No interest whatsoever - one week

[Spokentruth]

House was listed on RM and Zoopla a week ago today. Listed on website a day or so before.
I had two viewings almost immediately. Both cancelled last minute (agent had already arrived at my property).
Since then, I've had no communication with the EA.

I know it's early days and it's tough out there atm but I'm wondering why 2 people would cancel and there's been nothing else. There's nothing booked in for this weekend either.

I had 4 estate agents value the property. The one I chose put it on for the lowest starting price but it's a 'guide price' £230-240 K). He said I could do this or put it on for 'offers over' 225K ( other agents gave me 235 K asking/offers over) and 'start a bidding war' which I didn't think would happen anyway in this climate.

This is not a good start is it?

I'd prefer not to post a link on thread.

Inside is good, if a bit boring for my taste but it’s huge.
Back garden looks nice.
The outside of the house itself doesn’t bother me but the front paving isn’t very attractive.
I’d give it a week or two.
I would have thought it’s pretty attractive at the right price.

I say this kindly, but the area has always had a "bit of a reputation" and some people may be put off a bit by the location.

That was the valuation I had from 4 Estate agents and more. I didn't say how much I thought it was worth.

The open plan downstairs would put me off. It would be quite hard to heat I think. That's the msan drawback. But the rooms are a good size for the price.,And I don't think the kitchen is that bad.

We have been on the market for 8 weeks, only 3 viewings. 2 booked then cancelled at the last minute. We had three valuations, went on the market at the lowest, hoping for a quick sale, as we have found a property that we want to buy. No interest the first week, so dropped the price below any of the three valuations. Got our first viewing, then nothing. EA said to reduce the price, which we did and then had another viewing. Now on the market at Offers in Excess of Property market here is dead as the proverbial Dodo.

Oh, I know. I'm not a native.🤐

A week isn't long. Don't be put off by no-shows; timewasters are an annoying fact of sellers lives and its just bad luck they were your first 2 appointments.

Two suggestions; the viewer's first impression on entering front door is of prime importance, and frankly a rack of smelly trainers is not good.. Move them elsewhere (park them under the bunkbed and cover) .

Your back garden is dwarfed and overcrowded by the trampoline. I'd take it down and store it in a neighbours shed or garage. Then when viewers come, emphasises the open space privacy and security of the back garden (ideal for dogs, and children)

The house looks a bit too clinical monochrome and unlived in; you want it to say " this is a family home with lots of space to spread out" .... so don't go too tidy. You're painting a lifestyle set for the viewers.

Toys books and evidence of real life are fine. Work visible in the office space advertises " ideal for WFH " A cake and open recipe book in the kitchen, couple of colourful tea towel or bright mixing bowls . Bright cushion s or throw on sofa. Buy some cheap indoor plants and bunches of daffodils and scatter them around downstairs. Put some tall plants near those big French doors to the garden (indoors and outside) to draw attention to what a lovely indoor-outdoor feature that will be in summer when they are open. I'd buy some pots of flowering bulbs or primulas , cheap at garden centre, and have them just outside the front door and the read french windows.

You can take all the stage props with you when you move.

Overall it’s a nice house. Much better than I was expecting!

Have then remove the pic of the paved area at the front, it looks untidy and adds nothing.

The kitchen needs some colour, add some plants / flowers / coloured accessories.

Remove the shoe rack.

Put the dining table in the middle of the room, it currently looks like a dead space corridor.

1 week is nothing in this market. Be patient. I personally cannot stand fake grass, but I know others like it

Shoe rack is going in the bin!

It took us 9 months to sell a high spec renovated flat last year!

Hate it too. Was here when we came. 👍

I think it is a lovely little house for a young family.
But like a previous poster already mentioned I would get rid of the 'office' blinds. I personally really dislike them and they do not make a house look homely.
I think the trouble is that the photos of the front are a bit stark because there are no plants or flowers because it's winter. Might we worth planting up a few pots with some spring flowers and I would also pressure wash the slabs.
Also agree with the comment about the didning table. You need to make it look like a 'dining' area. In the kitchen I would maybe put up a couple of roman blinds to soften the look a bit. The desk looks dirty, I really focused on that. There are also no house plants, to soften the decor a bit.
I don't know why the EA wasn't more helpfull with this.

White and plain is perfect for selling. Just add some bright colourful cooking stuff to make it tell viewers " someone loves cooking in this kitchen"

So if I do these things. Can I ask them to redo the pics?

Agree with others, re- organise and stage the open plan area. It looks like an unused/ unusable corridor. I personally hate fake grass but others may like it. Remove the front patio photo. Add some plants to the kitchen.

For me the garden is too small & I don't like the layout.

Could you have a different pic showing first so that people are drawn to the inside rather than put off by the outside?

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/62814875/?search_identifier=e61d961c3604b1e8ddeaa6e39a7e5e16

Just across the road. Reduced from 215K.

Could you switch the dining and the office so stage the back room with doors to the garden as the dining room? Put the table in the centre then put a big rug down and have the office in the area that is a bit like a walk way into the living room it might make it feel more defined and less open and corridor like. I would also pressure wash the front and put some plants in tubs to improve it slightly agree with pp about the trampoline too. Otherwise, it's so much better than you said!

We sold our Newport house with Number 1 in 2021 and Katie was fab. She put us on a guide price too and it didn’t seem to put people off, we sold very quickly and not that far away from you. The location may be the issue as it does have a bit of a reputation but hang in there. Maybe talk to Katie as we found her v helpful.

Its a lovely house, light and roomy. The market has taken a nosedive, I think you just need to sit tight and wait it out.

I need a new dining table tbh. I had a big, solid one before I downsized it and bought this cheap one from Argos. Maybe I Could invest in one now. Possibly a round one?

Yes, the area it comes under is really not the nicest place in Newport. This road is quiet and we've never had problems up here but the estate further over has a rep.

@Spokentruth OMG I think your house is opposite the house I grew up in, what are the chances! My parents moved about 30 years ago but I gave fond memories of growing up there.

The street is great and your house is super, very spa and clearly looked after and spotlessly clean. The only think I would change is to not push all the downstairs furniture into the walls as this makes it look a bit too open. Arrange the furniture in a a more appealing way.

Your house will definitely sell it's a very popular street and one most people don't know is there. It's perfectly placed for the motorway and the buyers from Bristol love that side of town.

Just rearrange slightly, sit back and have a little patience.

It looks great.However are neighbouring homes priced lower? It often come down to price in the end .

@GreenestValley the prices round here have shot up, the op shouldn't be accused of being greedy for selling her house for what it's worth. Remember she'll need to buy somewhere else to live.