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.

Oh, you scared me there! I know the family opposite and worked with the owner for a while (she's great!).
It is very easy for the M4.

Thank you Lavendar for the positive comments too. I have looked around and yes, prices have gone up hugely. I won't get much for 220K now without needing work I don't think so I'd be in the sane position as now.

I agree with pp. There's a lot of empty space in the dining area. Pull the table out, maybe put an easy chair or 2 to create a little seating area.
I think you should power wash that front patio and stick a few pots about.
But overall it is what it is. If the price isn't a million miles off just stick with it. Remember you only need 1 buyer.

Ask your estate agents to advertise and hold an open day. We held one and we realised that people don't like the idea that someone else is getting something that they might want themselves. ...and ended up with multiple offers.

Newport prices have risen significantly in the last few years due to the toll on the Severn bridge going and lots of people moving over from Bristol and commuting in. So very normal price rise for that area I would say.

Normally these "my house won't sell threads" feature a house which is pretty grim inside, but yours is lovely. The only thing I would say is that the open plan downstairs could be staged better. It just looks like a big empty space in the middle with all the furniture pushed to the outside and kitchen, office and lounge shoved in different alcoves. It doesn't have the feel of a cosy lounge space or a dining area. I'd try to do something about that.
The kitchen would probably need to be replaced - so buyers will consider that, and maybe your house is slightly overpriced.
The people who cancelled are probably drive-bys who didn't like the parking situation. The house doesn't look that great from outside but it isn't really horrific either.

I know this is very, very trivial but in that first picture of the outside your front door just looks so sad. Nothing wrong with the door I hasten to add, but because the wall cuts it off all I can see is a sad face.

It's a nice spacious house and in good taste. Kitchen and bathroom are a bit tired- but I'm sure you know that OP . I would get them to remove the picture just of slabs and recycling- it's a bit grim.

If it's in the usual price range for an extended semi in that area , then I think it's just the market I'm afraid, I don't think it's your house

I have spent approx 25K on the garage conversion since I came here. I've also had new windows put in and a new boiler etc amongst other things.

This ^

We sold our last house after a similar amount of time and had done some work (stripping woodchip wallpaper, replastering and painting, repainting all original Critall windows and adding lots of plants in the garden), but knew it needed a new kitchen and bathroom(s).

It sold for a loss of £40k which was actually £10k above asking price because we priced realistically. This was a 4 bed detached character house in the West Midlands. It also sold relatively quickly...again because we were not unrealistic in our expectations.

I think in a falling market when the house is of a fairly generic type of which there's lots of others for sale, it's always going to be harder to achieve a profit - especially when you haven't tackled the big ticket items such as kitchen and bathroom.

We're now in Wales - but not your area which I don't know at all - and know how difficult it can be to get good outside pics so understand the photoshopping of the sky!

I actually think the inside space is great (although like others I'm not a huge open plan fan) and it's bright/clean looking. The tired kitchen and bathroom will have people factoring the cost of replacement into what they believe its worth. Ditto the render etc, although this isn't as bad as I was expecting.

A few tweaks - such as the shoe rack and trampoline removal plus putting the dining table into the centre of the space would definitely add to the overall spacious feel inside and out.

The most important issue is the price, imho, you don't want to appear greedy so I'd be considering lowering it to £220k max (possibly even lower if you want a quick sale and don't want to be chasing the market down) and remove the 'guide price'.

Good luck!

It looks tidy and well presented to me, except maybe the concrete slabs and shoe rack.

It's just a change in the wind sadly. If you haven't already, price it to sell.

OP

Hope you don't mind my suggestions...

First of all the inside is spacious but I don't think it's been 'dressed' to its full potential.

The kitchen looks very bland & white, I'd get a bit of colour in there. Make it look like it's used - bottle of wine, herbs, spices, plants. Put a kettle & other appliances in.

I agree with others about that huge open space not being used to its advantage. The dining table is shoved to the side, the office/laptop area seems wrong and the settee/lounge area seems shoved in that archway... I suggest this:

Replace lounge/settee area with the office/laptop and also make it into a play area with toys for children (will appeal to young families)

I'd put the dining table where the office/laptop table currently is, but dress it with flowers, plates, cutlery etc.

The main huge area where the dining table is, I'd turn in to the lounge area - settee, coffee table, TV, Plants, rug etc.

You have a lovely house, just stage it a bit better and ask for the photos to be re-done.

All the best 😊

The open plan aspect would put me off, we had an open plan layout but have built a wall back in for extra radiator space, storage, and so we can watch tv without hearing the kitchen activity. I also WFH but with your layout I'd only be able to work effectively if the rest of the family was out as you can't close it off.

Get some plants 🪴 and add a bit of colours to make it feel more like home

It looks pretty good. Only points I would make:

• the dining space seems very wasted. Everything faces into it like a corridor when it's actually a very big space. I'd put the table more in the middle a dress it so it is more obvious.

• the strange picture of the paving and recycling tubs doesn't add anything and finishes on a negative when everything else is quite positive.

The downstairs has potential to be transformed into a large kitchen diner if required and the downstairs living room could easily be used as a bedroom with it's own ensuite which makes it quite versatile for guests or future proofing.

Do you have a nice outlook upstairs? It appears that you might so if you do be nice to see it.

This. Puts me off any house and I've just had my offer accepted on a property so have been doing A LOT of looking recently.

I think it's a good property - great size with great potential. BUT I hate the astro turf and some of the rooms just look too tidy - as in it doesn't feel warm and lived in. Can you put a bit more life into the photos?
Outside does not put me off at all.

Looks a lovely family home, I think it’s just the financial climate, also budget this week and schools striking wouldn’t have helped,a week isn’t long enough to gauge interest. Good luck.

Fair enough. That would mean me probably staying put though as I'm still paying off loans for the things I've had done. As I said earlier. It was the estate agents who have valued my house. Others wanted it on at 235K. I realise prices are dropping and it's a crappy market but I'd also need to buy somewhere so can't drop too low.

Nice inside , a few rooms look to be painted grey from pics and personally I think that has been ' done ' for awhile now but appreciate that because in good nick you've left as is.
One thing , is the bath sealant looking very dodgy or is it the photo ?
Outside isn't a wow , but if your potential viewers love the location / house etc if it was me wanting it I'd overlook that fact.

How upset would you be to stay put?

How much can you afford to lower it by?

You'll know what to do after that.

If someone makes an appointment tell the agent that they can park in the drive.

Looking at the competition I think it's overpriced. £220k buys you a nice period property with 1 more bedroom. Period properties usually attract more money.

£220k with period features and 1 extra bedroom

£170k 3 bed similar style

£195k 3 bed

I think it's a perfectly nice house, no where near as bad as you think. I don't know the area at all though.
@Hopingforno2in2023 2021 was the peak of the market. Things are very different now.

I don't know the area , I'm in the south east and things seem to go pretty quickly here still.

Much better inside than I would imagine from the outside , spacious, If I had to be picky the vertical blinds and the big areas of empty space make it a bit clinical and in the pink room the top corner there is some dark staining ? I would worry about damp .

I think things will pick up in the spring though and I don't see anything significantly wrong with it , lovely house!