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Original poster

House not selling (quickly enough for my liking)

129 replies

Justbloodysellwhydontyou · 06/06/2018 19:36

Is it worth adding an agent? We've not been on for ages - very end March. We've had a sale fall through, reduced the price, but the market is definitely hard round here (St Albans).

I'm being inundated with 'we see your house hasn't sold' 'we have clients ready to view'. Surely to goodness anyone looking is on Rightmove etc and it makes little difference. The agent seems engaged and active, but viewings have dwindled since coming back on a week ago after our sale failed.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 06/06/2018 22:02

Yep too many photos, the super wide angle lense is a bit off putting, also the maps etc in the middle of the photos???

Price is eye watering!!! That is the SE though for you isn't it.

Looks appropriately presented for sake so it's either price or you need to wait for the "right" buyer due to particular location/size etc.

mcqueencar · 06/06/2018 22:05

I’m in SW London & prices are dropping. Some friends who thought they were priced out have just put an offer in Wimbledon. Perhaps this is having a knock on effect on?

Original poster
Justbloodysellwhydontyou · 06/06/2018 22:05

Folly yes I think we sometimes think we should have done that, but it cramped the dining room. It's doable still
I suppose, but clearly a 'job' that most people wouldn't want.

OP posts:
FadedRed · 06/06/2018 22:07

Lovely house, Op! No idea about price, but that's the cause most cited in this type of thread.
You do need to lose at least half to two thirds of the photos, there are several repeated and the maps aren't necessary on RM as there is a link below anyway. Also I prefer when the room is named on the photos, especially the bedrooms.

TheCrowFromBelow · 06/06/2018 22:08

Narrow down to 15 shots
If you can bear/ afford it get another external done in a sunny day
Get the agent to put less about selling them and more about selling the area in the description eg distances to station, schools etv

Original poster
Justbloodysellwhydontyou · 06/06/2018 22:08

mcqueen'Yes prices are def slipping. I suppose the dual agent question was what started this. I suppose I thought it would sense check things.

OP posts:
Worieddd · 06/06/2018 22:11

Got bored of scrolling through the pics Confused

Can’t believe the crazy down south prices Shock

Bluntness100 · 06/06/2018 22:14

It looks reasonably priced to me and in good condition throughout, too many photos I agree, they seem a bit muddled up and multiple shots of rooms which aren't needed. Past that I'd say it was thr market.

welshmist · 06/06/2018 22:15

Get lush planter pots out at the front with cascading plants. The piano squashes the room and mismatched dining chairs mmm.. back garden good size but bleak, were the photos taken in the winter? Kitchen gorgeous. They have duplicated photos perhaps an error there. It does annoy me when they dont do room measurements, cannot read from floor plan even when squinting. Is there a downstairs loo?

Falcon1 · 06/06/2018 22:16

I feel for you op. I was in the position last year, it's horrible. In a better market you'd have no problem selling.
However, I agree that there are far too many photos, as others have said. Also, the house looks very well presented but possibly overly decluttered. Some of the rooms look a bit sterile imo. I'd put up more pictures, lay a rug in the dining room and have colourful flowers and plants everywhere.

mcqueencar · 06/06/2018 22:16

Well I guess traditionally people sell their London pad & buy a larger property in the home counties. What I’ve noticed where I am is that prices have pretty much stagnated for the last 3 years & once you add in stamp duty it’s really expensive to move & your money doesn’t seem to be going as far as it did in the past. My friends/neighbours who have sold up have actually relocated to other cities, Bristol, Manchester & Edinburgh as they wanted city life, bigger house & good commute. We looked at upsizing last yr but as it would be only for 5 years or so decided against it as I thought the market looked a bit dodge & I was worried about interest rates.

myrtleWilson · 06/06/2018 22:26

The only additional thing I'd say (and am not sure how you address this) is that it felt - looking at the photos - like a lot of different "styles" in the home.

So the kitchen is sleek and modern and the orange sofa and light fittings give a pop of colour (I love your kitchen by the way) but the dining room had elements of a bit more Church baroque and the sitting room/snug and bedrooms were more "standard".

