Would you change EA?

[eggofmantumbi]

House has been on the market 3 weeks. Only one viewing which didn't go any further.
EA doesn't seem bothered by this and just generally doesn't seem very proactive.
For example when I looked at the Rightmove listing myself I noticed the pictures they'd used were a bit random/ in a weird order. I feel like they should have picked this up themselves.

I'm seriously considering changing agents (and maybe knocking down our asking price too)

We're in a great area so I'd have thought we'd have had more than 1 viewing by now.

Any advice? This is all compounded by the fact we've seen our dream house last weekend.

Photos are not great focus, and the order is all over the place. Makes no real sense. I'd be demanding a redo. Not doing your property any favours.

You really need room sizes, and as everyone else said just a little staging. Cushions, curtains, blinds, make it look its best and put some toys away.

Thanks for all your tips everyone. I've sent an email to the EA and told them I'm not happy.
I expect i'll be off work tomorrow as I'm feeling dreadful today, so hopefully can have a proper chat with them.

Yes the photos aren't great but if people are interested in the area they would come anyway. It's deffo the price.

I'm keen to knock it down, husband isn't. Even if we knocked off 10k, we'd have made 20k in 3 years....

No viewings = price.

You've had some good staging tips already but I would also get rid of the fire guard, get some fresh flowers, a fruit bowl, some nice mugs etc - it all looks a bit bare at the moment. I'd also buy some cheap plain throws and cover up the patterned bedding and some rugs for the brighter coloured carpets. Loads of good tips if you google.

Those photos are awful - definitely don't take no for an answer when it comes to getting them redone.

The fire guard was ready to be removed but she'd already whizzed round!!

So bedding wise- plain creamy colour??

I'm terrible with interior decoration type stuff- what kind of colour rugs would you be looking for?

Think I'm going to demand a photo redo and reduce the price...I was always concerned it was too high....

The photos look very amature but I think a HUGE problem is the floorplan. Why isn't the downstairs toilet shown on the floorplan? I would assume there is only 1 toilet in the house. My husband would never read the blurb (hates reading) and would go straight to the floorplan when we were house hunting a couple months back. Your house would be automatically ruled out for many families because of that, and that's because they don't have the patience to read every listing and rely on the visual. Also why aren't the measurements included? How will someone choose to make a viewing for your house if they think the rooms are smaller than they are?

Also why have they not proofread for typos? It's small but when such a large transaction is involved, things should really be looked over before posting.

Did the EA show you brochures of other listings they had done? Something has gone wrong it seems. Most estate agents seem to be able to photoshop simple things like good weather (blue skies) in to the pictures.

I suggest for the next set of pictures, get rid of the fire guard, hide all the toys, hide loose wires, hide the rubbish bins, take your car out of the drive, and turn all the lights on. Straighten the beds as if you were running a hotel. Psychologically buyers want to feel as if the home is unlived in so they can put their own stamp on it. The toys and bedding makes it look lived in.

Next time you change estate agents, interview at least 6 of them, check their work, take the middle valuation (most realistic and not looking to lowball for a quick sale), and play them off each other to compete for your business.

Thanks - definitely wish I'd interviewed more and looked more closely at their work. It's not like me but I just kind of assumed they'd do the basics right.... And hoped, as my life is like a whirlwind at the moment and I could do with someone doing this job properly :(

Obviously I could have staged better, but really disappointed....

A good EA or EA's photographer will move things if they clutter up the photos and will do things like straighten the blinds, etc. The lighting is all wrong in the photos.

Just plain, light neutrals - whites and creams and biscuits. You can pick them up for a song at Primark / Dunelm / IKEA etc.

Off to Primark today. Thanks for all your help ladies. Really appreciated x

Yikes the EA is the worst photographer ever! Too much light and exposure. Bad angles. Altogether that is a really bad listing.

Actually, most of the listings on the EA are god awful. Really embarrassing.

www.whitegates.co.uk/property/?intent=buy&location=bebington

End the contract and get a competent EA on the case who can actually use a camera. I could have done a better job on my iphone.

I think I'm tied in unfortunately. I'm actually seriously considering taking them to the ombudsman if they don't break the contract though as really the service has been terrible.

Changed and I am much happier.
Thanks for you help and advice everyone

Fingers crossed for you OP.