Number of viewings - dismal

[Liverbird77]

I've posted before about estate agents being rubbish. We've had our flat on with them for five weeks now. In that time, there has been one viewing. The guy who viewed did not give any feedback, so I am non the wiser.

I've just called them and they have absolutely nothing scheduled. Is this normal, or are they inept?

The property has been professionally cleaned and painted and is not cluttered as we aren't living there.

Before anyone says, the price is very competitive when compared to similar properties online.

Should they be doing more to get viewings?

Before anyone says, the price is very competitive when compared to similar properties online

The evidence strongly suggests otherwise.

Regardless of how crap the EA is being, if the price is genuinely very competitive the EA would have people contacting them requesting viewings.

As a friend to call the EA pretending to make enquiries about a property similar to the one you're selling and see how much effort the EA puts in to trying to secure a viewing.

Post a link here for some other opinions.

I have to echo the poster above. If the market in your area is slow, then unless you really need to move quickly(and price lower to reflect that) you may have to wait it out.
Contrary to what EAs tell you they really just put out the bait on Rightmove and wait for potential buyers to call.
Are the similarly priced properties getting viewings/ selling?
If not, you might need to price below your competition to nab one of the few buyers around.

**Ask a friend

Presumably it's on Rightmove and Zoopla, with good photos and a proper floor plan, with measurements? Not all EAs bother with measurements.

If there's nothing intrinsically wrong with it (e.g. over a chippy/next door to a noisy pub/right next to a railway line). then it's usually price and/or a very slow market. FWIW, in an area I watch closely - SW London - there are more flats than usual on the market, and many have been reduced and hanging around for months. A big change from a couple,of years ago.

I don't want to post the link, but I will say it is a two bedroom flat, with parking and a communal garden, in Liverpool. It is in a great area with transport links to the city centre. It's on for 130-140.

You say it is priced competitively with others on the market.... they could all be overpriced too.
Liverpool market is still fairly buoyant so I would say reduce your price.

I can't afford to reduce it any further. If it won't sell, I suppose I will have to reluctantly go back to renting it out.

It's tough - we were in a similar position and could just about afford to accept an offer 10% under what we wanted. We needed to sell so we can buy a place for ourselves to live in.

How many months can you afford to have it caveman while you wait to sell?

We had tenants in situ when viewers came round. It doesn't have to be vacant to sell. In fact, the buyer of our property is a BTL investor who would probably have bought ours with tenants in situ.

Caveman?! Vacant

Even in a buoyant market this is a dismal time of the year for selling. The market tends to die at the end of October. It will be much better immediately after Christmas.

The up side of this is that anyone that does view at the moment is likely to be a serious buyer.

Why don't you want to post the link? It's up for sale isn't it?

You will get better, more pertinent feedback if you post the link.

If you can't afford to reduce you'll probably have to go back to renting out. Then ride out the slowdown when it reaches Liverpool. Like pp have said. Its usually price, but get a friend to mystery shop your EA & double check they're not crap

Thanks for your comments, everyone. I shall see how it goes.