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Original poster

How to attract viewers

95 replies

Minime38 · 12/04/2018 21:13

So we are trying to sell our house. In 30 days we've had 3 viewers.

Out of those of say only 2 were genuinely interested in buying a house.

We are doing the viewings ourselves and have redecorated almost every room in the house before it went on the market.

We initially had a fixed price but changed this on the advice of our agent which is fine but it's done nothing to attract viewers in.

We have a Gardner coming next week to cut the grass and trim some plants but the garden doesn't look too awful as it is.

I'm not great when I can't control a situation so this is sending my anxiety through the roof and to make it worse just as we put ours on the market we've found our dream home but they are unwilling to accept an offer from us until we have a buyer so it's compounding the situation.im on tender hooks every time the phone goes that it might be the owner telling us that they have accepted an offer from elsewhere.

I gather that the market in my area has been a little bit stagnant since we put it on the market prior to that there had been a real boom.

I just don't know what we can do to actually attract people to come view the house and to be honest our estate agent hasn't been the most communicative and I think perhaps we made the wrong choice in agent.

Please tell me I'm not alone in finding this process so flipping stressful and feeling utterly helpless.

Any advice on attracting people in or keeping myself from melting down

OP posts:
QuantamBaby · 12/04/2018 21:15

If you really want honest advice then post a link. There are some very knowledgeable people on here, but they'll need to see what you're working with!

Jotribiani · 12/04/2018 21:15

Same boat as you! It’s so frustrating! Unfortunately you can’t do anything and just have to wait. If you don’t get you’re dream house it’s just not meant to be. Something else will come along! (As I keep tellling myselfGrin)

Jotribiani · 12/04/2018 21:16

P.s. I wouldn’t post the link. I done this once and nearly had a break down with people picking my house apart when there’s nothing wrong with it!!

QuantamBaby · 12/04/2018 21:25

Well then all you'll get is people virtually patting your hand and saying "there, there, I'm sure it will get better"...

specialsubject · 12/04/2018 21:28

No viewings means too pricey! Sorry.

GreenTulips · 12/04/2018 21:31

Are you over selling at the viewings? Saying too much? Just step back and let them look without being on top of them

Is everything clean and specious? E.G. Do you have the ironing board on show? Over flowing bins etc

If you aren't getting viewings - first check the ad, is it correct? Do they have all the details say included loft, gagrage, anything local that may attract outside buyers?

Then look at local schools (I do this before anything else, assuming it's a family home)

Now look at other possible houses the same area/price as yours are they bigger in a better area have an extra bathroom etc? See what the competition is

Do your homework on your house

OlennasWimple · 12/04/2018 21:33

If you aren't getting many viewings, it's because:

  1. your listing isn't very good (poor photos, drab description, no flooor plan etc)

  2. the local market is stagnant and no-one is getting any viewings

  3. the price is too high

You can't do anything about 2), though your agent should be able to tell you whether other properties on their books are getting viewings, and what is different about themr

  1. unless you share it (and I understand why you might not want to!), we can't really help other than to make generic suggestions about having all rooms shown, defining spaces, taking away stuff that looks potentially odd, having a lovely first picture and so on)

  2. is all about how much you need to sell it for and whether you can afford to take a hit

Original poster
Minime38 · 12/04/2018 21:41

I don't think it's too pricey, we had a number of estate agents value it and we have it on the market lower than the value so I'm not sure that is the issue. It's one of the lowest prices in our area for a 3 bedroom detached property.

I'm a little reluctant to post the link as I don't want to out myself but I've name changed so not too much of an issue I guess.

There isn't much in the immediate local area for sale. We have two schools local and it's close to amenities but now you've mentioned it they haven't mentioned that in the advert which I'd never noticed before.

They've also not mentioned the fact that we have a loft which is floored and has lightning.

Our kitchen is tiny which I know is a bit of a sell and we've always known that it's likely to be first time buyers we are appealing to.

In terms of clutter we did a massive declutter and got a storage unit. I've always careful to ensure bins, Hoover's anything like that are out of sight for viewers. We have pets but again their dishes and the pets themselves are usually shipped off to a relative so you wouldn't know we had them.

I might be over selling it though during viewings and probably could take a step back more

OP posts:
Mybabystolemysanity · 12/04/2018 21:42

Same boat. 60 days on and 12-15 viewers. We have two houses we would like to move on and a new baby coming. Not a single proceedable viewing and two semi detached versions of ours on in the past week for £20k less than our detached in the same development. It's probably not your house, but a slack market, people with property to sell and a bit of lack of consideration on the part of viewers with little or no intention of buying. We are selling below home report value with no work required except to personalise to your taste and the house is less than four years old. Nothing you can do except wait for a buyer or keep dropping your price. I'm glad I have the new arrival to focus on because it's soul destroying. If it's becoming a problem, insist your agent only books viewings from proceedable purchasers. I've not done this yet, but viewings seem to have dried up now anyway as none in last two weeks. We don't need to move immediately, so have a backup extension plan or might come off the market, redecorate (haven't done much and house probably needs softening and further decluttering) and try again next year.

Commiserations. It's very, very stressful.

Original poster
Minime38 · 12/04/2018 21:48

I don't think I'm comfortable posting a link to the house but I'm happy to pm if anyone would like to see it.

mybaby ours is also on for below home report value, the value of the home report is actually exactly what we paid on it so we are expecting to make a small loss.

