniture.com/products/farrow-coffee-table?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=33470553418&gclid=CjwKCAjwgvfOBRB7EiwAeP7ehge7XJ_2KWX_AGY_DzNsHFmb9yzCq4kiXusZepccl77CgLBxv53C0RoCposQAvD_BwE

positioned in front of sofa- then loose the stack of little tables next to it. Drape throw in a better way/fold and drape half way across the tattiest bit of sofa but not fully covered like that- if you can buy some nicer wool/herringbone style throws as they looks gorgeous and would warm everything up.

chipscheeseandgravy · 11/10/2017 10:14

Decoration is something you either like or not, I think the majority of people will look past the decor. It’s not offensive, and most people decorate anyway.

I would guess if there is limited interest it’s probably the price. What are similar properties in the area going for?

Length of the leasehold. That could be a factor in people’s decision.

YogaDrone · 11/10/2017 10:21

You seem to be able to get brand new 2 beds for almost the same price and brand new 1 beds for the same price or less.

This one is a 2 bed on the same road and near the station for £20k less 2 bed maisonette so I think it's probably more the price more than the decoration.

5rivers7hills · 11/10/2017 11:17

Oh yeah, if you look at property for sale there are new 1 beds for the same price. Also some other larger or more character 1 or 2 beds for around the same price.

PickAChew · 11/10/2017 11:18

That's a 5 bed house, yoga

YogaDrone · 11/10/2017 11:23

And totally nowhere near it PickAChew - argh... sorry, I meant this one: East Grinstead maisonette

Bearbehind · 11/10/2017 11:32

Blimey yoga-, that flat is a great advert for the OP's property.

A property above a tattoo parlour with an Indian takeaway on 1 side and a Chinese on the other, for offers obver £200k- no way!

It's difficult to get a mortgage from some lenders on properties above takeaways for a start.

5rivers7hills · 11/10/2017 11:33

This 1 bed is a lot bigger, nicer (no one above you) and has just been renovated and is much closer to the station. Was on at £200k. The sink they have put in the bathroom looks incredibly annoying tho!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67209893.html

This one is of a similar style to you but isn't ground floor and has a balcony and was on at 200.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-58809901.html

Also there is one in the same block as you but top floor (much more attractive than your ground floor flat) and it's only £5k more than yours. Also the room sizes are actually bigger - living room and bedroom are longer by a 3 feet which is quite a bit.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/fullscreen/view-floorplan.html?propertyId=58921879

5rivers7hills · 11/10/2017 11:34

@YogaDrone yeah the OPs flat is nicer than that one by a long way - most people wouldn't choose to live above commercial. Also she has communal gardens and gated parking for 2 cars.

user1499169579 · 11/10/2017 11:38

Only room that I have an issue with is kitchen. Especially the washing machine projecting out so far. You can buy a smaller shallower model.
No one will realise that a full size one won't fit. But it will make all the difference.

Bearbehind · 11/10/2017 11:45

Offers over £200k might be a good call OP.

You know from the lack of interest you're not going to get £220k and realistically anything over £200k is a bonus so why not price it at Offers over £200k?

Your property would appear in a lot more people's search bracket and maybe generate more interest.

Orchardgreen · 11/10/2017 11:53

I think the lack of a window in the kitchen is putting off buyers.

YogaDrone · 11/10/2017 11:53

I'm clearly having a bad morning. Yes, OPs flat is much nicer than that one, I didn't get to the end of the photos and didn't realise it was above a takeaway. Although in my student days I lived in a flat share above a takeaway and it was really useful, but appreciate I wouldn't have wanted to buy it! Smile

I agree that offers over £200k may be better because most apartments just don't achieve the same resale as a new build.

Bluntness100 · 11/10/2017 11:54

I’d have to agree that flat you’ve posted yoga is no where near as good as the ops, have you posted the wrong one?

YogaDrone · 11/10/2017 11:58

Yes Bluntness first I managed to post a 4 bed house in a different county and then I thought I'd posted a nice Victorian conversion but it turned out to be a flat over a takeaway. I think I need to lie down in a dark room for a while. Apologies all.