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8 weeks on the Market and no viewings

130 replies

Roxett · 29/05/2022 16:15

Hi All!

We have 8 weeks on the Market and no viewings. We have reduce to a more realistic price from the valuation we've got from the estate agent.
We are in Palmers Green, really close to the tube, train and schools. We are next to the North Circular Road but the flat has triple glazing windows and we don't have any complains about the noise or anything. We just need to move for upsizing reasons (the family keeps growing)

We are looking for honest opinions, Can you please help us?
Here is the link: www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/61210267/

Thank you! 😊

OP posts:
Onekidnoclue · 29/05/2022 16:22

Don’t know the area at all so can’t comment on that or price or competition! Just had a spin through the photos and I think it all looks good except the outside spaces which seem a bit bleak. After lockdown having private outside space became much more important to many buyers so I think I’d fancy them up a bit so people think they’re a luxury not a bit of a drab area. Hope that helps and gives you a bump!

FlowerArranger · 29/05/2022 16:25

It's a flat
Next to a busy road
No kerb appeal
Rooms look small
Estate agent clearly used very wide angle lense...

Having said that, I'm not familiar with the area and likely cost of a house of similar size.

FlowerArranger · 29/05/2022 16:26

Sorry, meant to add:
No garden!

ItsSnowJokes · 29/05/2022 16:27

Why do you not have your lease, ground rent and service charge details on there? I wouldn't look at a flat without knowing these to start off with. It's lazy not having that information on the advert.

I dont know that area well, but it seems pricey to me with what else is around for a split level flat.

CheshireCats · 29/05/2022 16:28

Your property is nicely presented and looks fine to me. I agree with pp that the outside space needs to look more appealing- plants/ furniture etc.
So it must be price/and location. But pretty much any location would sell at the right price, so I think price is your main issue.

ChessieFL · 29/05/2022 16:28

Looks lovely! I wonder if the description means it isn’t reaching the right people? It’s described as a flat and most people will assume that means one floor. Might be worth discussing with the estate agent to see if describing it as a maisonette might help??

CountessOfSponheim · 29/05/2022 16:30

Standard wisdom is that if you're not getting any viewings it's the price that's the issue.

Have you asked the agent why they think you aren't getting viewings?

I agree with others that making your outside space look more appealing would be a help, but that's not going to be the whole of the problem.

MrsJamin · 29/05/2022 16:30

Here's my advice. The first photo is awful, you need your best photo first. The view from the balcony is also awful, just take it out. The view of the brick wall is so odd, is that your outside space? Either dress it to look nicer or take it out. The one reception room you have looks crowded as it shows the lounge and dining area at the same time, you'd do better with separate photos as it just looks cluttered. Can you take the small bed out of the room with the other bed in? Also take the stuff off the top of the wardrobes, it looks like you don't have enough storage space to have things on top.

BlanketsBanned · 29/05/2022 16:30

I think the ea needs to say how long is left on the lease and the service charges. Its nice inside but not everyone likes the industrial look I suppose.

bellac11 · 29/05/2022 16:30

Website is glitchy for me, is it not on rightmove? I never used anything else when house hunting

I think the first picture is not very good, bit ugly in your face, but you have a lot of outdoor space which needs advertising properly, dont advertise that the view from one of them is of the car park!

I dont know how prices compare. Also it doesnt have the leaselength details, that should be included.

Parkperson00 · 29/05/2022 16:31

It looks like a spacious flat, the size of a small terrace. I agree with a previous poster who suggests buying lots of greenery for the terrace and balcony to make the outside spaces more welcoming. Perhaps also find a family member to take in the storage bags on top of the wardrobes. It implies that there isn't enough storage in the flat.

RyanAirVeteran · 29/05/2022 16:33

Tenure:
Leasehold
Service charge:
Not available
Time remaining on lease:
Not available
Council tax band:
Not available
Ground rent:
Not available

Poor amount of storage, no storage in the bathroom, in fact no storage when you take those wardrobes with you, third room cluttered, not clearly a bedroom.

Outside space needs softening with planting.

LilythePunk · 29/05/2022 16:34

Everything looks very black and white to me and a bit lacking in homeliness. There is a lot of emphasis on the exterior, which is not appealing. Plants, pots, some greenery would all help.
I don’t know the area so can’t comment on the price. However it is likely to be the price that is the issue.