I know we could do a bit more work on the garden including painting the shed and decking but the weather's been so poor we haven't had the opportunity to do that. Part of our garden fence is being replaced at our expense but again it's waiting for the weather to improve and we have been honest with viewers that we will still be paying for this even if we sell the house (we had agreed to fund 50% of the replacement with next door and wouldn't go back on that agreement)

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 12/04/2018 21:51

Post me a link I'll PM you my opinion

Popadoodledoo · 12/04/2018 22:03

PM I'll be happy to give you some advice.

Original poster
Minime38 · 12/04/2018 22:11

Sent a pm to you both.

Reading my advert again it does lack details about the local area and just doesn't seem that great in general.

I'm kicking myself I didn't pay more attention before now

OP posts:
OlennasWimple · 12/04/2018 22:15

I'm happy to take a look at the advert too via PM Smile

KateGrey · 12/04/2018 22:18

Ours is the same. Market has slowed. We also put ours on for 10k less than two agents recommended. We have had a few people interested but they can’t sell theirs. It’s frustrating and I keep looking at the ad wondering if it’s rubbish.

OnePotato · 12/04/2018 22:32

I am also happy to have a look and give you feedback. I put a huge amount of effort into mine and it paid off. Sold in 4 days. Simple quick wins to be had I’m sure.

Original poster
Minime38 · 12/04/2018 22:37

Thank you all, I've sent a few PM with the link.

We put an incredible amount of time into the house including a new bathroom at the start of February. We then spent 3 weeks solidly touching up paint work and redecorating, moving furniture and more decluttering so much so that the estate agent couldn't believe it was the property that he had valued when he came to do the photographs

OP posts:
GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 12/04/2018 22:37

We are in the process of selling ours just about to complete. This issue with ours was the main bedroom was too small (viewers feedback) we decided to take the dressing table out and on the next viewing it sold! Maybe have a look around to see if there's any furniture u can put in storage and have pics retaken? It is hard to advise without a link though

DragonsAndCakes · 12/04/2018 22:39

This is a bit rubbish? They've also not mentioned the fact that we have a loft which is floored and has lightning.

I’m nosey and like to sell houses, may I see the link?

GreenTulips · 12/04/2018 22:43

Hi

I've seen the property and it's in great condition and nicely decorated but lacks any focal points/color

Can't believe the price! Worth every penny!

Didn't mention in PM but make sure with animals that the property smells nice - add fabric conditioner to the mop bucket or run the sink with fabric conditioner in and it wafts around the house a nice clean smell.

Good luck

Popadoodledoo · 12/04/2018 22:53

Hi op, just looked at the photos.

Firstly I will say it's a bloody beautiful house, and the price is brilliant for a 3 bed. I'm actually tempted to buy it if it wasn't for DH work, it would be perfect for us lol!

Anyway.. I don't think some of the photos show off the full potential of the house. From the photos is was hard to work my way around, and be able to have a good look at the full rooms. They way photos were broken up made me think the rooms are very small. Were they taken private as the one of the landing the lighting looks a bit off, which dosent show the full potential.

The house itself is in fantastic condition and looks very clean and tidy so I can't see that being a problem honestly. The price is absloutley spot on too!!

Oh I really want it! GrinGrin

DontbeaDickaboutit · 12/04/2018 22:54

Please may I have the link? Also very interested in properties!

fabulous01 · 12/04/2018 22:54

I want to move and need to move but... we are nervous of brexit and everything
Maybe others have same fear?

LegoPiecesEverywhere · 12/04/2018 22:58

Can I have a link please?

Bouledeneige · 12/04/2018 23:00

Had an estate agent round today - I'm interviewing a number to choose who should put my house on the market, and to negotiate favourable terms in terms of fee. I am in a desirable and not cheap area - my house is well placed for the catchment of excellent state schools - both primary and secondary and walking distance to a lively shops, cafes and restaurants villagey environment.

The estate agent today has a really good track record in my area. He had about 10 property details of similar houses he'd sold in the area demonstrating the price range and what I could realistically expect for mine. He pointed out the stamp duty impacts of overpricing - and what buyers would mentally be adding on to the price for each level of the duty threshold. I thought he gave me a very fair picture of where mine could be pitched and it was very sensible - there are agents in my area who over-value for a higher percentage fee, but then the seller has to drop the price as its not realistic but are still tied into a big fee %. I think its very important not to over price and then have to reduce.

I asked him his tactics for marketing the property. He said he would put it on the market and then 2 -3 weeks later arrange one viewing day, having built up interest from his mailing list and the adverts on all the online sites and (hopefully) generate a potential bidding war. We would go out for the day and leave it in the hands of the agents. Many of the other properties he showed me had had an offer accepted in 3 weeks of viewing. But as I said the area is very desired and a shortage of houses available.

He did not suggest any further primping apart from tidying it up and moving excess furniture out of a key reception room. My house is nice but not perfect at all - the garden is not very smart, walls and paintwork have marks and scratches etc, carpets need replacing but overall its in reasonable condition (structurally sound too, good boiler etc).

He advised me not to bother viewing any houses to buy until I've got a buyer. No one will bother with me till I've got an offer accepted. He has good links to the places I want to move to (I'm downsizing) and even had some houses not on the market, currently renting out, in line with the kind of property I'm looking for which he might be able to line up.

So long 'me' story - but just to highlight some advice on strategy and marketing and how hard your agents might be prepared to work.

Have you got the right agents and marketing strategy? Is it priced right to sell?