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Original poster

Flat not selling

133 replies

Ham94 · 09/10/2021 19:37

Hi all,
I’m trying to sell my flat. We’ve been on the market for 4 months and only had 3 viewings! Any advice or feedback on our ad?
High Street, Walton-On-Thames, KT12
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110512439

OP posts:
FleasInMyKnees · 09/10/2021 20:17

How can it be a ground floor flat if its above a shop. There is a similar flat for £240k with a very long lease so it could be that.

Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:18

Oh and the businesses downstairs are strictly day time hours only, so we’ll be sure to have that included in the new ad after seeing the comments about pubs!

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 09/10/2021 20:19

Are these real photos? They look like weirdly CGI images or something. I’d pass as it looks like a brand new / off plan show home

Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:20

@ShirleyPhallus

Are these real photos? They look like weirdly CGI images or something. I’d pass as it looks like a brand new / off plan show home
Yes they are real but I agree! The agent definitely over edited.
OP posts:
Strangevipers · 09/10/2021 20:20

@FleasInMyKnees

How can it be a ground floor flat if its above a shop. There is a similar flat for £240k with a very long lease so it could be that.
For us we realised after looking at 100 billion different places that estate agents put a photo up like the front picture on this one and turns out the flat is ground floor around the back
clary · 09/10/2021 20:20

It says first floor.

Op it's lovely and so tidy. Where is your stuff?

It's not big though, and the final pic, without the fisheye lens, shows the actual size of the living area (what looks like a small sofa in other pix is actually a chair).

I am sure it's priced for the market but I think after the last 18mo ppl are looking for more space (office) or garden. Nothing you can do about any of that but can you wait a bit and see if things improve?

Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:21

@Rainallnight

It’s very bare, OP. It doesn’t look homely at all and your estate agent should have advised you about this.

As others have said, rugs, plants, flowers, maybe some books.

Find a way to demarcate the kitchen from the living room. Shelving unit or something?

Opening photo is awful - it should be an interior one. It looks like you live above a shop.

You need to experiment with the sofa configuration to make the living room look a less awkward shape.

Do you have a dining table? Is there room for one. This would be a dealbreaker for me.

I’m definitely going to get some homely decor pieces before we get new pics done! We have a dining table that can be folded out, so I’ll do that for the next photos too. Thank you for the advice!
OP posts:
TakeYourFinalPosition · 09/10/2021 20:21

What’s the price in comparison to other one bed flats in the area? I know it’s really painful, but £20k off what you paid won’t be relevant to buyers, just whether it’s in line with other one beds.

The maintenance fee does seem high, which will put some people off. I don’t think the lease is bad - we’re selling our bed with just under 90 years and got quite a few offers, but it’s also not expensive to extend. If yours is, that could be an issue.

We’re having to sell for £25k less than we were offered in January, because the buyer then was furloughed and couldn’t get a mortgage, and the flat market here has changed… it does hurt.

Remember that you only need one person… I’d second reading through the listing and making sure it’s clear on what floor it’s on/is it above a shop/etc. Best of luck, I hope it sells soon Flowers

Whinge · 09/10/2021 20:21

@ShirleyPhallus

Are these real photos? They look like weirdly CGI images or something. I’d pass as it looks like a brand new / off plan show home
I wondered the same thing. They look like artist impressions. There's a weird filter on the photos that makes them look fake.
TakeYourFinalPosition · 09/10/2021 20:23

Oh and the businesses downstairs are strictly day time hours only, so we’ll be sure to have that included in the new ad after seeing the comments about pubs!

I’ve heard that it’s a lot harder to get a mortgage on flats above shops these days - because the Governments relaxed planning laws mean it’s easier to change a shop that’s open 8 - 6 to a pizza place that’s open later and then a nightclub or whatever - but I don’t know how true that is. It might be worth researching!

But it’s probably going to come down to price… either pricing it lower so it’s competitive, or holding out for someone who is happy with the price.

Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:24

@JustAnotherOpinion21

£800 maintenance fee? What's included in that? Seems a bit excessive
It’s maintenance of the building like security, cleaning etc. It sounds like a lot but it’s pretty standard in the SE. Everyone I know has similar fees. But a few people have mentioned it so it’s interesting to know!
OP posts:
Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:26

@TakeYourFinalPosition

Oh and the businesses downstairs are strictly day time hours only, so we’ll be sure to have that included in the new ad after seeing the comments about pubs!

I’ve heard that it’s a lot harder to get a mortgage on flats above shops these days - because the Governments relaxed planning laws mean it’s easier to change a shop that’s open 8 - 6 to a pizza place that’s open later and then a nightclub or whatever - but I don’t know how true that is. It might be worth researching!

But it’s probably going to come down to price… either pricing it lower so it’s competitive, or holding out for someone who is happy with the price.

It’s against the rules of the building management to have a business open at night.

