Why no viewings?

[notagain2018]

So my house went on the market last April and I got a buyer within 2 weeks and was the 2nd viewer. Sale fell through after 14 weeks so it went back on again. Had a fairly steady stream of viewings, had an offer in the September which I declined then accepted an offer in December. This fell through after a week when the buyers realised they couldn't afford it.
I had an offer a couple of weeks ago but the guy is messing me around and not sure he can actually afford it (separate thread on this)
I've now not had a viewing in 6 weeks and I;m really worried. There is a new phase of my development currently under construction which I'm sure will be causing me problems but the houses are much smaller and more expensive. Anyway, here is a link and would be interested in people's thoughts:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70640828.html
By the way, I have reduced the price recently but still nothing.

How long are you signed up to this agent for?
Can you change?

I love your house and I’m not normally a fan of new builds. I would definitely arrange a viewing based on the link. The only odd thing is bed 1 has a single bed. I really think you should change that. Otherwise can you just wait until all the new new builds are sold??

I like it. Nice decor and finish, good layout, great family house. Bedroom 1 does look a bit strange but that wouldn’t put me off. Things just seem to be slowing down at the moment. Is it less hassle to buy a new build? Perhaps they’d rather go for that than risk being in a chain.

Nice house.

The photos are taken at a weird, off-putting angle.

I wouldn't tell people you've separated. Tbh some people can be weird/superstitious. I have a colleague who pulled out of buying a house she lived because she found out the owners were divorcing. She was worried that it was an unlucky house

Your estate agent needs to advise you on what needs to change, or you need a new estate agent.

Nice house. Agree some of the photos look odd.
Some colourful flowers for the front and back would look better - and front of house photo straight on, not at that weird angle with a wide angle lens.
Main bedroom should have a double bed - you could make it up with cardboard boxes covered in good bedding, just to make it look right. Or move the double from bed 3.
I would also look at the playroom- call it a second reception/dining room/playroom/study. Are the measurements correct? 4"11' 1.5 m wide would be a narrow corridor, doesn't look like that in the photo..
IMO opinion, FWIW, it looks a bit stark, not loved IYSWIM. Maybe the house dressing tricks of selling the lifestyle, dining table set with tableware, flowers and house plants, coffee table magazines/book, garden furniture. Not too much, just a bit more loved.
Best of luck with your sale.

Speak to your estate agents get them to re-list your property.

When we were selling we used the tool on Hoa.org find an estate agent tool to find our local estate agent and I used the ones I clicked with who had a good knowledge of the area.

I’d look at getting another estate agent.

Definitely needs dressing a little.

Have you actually got duvets in the covers, or are they empty covers? For the sake of photos, you only need one brand new duvet (big and fluffy) and just move it around. The photos are just to get people in .

Bowl of green apples on the side in the kitchen. Needs more colour popping. Seems very flat.

I know what you're saying about the hassle of moving a bed etc but you really do need to do it for photos.

It does look a bit characterless. Remember, you need to dress your house to sell, which may not be the same as your own taste. I would paint a coup,e of walls a striking, modern colour, e.g. Navy blue behind the bed in the master bedroom, and a dark grey wall in the sitting room. Get some accessories to add colour in the kitchen. Big plants for structure,

There’s something about it that reminds me of the various apartments I’ve lived in. Maybe the windows and the way it’s relatively bare, like a rental? I’d live there but it might not be everyone’s taste. We nearly bought a house because it had charm, even though it was wrong in so many other ways.

For what it’s worth, it looks like a nice house and I’m sorry that you are struggling to sell it.

I think the photos are fine. The text could be improved though. I am guessing there are still some years of an NBC guarantee left but it isn't mentioned. If you are leaving kitchen appliances, no mention of that. Carpets by separate negotiation? It doesn't say.

There can be a problem with new builds. Developers often over-price them but people pay over-the-odds to get something new. When sold a few years, they aren't new though so the valuation drops.

The only other thing I can say is that when I view the pictures, I get the sense of sadness. If other people are getting the same psychic impression, that might be part of your problem.

I don’t normally like new builds, but I like yours. The flat roof may make think twice though. Don’t know if it’s just from old memories of people composing. Maybe modern life means they are not a problem anymore?

There’s too many photos of toilets. One of the main bathroom would have been enough.

The kitchen photos don’t show it off in all its light. What ovens you have, cooker tops etc, really hard to make out.