I do think that some viewers buy the "whole vibe" and perhaps don't get that from your house? I think this is perhaps an issue about how buyers perceive a property rather than anything that is inherently wrong with yours - if that makes sense?

Notonthestairs · 06/06/2018 22:28

Lovely house. Too many photos.

We're not too far away from you and have noticed that the market has slowed down. I'm not sure there is much you can do about that other then reduce the price 😬

ProseccoPoppy · 06/06/2018 22:30

Nice light bright house. I don’t know the market in your area - tibia very different where I am - but a friend lives very near you and having seen what she paid for her two bed the price looks in proportion, sure more knowledgable people can give you a feel for that.

More helpfully (hopefully):
photos

  • the perspective is weird on the photos, especially the kitchen. It looks like a wide angle lens - I would get it done without.
  • too many photos.
  • the photos are not in a coherent order - get the agent to put them so that they kind of flow through the house, at the moment they are jumbly.
general
  • get on to your agent. Our house sold much faster when DH started ringing the agent every other day to ask for concrete updates on what they were actively doing to sell our home (inc what calls they had made, etc)
  • don’t dual list - looks a bit desperate
  • has the agent discussed the idea of an open day with you? There are pros and cons.

Good luck

cordeliavorkosigan · 06/06/2018 22:30

yes, for that price get some aesthetics advice in. your kitchen looks great but some of the other rooms don't look as "high end". totally agree that there are way too many photos. also, add a floor plan. much more helpful than more pictures.
you could add some structure (pots, herbs?) in the garden to make it look less plain.
but mainly, especially if the market's going down, that just may be too much for most people...

Ginger1982 · 06/06/2018 22:33

FML, £940,000!!!! Wow. But then I live in Scotland where you could get a mansion for that price!

PickAChew · 06/06/2018 22:38

I never see the point of multiple agents. I've seen some with 4 agents and the listings just end up one after the other on Rightmove.

laramara · 06/06/2018 22:38

It is a lovely house, very tastefully presented.
The number of photos is somewhat excessive!
At the end of the day a house is only worth what someone will pay for it.
In the current market it is probably overpriced,although you said it's been reduced,
I guess it all depends how quickly you want to move as to whether or not you reduce it again.

WandinValley · 06/06/2018 22:38

What's the 'educational facility' behind your place on the map? Is that a bog-standard school or something more sinister? Defintely jumped out to me as a potential issue, but I'm from Australia, so our maps might be different. Grin

Kitchen is gorgeous, OP. But there are waaay too many pics of it. Wink

bilbodog · 06/06/2018 22:40

Lovely house, you dont need that many photos although i don't see why that would put anyone off looking. Dont forget that we've just had half term and people have been away, or at home with kids. Give it a few weeks and i dont think you need to be on with another agent. Just keep an eye on other properties in the area and make sure you are priced correctly. Good luck.

SailOnSea · 06/06/2018 22:42

It's overpriced by 50-75k. I would drop it to £899k. Personally if I were looking at it I'd cost in tearing up all that tile and replacing the orange back splash. The kitchen layout is a bit odd and you'd expect it to be more open to the garden.

welshmist · 06/06/2018 22:43

Come to Wales, you could have this in a very exclusive area. And have change...

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65089840.html

user546425732 · 06/06/2018 22:44

Are people put off by the separate infant and junior schools ?

Jonbb · 06/06/2018 22:46

The dining room is too cramped. Can you lose the piano and hire or buy a sleek modern dining set? Agree with other comment about it not matching the rest of the house. Also think the lounge needs some books in the bookcase rather than little pieces of glass. More luxurious bedding, a few more cushions and Some throws would make it look a bit less sterile. Of course if its not priced right it doesnt matter what you do, it wont sell. Good luck.

namechangedtoday15 · 06/06/2018 22:48

A lovely house OP but agree with a pp that it's a little mismatched - contemporary style in kitchen not echoed throughout the house.

The only other thing I'd add is that I always check sold prices in the same road - you're asking more than the last sale in your road, even though that was 20%+ bigger than your house. Are you in a better position or is there something tangible to warrant that?