We’re in line with the market on price (range is £230k-300+) so I’m definitely going to make the changes suggested on the thread!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:27

@TakeYourFinalPosition

What’s the price in comparison to other one bed flats in the area? I know it’s really painful, but £20k off what you paid won’t be relevant to buyers, just whether it’s in line with other one beds.

The maintenance fee does seem high, which will put some people off. I don’t think the lease is bad - we’re selling our bed with just under 90 years and got quite a few offers, but it’s also not expensive to extend. If yours is, that could be an issue.

We’re having to sell for £25k less than we were offered in January, because the buyer then was furloughed and couldn’t get a mortgage, and the flat market here has changed… it does hurt.

Remember that you only need one person… I’d second reading through the listing and making sure it’s clear on what floor it’s on/is it above a shop/etc. Best of luck, I hope it sells soon Flowers

Thank you for the advise and support!
OP posts:
Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:29

@HundredMilesAnHour

It's beautiful, absolutely immaculate. But I'd be put off by the shape of the living room and the lack of dining table, plus the hob location (looks like there isn't space to eat at the breakfast bar because the hob is there).
We have room to eat and work there, so I’ll definitely consider the angle for the new photos! I’ll also put the dining table and chair out. And I’ll try to make it clearer how comfy the sofa to TV angle is.. not easy to show in pictures Confused Thank you!!
OP posts:
JosephineDeBeauharnais · 09/10/2021 20:31

The maintenance fee / service charge isn’t high. We’re in West Yorkshire and that type of development would pay around £100 per month.
I’d say that the apartment is well presented, although very small, has no parking and no outside space. I’m guessing that’s a busy road too.
I’d be marketing that to landlords.

rosesarered321 · 09/10/2021 20:32

You could lay the breakfast bar for the photos, dinner plates, cutlery etc., to demonstrate you can eat there.

user1493494961 · 09/10/2021 20:33

It's lovely, but it's tiny.

Peoniesandpeaches · 09/10/2021 20:34

I don’t think there’s anything you can do to make it sell it’s just one of those properties that needs a certain buyer. It’s beautiful but the small living room/kitchen would be a deal breaker for me.

WhatAWasteOfOranges · 09/10/2021 20:35

It’s a lovely flat & very well presented. It’s just a really tough market for flats at the moment and they are selling slowly since stamp duty ended. A rug isn’t going to help.

Peanutsandchilli · 09/10/2021 20:35

Don't know why people are saying it's ground floor. It literally says first floor as the first thing on the list, unless I'm reading a completely different listing to the rest of you?!

You've only been there a couple of years and are already wanting out. That'd make me question what's wrong with it, other than it being a small, awkward shaped, leasehold property.

Is the broadband speed really that poor?

The photos aren't brilliant either, I'm not buying your TV so I don't need it centre front. There's no obvious dining space. I'd be put off by a windowless bathroom too.

It's fairly neutral decor wise, and that's good, but sometimes you can be overly neutral. Get a few homely knick-knacks in there, a bit of greenery and some artwork or soft furnishings. Perhaps take some better photos.

If you fail to get viewings after that, then it's the price.

Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:36

@rosesarered321

You could lay the breakfast bar for the photos, dinner plates, cutlery etc., to demonstrate you can eat there.
Ooh yeah I really like that idea! Never would have thought of it - thank you!
OP posts:
Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:36

@user1493494961

It's lovely, but it's tiny.
Don’t think I’ll be able to make it bigger Grin 2 grown adults have been working from in it for 2 years hah
OP posts:
Original poster
Ham94 · 09/10/2021 20:38

@Peanutsandchilli

Don't know why people are saying it's ground floor. It literally says first floor as the first thing on the list, unless I'm reading a completely different listing to the rest of you?!

You've only been there a couple of years and are already wanting out. That'd make me question what's wrong with it, other than it being a small, awkward shaped, leasehold property.

Is the broadband speed really that poor?

The photos aren't brilliant either, I'm not buying your TV so I don't need it centre front. There's no obvious dining space. I'd be put off by a windowless bathroom too.

It's fairly neutral decor wise, and that's good, but sometimes you can be overly neutral. Get a few homely knick-knacks in there, a bit of greenery and some artwork or soft furnishings. Perhaps take some better photos.

If you fail to get viewings after that, then it's the price.

I bought it alone and would now like to own something with my partner closer to our friends and family.
I’m looking forward to getting new photos done and adding some homely bits Flowers
OP posts:
Glassofshloer · 09/10/2021 20:40

It’s immaculate and I love the sofas.

I don’t know anything about the area, assuming it’s quite upmarket, but the rooms are quite small & I can’t see where you keep your ‘stuff’ - clothes, shoes, coats, books etc. Where do you keep it all out of interest?? Smile

KerningBurnHole · 09/10/2021 20:43

@Strangevipers

Oh my word I saw this one

I passed on it because we didn't want a leasehold or a ground floor

Don't panic though OP it only takes one person to love it

The listing does say it's first floor. First bullet point under key features
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