Help me sell our flat!

[Readynano]

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

Living room - remove the sofa cover if possible; put the oval rug away; how tall is the ceiling? The shelf is too close to the ceiling. My Dh when looking at properties would always try to reach the ceiling. I would also paint the walls one colour as the picture shows the blue wall is slightly wonky. Also the table is too close to the shelf. Maybe remove the shelf?

Kitchen - no window is a big minus as people spend many hours in the kitchen during the week. I personally would hate having a kitchen without a window. It would make me depressed. Spot lights in the ceiling would brighten it up a lot. I would also paint the red wall into the white. White is a very neutral colour and it makes rooms bigger. Integrated appliances would look better but it depends on your finances if you can afford to install a new kitchen. I would just try to make the kitchen lighter as it would make it so much more attractive.

Bedroom looks fine to me. I would again remove the rug.
Bathroom - looks clean, grout is white. I don't like the parts on the wall where it's painted into blue. I would put either a big rectangle mirror on the right or add some storage as it doesn't look as there is one. If in our bathroom we didn't have a mirrored cabinet and another cabinet under the sink it would have been really hard to keep the bathroom tidy. So some storage would really help.
I understand you alao have electrical heating?. Some buyers don't like electrical heating as it's expensive. Also being on the ground floor means you may need more heating on. The floor is colder than on the higher levels.
Overall the flat looks very nice. I am not sure about the price as it maybe slightly too high for one bed unless there is something nearby in the area to attract the potential buyer. The primary school doesn't look appealing as it needs improving. If there are any amenities nearby please don't forget to mention them. Five minutes to the nearest shop or to the bus stop, a hospital would be very appealing to a retired person. A retired person would prefare a ground floor if there is no lift but they will also consider the electricity bill and the warmth of the floor.

Good luck!!!

I saw something a few month back about someone who raffeled their house off

Sold each ticket for £2 and then took a number from a hat or whatever and that person got it. So the homeowner got their money and someone got the house

I really like your flat. I don't think you need to make changes to the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. I would, however, rearrange the furniture in the front room, because it looks a bit out of keeping with the rest of it at the moment - a bit studenty, if you don't mind me saying. I don't think it's your stuff, which is nice, but the way it's been positioned for the photograph. At the moment, the arrangement emphasizes the slightly awkward angles you have. Move the sofa forward and put a coffee table in front of it. Take the bookcase and put it on the back wall behind it. Find knick-knacks that look gorgeous to go on it. Tuck the table against the wall a bit more, and put something in the centre of it that contrasts with your colours. Use lamps to cast pools of softer, cosier light.

@YogaDrone he he enjoy your lie down :-)

A few people have pointed out at the length of the lease. A new buyer can only extend the lease I think after two years of owning the flat. The lower the lease (80 years and below) the higher it would cost to do it and sometimes it can cost thousands.
I like the flat and if I had to buy it I also wouldn't care about the furniture.

I would pay attention to the double glazing, height of the walls, day light;, the floor as it's on the ground floor, the lease of course, working boiler. Noise coming from outside is also an important factor, e.g. if the building is next to a busy road.

Have you had viewings? What has the feedback been?

I think the square footage is very standard for a one bed.

It is a mirror image of the one that sold upstairs for 220k? I don't know what the market is doing in East Grinsted but I think ground floor flats in blocks tend to be cheaper than higher floors. But then presumably you'd take offers so that's ok.

In terms of competition from elsewhere, your service charge is high - looks like c. £150/month which is a lot for a one bed. It's also a one-bed which take a little longer as a lot of first time buyers try to get a two bed. Internally, I think the decoration is ok - it looks like a pleasant enough flat. It would take a lot to make it amazing so probably not worth the money and effort. What would really put me off, though, is the shape and size of your living room - it seems impossible to comfortably furnish it with a table and seating for 4. That would make it difficult to ever have friends or family over.