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Original poster

How many more viewers - 23 and counting!!

161 replies

Miltonglade · 17/03/2021 09:32

We have had our house on the market since December 2020 and initially went with a local estate agent had lots of views but no real support or advice - changed to Purple Bricks in the last few weeks and they suggested reducing guide price. We are not 23 couples viewing with only one second view and no buys. House is in a nice cul-de-sac close to amenities, kitchen needs updating but is huge and bathroom the same but we don't even get lower offers help....... can't keep up the showroom tiddiness anymore with a toddler lol

OP posts:
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5
steppemum · 17/03/2021 09:35

the issue is nearly always price.
Do you want to post a link so people can comment?

AaronPurr · 17/03/2021 09:37

I think if it's been on for 4 months and you haven't recieved a single offer then it's likely to be the price.

Blackletterofthelaw · 17/03/2021 09:41

Hi, I don't have any answers but I feel your pain! We are in a similar position, went on in January, lots of viewings, one third viewing, but no offers, we have already reduced the price once and would consider cheeky offers if anyone actually made one! I keep reading about houses selling before they go on market and going for prices over asking but I have no idea where that is happening! 🤷🏼‍♀️ I have a viewing today but will be doing a quick clean rather than making it pristine, doesn't seem to have much effect and it's bloody hard work!

Jupitersmoon842 · 17/03/2021 09:48

This happened to us, we had 30 viewings in the first month and no offers. It was exhausting and frustrating. Make sure your estate agent is only bringing serious buyers who are in a position to make an offer. And make sure you’re getting detailed feedback from the Estate agent as there might be something you can easily change. I think our EE wasn’t properly vetting and a lot were first time buyers who actually weren’t quite ready to make an offer but just wanted to view. From the feedback though we knew we couldn’t change anything so just kept going. Eventually the right person came along. I know how you feel though, it’s relentless.

Didicat · 17/03/2021 09:56

Purple bricks put off a lot of buyers, also are they screening to make sure only proceedable viewers are viewing?

Wondermule · 17/03/2021 10:00

Pop a link up and we can give some feedback. This was me a couple of months ago! Sometimes viewers are too polite to be honest. I feel your frustration!

PresentingPercy · 17/03/2021 10:29

Don’t purple bricks ask for feedback? Or are you expected to have the conversation as you show viewers round.

I suspect the price is too high if it needs the kitchen replacing. Would buyers want to knock walls out and update in others ways? If we see it, there might be small things you could do to make it more attractive to viewers. Not all of whom will see discs of its cluttered for example. Not saying it is, but there might be something that can help.

Ginevere · 17/03/2021 10:34

Probably price OP, if the bathroom and kitchen need changing.

Also when I looked at houses I didn’t look at any listed with purple bricks due to several bad experiences so there’s a chance it could be that.

Sprig1 · 17/03/2021 11:15

Is there something that becomes apparent on viewing that wouldn't be obvious from the listing e.g. run down neighbouring property, smell from a pig farm? It is unusual to have so many viewings and no offers. It sounds like you need to drop your price, otherwise you would have expected at least a low offer.

Silkies · 17/03/2021 11:34

It's likely to be the price unless you happen to be next to a beach / holiday area or similar and attracting people viewing as an excuse to have an overnight stay.

We had 9 at higher price and only one mentioned viewing a second time then never arranged, lowered price and first viewer said seriously considering but just started looking, second bought it. Otherwise do photos look realistic - some wide angled lense photography can leave people disappointed in reality. We had some not proceedable looking and some estate agent had got round as interested in house in same road, those were all a waste of time though there's a small chance someone may change their mind.

hgaj · 17/03/2021 11:46

So many viewings in that period of time (and during lockdown) but no offers makes me think it's something other than just price. Others have mentioned the neighbourhood but in addition from the rightmove ad can viewers see floorplan/things which need work/size of garden etc?

mummabubs · 17/03/2021 11:47

We sold recently via Purple Bricks, they do send links requesting feedback to all viewers but in our experience very few actually bothered to leave any. The first time we went on the market was last summer- 9 viewings in 10 weeks and no offers. We came off the market, went back on again 3 weeks ago. We'd done nothing to the house in between other than clear out a cupboard and dropped the price by £10k- 11 viewings in one day and multiple offers at the full asking price!!

I'd say have a think about whether you're open to dropping the price again, for what it's worth our PB agent hates guide prices and thinks it puts people off, but having said that the property we've bought was listed with a guide price and it didn't put us off submitting a much lower offer. Can you ask your agent to request detailed feedback? Another option (which we did once!) if you're feeling brave is that you can contact any viewers yourself via the purple bricks app- would you feel comfortable to message the person who viewed twice to say you're trying to get some feedback about your house and if they are willing to provide you with any you honestly won't be offended by their opinions?