QuitMoaning · 29/05/2022 16:34

ChessieFL · 29/05/2022 16:28

Looks lovely! I wonder if the description means it isn’t reaching the right people? It’s described as a flat and most people will assume that means one floor. Might be worth discussing with the estate agent to see if describing it as a maisonette might help??

That isn’t the difference between flat and maisonette. It depends on the entrance. If there are communal area then you cannot describe as a maisonette.

For me, it is also the length of lease and the service charges. These should be there.

Heli1copter · 29/05/2022 16:36

Don't know the area but I'd never pay more than half a million for a modern flat, sorry. The inside looks well presented, fresh, clean, bright etc. To me it is the kind of place a professional couple might want as their first place together, its not a family home, if that makes sense, but for a first flat the price is very high!

Ilikewinter · 29/05/2022 16:38

I agree with the awful 1st photo, is that an actual photo of your flat? Ie the bottom corner?.

Badqueen · 29/05/2022 16:39

That first picture of the outside is very off putting. I definitely wouldn't lead with that photo. If that little roof terrace or balcony is usable space, put stuff there like pots or table and chairs to show that you can actually use it.

Ilikewinter · 29/05/2022 16:40

Ilikewinter · 29/05/2022 16:38

I agree with the awful 1st photo, is that an actual photo of your flat? Ie the bottom corner?.

Please ignore me, just zoomed in and realised its a parking space, I thought that was a photo of your terrace area!

Pinkdelight3 · 29/05/2022 16:41

The exterior shots are really unappealing, sorry. I know it's trad to start with a shot of the outside, but it's so off-putting with the car park and the building itself looking like ... I don't even know what it looks like, some mix between an office block, the back-end of something industrial, and a multi-storey car park... it just doesn't look like a desirable place to call home, especially not a family home. Is there a better angle where it's not all concrete and brick and piping? Focused much more on the grey section with the balconies that at least look like homes?

If not, I'd start with the interiors and really sell the homely aspect of it first and only get to the outside later, and even then, I'd get some shots that are closer in on your flat, not show the context of that car park, the unappealing angles of the building and how surrounded by other buildings it is.

Even on the internal shots e.g. photo 2, it looks like your glass doors only have a view of a brick wall. There must be a better angle to make it look more appealing. The bedroom shot with some green out of the window is better, and the later shots (15&16) make it clear that it's actually a decent space outside the glass doors, but those early pix are off-putting.

Perhaps it's best not to market it as a family home anyway as the balcony shots (12&13) are quite hairy. I'm not sure what the appeal of a 3-bed flat in a development like that is, and maybe it's very niche given your lack of offers. Is it a bargain compared to other three beds around there? I think somehow it has to look way more aspirational internally, selling an apartment lifestyle, so that all the shortcomings aren't so obvious and off-putting.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 29/05/2022 16:41

I think you need to do something with the outside areas tbh.
And yes to the length of lease and ground rent. And get it on right move.

RyanAirVeteran · 29/05/2022 16:42

@Pinkdelight3

It is brutalist architecture. IMO

bellac11 · 29/05/2022 16:42

Interesingly there is lots of storage if you look on the floor plan. Its not clear how you get into the property, is the picture of the area with the bike hanging up the front door? Is there shared entrances, if not it is a maisonette.

Schwarz · 29/05/2022 16:44

From a first impression, all the photos are cluttered. It makes it look small - eg. Full kitchen counters / office room full of things / bags of clothes on wardrobes. When we sold the advice was to take all personal things / accessories out of the way so it would look clear and clean rather than small and cluttered. This might help! More information too, it's not really giving enough information on the lease etc.

Twiglets1 · 29/05/2022 16:44

I think your place looks lovely and it’s a good size and close to a tube. The big problem is your proximity to the A406 which is very busy (I know it) and that will be off putting to a lot of people.
The noise may not be a problem to you but it will be to a lot of people. Triple glazing is helpful but what about in the summer when you want to keep your windows open? I’m sorry but I would also worry about pollution & respiratory health issues living so close to the North Circular.
I don’t think there are any problems with the way you are presenting the flat so all you can do is reduce the price. Not everyone worries so much about noise etc so I’m sure you will get a buyer if the price is right. After all, it wasn’t a problem to you when you bought it.
I would think about reducing it to 550k so that it falls within the lower price band on Rightmove.

Seraphinesupport · 29/05/2022 16:48

Location, price and lack of outdoor space ( or bad view from balcony) for me

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