Why can't I get viewings?

[Womanontheblink]

I put my flat on the market six weeks ago and have only had four viewings. Feedback has been useless (traffic noise and no fibre broadband - I can change neither) but the decor has been popular.

Could anyone please run their eye over my listing and give your opinions?
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/104183627#/

You need dimensions on the floorplan.

I also think you need to break the green up. More pictures and maybe paint the kitchen cream.

Six weeks isn't that long in the grand scheme of things. I wouldn't be keen on living room bring so open to the kitchen. I agree with trying to break it up somehow. But on the plus side it looks very well maintained and bright.

Why would someone buy your flat rather than e.g. this one www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/72694557#/ ? It is £20k cheaper, (presumably) has a garden, is decorated a bit smarter, not above a shop, and is a new build - which people seem to like.

Sure, yours might be a little bigger, but I doubt the difference is enough to make up for the above. If it is, you really need to capitalise on that. I would:

• get rid of that tv stand (massive waste of floor space)
• put both shelving units on that wall, and put the tv on one shelf (take a shelf out if needed)
• move the sofa right down towards the window, and put the side table in the corner
• move the footstool under the window and add a couple of cushions, and add a tiny accent chair where the tv is now - to create the impression of a seating area for 4
• dress your desk as a dining table for 4, for the photos.

The most rubbish edit lol sorry but you get the gist!

I would flip the sofa round to separate the spaces and replace your work desk with a small table and 2 chairs, nice flowers in the centre etc. Plus small coffee table in the living room.

And I'd hide your work stuff as much as possible...i think it just brings home the fact that there's nowhere separate to work iyswim?

I agree about separating out the big open plan room. Otherwise I think it’s lovely, just not a great market for this type of property.

I love the green kitchen and the bathroom wallpaper! I think you need more photos on the listing that emphasise the interest and finish and detail. I had a look at the video/3D tour and saw that the bedroom has a built-in wardrobe, you’ve got a cupboard in the hallway (you could take the door off this and create a WFH nook that’s separate from the living space, then compensate for the storage aspect with a nice sideboard), other details I didn’t get from the photos.

Definitely do as a PP says and have the agent crop out the super dash cam sign outside. I do think you’re going to have trouble selling a small 1-bed post-lockdown, but some tweaks to the listing might at least get people through the door.

One other comment-it’s all quite green-maybe change up one of the rooms so they feel like a different space?

the green is very depressing and it is everywhere. I know paint colour can be changed but if I am flicking through properties, it just gives a dull first impression and I'd skip past.

Thanks all for your comments and Raise for the excellent diagram. It's definitely good for thought.

I agree, too much of the same colour green, it doesn't look good. It looks to me from the photos that the flat needs to be refreshed and even from Rightmove you can see the units are poorly painted. I personally don't find it attractive, sorry OP! And that's in addition to the main reasons mentioned earlier in the thread. Lower price, some paint work and updating would help. Good luck!

It’s very, very green. Can you possibly paint one room?

I love your bathroom wallpaper!

I like it - I would definitely want a table to eat at though, and you have enough space for one - separates out the kitchen from the sitting room too.

@RaiseTheBeastie that is exactly what I was thinking of because it creates more defined spaces. I've done this where I live and it makes a huge difference when you're WFH. It doesn't make the room seem smaller either.

I also agree with using colour to break up the space a bit more. I personally like the green but not everyone would.

Your bathroom wallpaper is wonderful!

I’d do the following:
Repaint the walls of the living space in a milky cream to contrast the kitchen units. There is too much green! (Even though it is a lovely shade!)
Remove as much as possible from the kitchen worktops. Fairy etc in the cupboard, toaster hidden, pestle and mortar hidden, oven gloves hidden.
Tidy up desk area as much as possible.
Try to zone the room, eg rotate the sofa as per diagram above or get a small dining table instead of a desk
Put a picture in the wall behind the bed
Image of the shower
Love the bathroom wallpaper but where are your toiletries? If there is storage there should be a picture, if not by some nice looking stuff to make a small display
Outdoor space if it is appealing
Crop out “dash cams”

Lockdown. Work colleague just looked at a flat and the owners are selling because they have no outside space/balcony of their own.

I'd repaint the kitchen/lounge creamy white to contrast the units and give an impression of space and height. The green is quite drab and depressing. Its very much a marmite colour, people can love or hate green, im the latter. I'd replace a bookcase with a small dining table and chairs (you can get roundish ones where chairs sort of slot up to the table as a unit making them perfect for this kind of space). It shows the soace ot more liveable. Or drpending on dize put the table opposite the foor and shift the sofa towards the window geting rid of the bookcase on that side for now. Remove some if books, windowsill ornaments etc. Tidy kitcken stuff in cupboards. I'd be tempted to brighten a bedroom wall too. Its hard as it becomes false to you when you are selling. Definitely pictures of outside space as thats a plus. I think unfortunately having your desk just illustrates the current problem that people might want a second bedroom when they actually view in case the same scenario happens to them😬

Lots of good comments above. I think the living area looks spacious but somehow not inviting enough to want to spend much time there. My first thought was the short curtains -long ones would be much more sumptuous. Of course these would block the radiator but as you're selling in the summer it's not an issue. Agree with whoever said add a rug. Good luck with the sale!

Agree with the comments above, especially re-arranging the living room, and photos of garden, wardrobe, hall storage (turning that into wfh nook is genius), and shower.

The all-green is making it look dark and uninviting. I opened the first lounge photo and thought 'nice colour' but then you see the kitchen walls and cupboards are painted the same and it then looked sludgy and way too much. I'd paint the kitchen walls white.

The bathroom looks a bit tatty round the bath. It looks cream rather than white, is it an old bath with newer other items? The seals round the bath and bath panel need redoing as they are discoloured and gappy.

@MyAnacondaMight - it's a one bed flat. Dining area for two people and an extra chair for visitors would be sufficient. The room's big enough for twelve people to sit round a big table together but it's still only got one bedroom!

[quote MotherOfGodWeeFella]@MyAnacondaMight - it's a one bed flat. Dining area for two people and an extra chair for visitors would be sufficient. The room's big enough for twelve people to sit round a big table together but it's still only got one bedroom![/quote]
It’s only got one bedroom and you can’t change that. So the only selling point is space for entertaining - otherwise you may as well buy the nicer new build down the road for £20k less.

Space for entertaining is NOT the selling point for this flat!

I have looked to rent or buy multiple flats like this and I can honestly say entertaining space has never been a high priority. You’re appealing to a youngish audience, where entertaining is more a couch or some chairs than a dinner table. At the moment home entertaining is not even allowed, a good home working space is 100 times as important. Flats in commuter areas are also aimed at people who typically do most of their socialising around where they work. Anybody I know in a 1 bed flat who has people around a lot moves things around or just uses chairs. It would be madness to turn a flat into an entertaining space when that is not what it will be used for and actually illegal at the moment!

Please do not reorient the flat for dinner parties, that will not be at all helpful with your target market.