The dining room looks odd. The chair is out, and shows that it is next to the kitchen. But the photo is bad as it doesn’t show the full dining room as half has the kitchen, but the picture is awful.

Where do you have storage? I’m trying to figure it out, even with the floor plan.

Those photos don’t show it off well. I hope you don’t have long with your EA left to change.

Thank you for all the comments. This is the second agent I've had and I have to admit, the 1st agent took better photos (although they were generally terrible otherwise).
I've had this agent since December so I guess I could change any time now.
The identical house in my street is the complete opposite to mine in terms of internally dressed so I actually hoped anyone enticed by that would view mine too (as mine is considerably cheaper).
@Bezm I've always been told to avoid bold, striking colours and I agree this can put people off. At least my house is a blank canvas for people to add to it. If I had to choose between 2 houses and one had white walls and one had wallpaper/bright colours, I'd go for the plain one.
I agree I need to brighten things up though. It does annoy me the agents aren't giving me any help on how I can improve things.

Honestly? There are imperfections in the photos and the listing, the chief one being that the first photo makes it look like it has a flat roof. However, I would just not buy a modern looking new build like that if I had the choice of buying something that to my mind, looked more like a house, like these:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63256102.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73165580.html

I'm not saying this to be mean - it's just honestly something that would not appeal to me at all though. Just like my house's proximity to a main road would put some people off irrevocably, or the fact that it (currently) has no downstairs loo.

There's nothing wrong with the presentation or size that would stop me viewing if I would buy that kind of house. But I would ONLY buy a house that looked like that if I had NO choice.

An issue with newish builds is, that whilst your house is lovely, if someone can pay a few grand extra and choose their own kitchen and fittings they probably will.

Is it priced correctly for your area ie has anything sold recently for a comparable price? Estate agents are pissing into the wind when valuing in this market.

I like your house but the one on for £240k shows of the bedrooms much better. Their photos are also taken at a better angle, eg. showing dining room facing out to garden.

The measurements need amending for your playroom. I would call this a second reception or snug. In the more expensive house this looks a nice cosy room.

I love that house - so much downstairs!!

I’d probably call the playroom ‘office’ or ‘family room’ or something on the floor plans and I really do think you need a picture of Bed 1 with a double bed in it.

But I think the other photos are good.

It’s a nice house, but isn’t photographed well. Rename the playroom to “study”. Also you should clear away clutter from the bathroom for photos. Use neutral colours (fluffy towels, candles, posh bubble bath etc).

You absolutely have to move the double bed into room 1!! It looks so strange with a lone single bed there and messes with the perception of size.

People generally lack the ability to see their own belongings in a space, so judge it on how you’re using the rooms... that’s why show homes are so aspirational. They immediately make the viewer think “I want to live here”. None of your photos inspire that feeling.

If you don’t have much money to spend, I would go to one of the big homes stores like Next, M&S, Laura Ashley etc and buy some coordinated items to dress your photos (look at the catalogues: throws, cushions, ornaments etc) and then return them immediately (unused, other than for the photos).

Potted plants at the front would make the house more welcoming, too. Maybe you could borrow some from a friend/neighbour just for photos.

Good luck OP!

Don't think I am adding anything new but I think the main issue is the photos - they are just really weird. The one of the toilet is bizarre (picture 7) and more generally it's like someone has sat in the floor and taken all the pictures looking up, which gives all the rooms a tilted feel.

I would:

1. Talk to other agents locally and ask what they would do differently to market it - mostly importantly get new photos and get approval before they use them
2. Consider some pots of shrubs for the front and back
3. Move the bed into the main bedroom ( a faff but think it's worth it)

Hope that helps

It needs flowers.

Thanks again. I will definitely get the double bed moved this weekend and will even move some of my plants in there and other furniture just for the photos.
I'll also take a look at the playroom and how that is listed (and the sizes). Not sure there is a lot I can do with that room really.
I have a massive planter in the back garden now so will ask for some more external shots of the back garden too.

I love it OP. If this was near me I'd be straight round for a viewing!

Hope you get some interest soon

OP - if you look at the sold prices on your listing, it shows the photos taken by the last EA. They’re much better than the current ones! The playroom looks better as a “family room” with sofa and master bedroom with the double bed and wardrobe

I think that this is just genuinely a case of stagnant market. If you really want to sell it the only way is to offer a really good price.

Very nice house - just needs some flowers... and pictures that aren't taken by someone sitting on the floor.

Maybe more furniture in the garden? Looks quite bare.