House on the market 2 weeks with only 1 viewing

[ClaireLizzie90]

As the title says - our house has been on the market two weeks with only one viewing. We thought we'd have more viewings by now and are looking for some insight as to why we may be being overlooked. Any help/advice will be much appreciated! We've got our eye on another house that we don't want to miss out on and are keen to be moved in time to apply for primary school (our son will be 3 in July and therefore we have to apply for him to start school by January as he'll be 4 by next school year - scary!)

Here's the ad

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62639805.html

Two weeks is not that long.

A few suggestions:
Picture three - remove everything from the counter tops with the exception of the fruit bowls. Also remove the tea towels/oven gloves

Picture 5 - Remove all toys including the doll house. Take the blanket off the sofa.

Picture 6 - Remove the photo collage behind the dining set. What is the grey thing behind the dining set? Remove the planks of wood leaning against the wall. Remove any clutter. Put flowers on the table

Picture 8 - neaten up the bed spread so there is no creases

Picture 9 - neaten up the bed. Does this room have wardrobes?

When that is done get it re-photographed. The photographer needs a wide angled lense rather than taking them landscape. He/she should also lighten the dining room photos with photoshop.

I think the pictures aren't great (some are even blurry or at funny angles), it looks a bit cluttered in some places which suggests small or no storage and then some areas look like they need some work although I dont know the area! It doesnt look that inviting I'm afraid x

I feel your pain as this was us. We eventually sold (still subject to contract) but it took 9 weeks and we are in a desirable area in a house which needs nothing doing to it (apart from your own stamp of course) - historically the houses in our tiny Close have sold within days

I say all the above because the market is just stagnate at the moment. It's just barely moving and this could be your issue here. Your house seems super cheap to me (it'd be double that here) but I take it you're competitively priced for the area? It usually comes down to price and we had to knock 12k off to sell

Another point is your rooms look quite small. And they're very cluttered. I'd suggest getting your photos redone - your kitchen for example is crammed with bits and pieces and it's distracting to the eye. Also in your living room there's a child's play table - move that for pics. Get rid of all Knick knacks for photos to create a sense of space

I'd also pop out some fresh flowers, I'd change all your bed linen to plain white and basically focus on trying to create some space and light in the house

2 weeks is nothing, you’d be mad to get photos redone or make changes now

Agree with Lego the clutter isn't helping you. If people look at it and think you're moving out because you've had a child and outgrown the place, they will be worried they would too. So make the most of the second double room by making it look tidy, and make sure that the photos are as uncluttered as you can.

Photos are not good, and I would definitely remove toys etc.

Do PB sell much in your area?

Thanks so much guys this is great feedback and something we can definitely work on!

Does the dining table usually live somewhere else? It seems to slightly block the door and you've have to step over the fireplace on the right hand side. My EA told me to put the table and chairs in the middle of the room. Also, hide whatever the bits of wood down the side of the dresser are, and the grey (tabletop?) against the wall behind the dining table.

I don't think the photos are doing you any favours as other posters have already said, especially in the kitchen. Agree that the toys in the front room are quite large so that might make the room look small.

That looks like a lovely big shed at the bottom of the garden, could do with a little paint to really look it's best.

Is it priced competitively for the area? Sometimes a high price can put people off viewing. Good luck with the sale OP!

Agree photos are not good, especially the bathroom (why take a photo of the bathroom floor?). Photos need to be wider angle (obviously not overdoing it) and better lit - some of the ceilings in the bedrooms look really dingy and grey.

And declutter all surfaces, even if it's only temporarily into a box in the back of your car (I am currently trying to sell my house and there's all sorts hidden in my car)

What a lovely garden! I’m envious of it.

Some of the rooms look cramped and untidy tbh. It looks like a family has outgrown it, it’s bursting at the seams. This will put off your target market maybe. Just a thought.

The second bedroom looks too small to sell as a double room, unless the photo is a weird angle and doesn't show wardrobes/drawers?

The yellow paint is bit out there...but not much to be done about it.

Photo 2 is a much nicer photo of your kitchen, because as others have said, clutter!

Can you move the dining table into the middle of the dining room? Makes it look like there isn't enough room for the table

YY to getting rid of that grey oval thing and planks of wood

Your bathroom is boring 😳

Can you put a bath mat down, it move some candles/vase/decoration onto those shelves? Something to make it more "soft" and less grey?

The fence cutting off the back garden, looks odd... And what is that brown wooden structure?

I get what you mean about the bathroom! Things is it's actually lovely grey and yellow I think photos are definitely holding us back!!

Main problem to me is the lounge. You’ve got one couch, facing away from the window, half over the tv! I’d want to see a lounge where I could imagine sitting and chatting. Too many toys too.

Bed positions - all facing away from windows? Looks really odd. Could they be moved?

What’s the extra fence in the garden for? Nice garden.

Nice bathroom.

Declutter and depersonalise, that will help.

I'd move the beds so they aren't under the windows. Declutter, have lots of fresh flowers everywhere, lose the dog fencing in the garden.

Agree completley with legopieceseverywhere..

is it yellow because that would put me off. I agree with it looking a bit cluttered but your garden is lovely and it's a really nice cosy family home.

The obvious problem is the colour of the external walls of the house. It's your first picture and could possibly be stopping potential viewers/buyers from looking any further.

De-clutter the kitchen work tops - lots of items on display imply you lack storage space.

The same applies to the dining room and the living room. Streamline all your shelves so they are less cluttered. Borrow/buy a smaller dining table and position it in the middle of the floor. The current table looks as if it blocks a doorway.

The colour of the bathroom wood panelling doesn't complement the flooring. Put out some nice coloured towels/bath mat/plants etc.

The bedroom photographs don't do justice to any of the rooms - some look cramped with too much furniture, others you can't see any furniture except the bed.

Tidy up/weed the driveway and tidy up the bins. It doesn't give a good first impression.

So much great feedback, thank you. Yes the house is yellow (it was a misjudgement when picking from a colour swatch and we embraced it! Lol) i think we need to get pictures redone!

Very unappealing from the outside and cluttered inside. I would declutter and get some decent pictures.

Overall I suspect it's mainly down to the fact that the market is very stagnant at the moment. (About half of potential buyers have the ability to see past your stuff to the house underneath, the other half, as my mum used to put it, "are buying the furniture").

The first photo of your kitchen makes it look like it's a really narrow galley kitchen,which I may not even get past. Then the next photos open up to reveal a lovely open plan space. It's too cluttered downstairs though (all those toys in that indented bit in the lounge), and the bedroom angles make them look tiny. I don't like the yellow either I'm afraid, makes it look a bit dated, sorry!

Yeah we figure the yellow would divide people! One of those things we need to consider

yellow doesn't look good. I'd repaint, but probably an expense you don't want! that grey planter out the front does look nice either.

declutter the kitchen. there's not much work surface, and what there is, you've filled with stuff.

neaten the lounge. remove the toys. can you move the position of the sofa?

beds are weird under the windows. can they be moved?

bedrooms are quite small. obviously nothing you can do about that.

remove clutter throughout the house - theres a lot!

get flowers dotted around the house. fake are brilliant because you don't have to keep buying them.

You do get buyers who will drive past a property to have a look at it before booking a viewing so it's worth thinking seriously about the kerb appeal, OP.

What made you use Purple Bricks though?

Purplebricks for the lower costs and the local expert came across well during valuation