Old flat, viewings but no offers yet

[FingersXrossed]

Flat has been on the market less than a fortnight however property has been getting snapped up really quickly here (I'm in Scotland). Some places are getting sold less than a day later, places are seldom available for long because there's so many people wanting to buy.

It had a couple of 3s show up on the home report including damp however I've never had any problems and one viewer - who was a building surveyor - had a look around and said he could see no signs of damp whatsoever. It had been a very wet week when the surveyor was over and it could possibly be due to that, moisture getting into the old chimney breast or something. But I've already had one viewer pull out because of that. Other people haven't been given the home report beforehand, I think because the estate agent wanted them to see the place first. And ever since that guy was over I've been telling other viewers what he said. I've had 9 viewings so far.

Property is very old anyway. I've never had the money to buy a new kitchen or bathroom but it's got neutral decor, nothing personal lying around and looks tidy and welcoming. The pictures online look good too. Several people have said nice things about the original features and bright rooms etc and asked about bills/talked amongst themselves about where furniture would go/asked if I need an entry date (we haven't bought anywhere else yet). Which all sounds quite promising. But then I hear nothing else.

Family member said I should have put it online for 5k less than I did (estate agent suggested just under the valuation amount). So I compromised and went for 5k under the valuation. But now I'm wondering if family member was right and I should have gone cheaper. Will be revisiting that in a few weeks if nobody bites.

It's early days yet but I'm feeling a bit disheartened. I've also had no feedback from the agent despite asking for it. Also it doesn't help that family members have told me I'm "not trying hard enough" to sell it when people come over, apparently I should have innate selling skills and should just know to tell viewers that I'd lower the price if they like it/tell them to come back to measure up for furniture. This is my first time selling somewhere and I don't exactly have the gift of the gab although I'm trying. It's such a stressful process and I'm scared that nobody will want it.

Quite often if property is not selling and there's nothing glaringly obvious wrong with it, it's a pricing issue. There are a couple of houses near us that have been on the market for 2ish years and are lovely houses in a nice area, but they are over priced.

That said 2 weeks on the market is no time at all and not long enough to be getting worried I don't think Bear in mind that agents can only provide feedback if the people viewing give it to them. If they call and chase and no one gets back to them, there isn't a great deal they can do. But do relay to the agent that feedback is really important to you.

Also, don't pressure yourself on the selling front. I think your family are being unreasonable in this respect. It's the agents job to be selling it, not yours. That it literally what you are paying them for. If a buyer is interested, they'll make an offer or go to the agent for info or arrange further viewings.

You shouldn't (IMO) be approaching them to say you'll take less for it, or suggesting that they come back to measure furniture- it makes you look desperate to get rid. As a buyer that would make me question why, especially with a potential damp problem flagged (as far as potential buyers know).

I'm also in Scotland and agree that sales are happening quickly. Ignore unhelpful comments from your family, people only really look at the home report value now, not the asking price.
It seems that you are maybe attracting first time buyers who will be very nervous of any 3s and wondering if they will have money for a new kitchen or bathroom.
If you are confident about the damp then you could commission your own damp survey to present to prospective buyers.

Thanks for your comments. The same type of flat just along the road sold a few weeks back and it only took about 2 weeks.

I've had a mix of first time buyers, recently separated, older singles and a couple of investors to view it. I asked the EA for feedback and was told they'd call me later but it never happened. If there's none then fair enough but they could at least tell me that.

I've been showing prospective buyers around myself, I thought that the estate agent would do it but apparently that's normal up here. I've been told that usually the EA only shows people around if the owner has died or something.

The estate agent suggested I get a quote for damp repairs. But I'm not sure how that would work, would they be able to check and see if there's no actual damp and then I could tell prospective buyers? From what I've read fixing damp could cost thousands but if there's nothing there perhaps I could just let them know that someone has checked and nothing was found? I don't know if a new post might be needed for this.