Bluntness100 · 17/03/2021 11:49

It’s pretty much always price. And the fact purple bricks suggested reducing it would indicate the price. But you’re getting viewings, which means something is putting them off when they enter.

Do the pictures make it look way better than it is? That’s still about price, because price needs to reflect the condition. But you’re getting them in the door, just when they enter they are saying no, so there’s your disconnect,

Would you be willing to post a link?

Gufo · 17/03/2021 11:52

Purple Bricks, price or misleading photos.

We viewed a house (incidentally with Purple Bricks - took ages to set it up). The photos didn't show the ceiling caving in over the conservatory or the smashed up area of the parquet floor.

ComtesseDeSpair · 17/03/2021 11:52

We sold with an online agent similar to Purple Bricks (really good experience, to temper those who say they’ve been awful) and all I can say is that the photographer was excellent - so excellent, that I couldn’t have blamed viewers for being disappointed by the actual house when they arrived! If price was the only factor, you wouldn’t expect so many viewings, so it does sound like something else as well that people don’t realise until they arrive. Do the photos make rooms seem much bigger, brighter or more spacious than they really are? Cleverly hide that the garden is overlooked or the house close to the road?

DinoHat · 17/03/2021 11:53

We have sold many houses but recently had one with over 40 views. We dropped the price by 30k and then got 15k more than that.

Africa2go · 17/03/2021 11:54

It is unlikely to be the price if you're getting viewings - at least 23 couples obviously think from the details on line that its potentially worth what you're asking - certainly enough to spend their time viewing.

Something else is putting them off - is the reality of the kitchen / bathroom putting people off (i.e. when you factor those costs in, the price is too high)? Is there a problem with parking / lack of outdoor space? Is something apparent when you view that's not apparent from the photos (issue with a neighbouring property / over looked)?

Silkies · 17/03/2021 12:21

If you don't want to change guide price, which I think would be the quickest way to sell, you could change to a lower price and OIEO (offers in excess of). That may also get it into a different rightmove price category so different viewers.

23 viewers in that time period would be in line with what we would have got and some were getting a lot more viewings so I don't find viewing numbers unusual. Normally you are advised to cut price after 2 months at one price and I would suspect that is the issue. If you are selling to young families they may well not want to do a new kitchen or bathroom or may not have the cash left over if need a higher deposit. Though if the photos make it obvious both need redoing rather than leave the rooms out that should be obvious and people should consider before they view.

Nowadays people can research so much online with Streetview etc and loads of sites so would doubt its that but misleading photos wouldn't help if that's the case. It's likely to be they can get a better house for same price elsewhere especially if its a fairly standard house. If its an unusual house (like a listed one) sometimes you do just have to wait or you may be getting viewings just to see it but presume that's not the case here.

Did you not get feedback from local estate agent. I'm not a fan of Purplebricks but if you tried a local one first the issue must be more than them.

OP posts:
WhoAreYah · 17/03/2021 12:26

Small bedrooms and how do you get in the lounge with the sofa in the way of the door?

That is not a 4 bedroom house. It is a 3 bed with an extra reception downstairs (playroom?)

Price will need reducing in line with other 3 beds in the area.

Wondermule · 17/03/2021 12:29

Initial thoughts:

  1. Why is the sofa blocking the door in the living room?
  2. Bedroom 3 looks too small to be a bedroom - I would remarked as a 3 bed with home office potential, which will appeal in current times
  3. The house looks a bit soulless from the front and in the garden. Could you add some plants to cheer it up a bit?
  4. House needs new kitchen, new bathrooms and new carpets as well as painting. You need to drop the price to reflect this
DinoHat · 17/03/2021 12:32

It is unlikely to be the price if you're getting viewings - at least 23 couples obviously think from the details on line that its potentially worth what you're asking - certainly enough to spend their time viewing

It’s always the price. A house will always sell for the right price.

Mama1980 · 17/03/2021 12:35

It's the price and the size of that 4th 'bedroom.' Tbh if I looked at a 4 bed I wouldn't offer on yours due to this issue.
3 bed, with potential for home office and lower the price and you'll be away.

Ideasplease322 · 17/03/2021 12:40

I agree it is always price. If you dropped it it would be sale agreed.

The pictures aren’t great, dull day, cluttered bathroom and messy back garden. It doesn’t excite a buyer, I am looking thinking I would need to redecorate, spend money on the garden as well as new bathroom and new kitchen.

I don’t know the area so don’t know what you should expect for your money, but the house feels like you have given up on it. At the very least the grass needs cut and the fence stained.

Ideasplease322 · 17/03/2021 12:42

Also a floor plan would help.

People want to be excited about the house they buy. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but they need to see the potential.

Could you get the pictures retaken on a sunny day? Remove all your personal things from the bathroom, cut the grass, stain the fence? Even put a nice table and umbrella in the garden to show how the space can be enjoyed?