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.

its massive and she won't go with them again so they've lost some comission also warned everyone she knows

I'm in a similar situation to you OP. Been on the market for one week and no viewings and no interest. My plan is to keep calm and wait it out. No intention of dropping price at this stage but I'm fortunate I want to move rather than need to move.

Regarding the link, I think it looks a light, bright house but lacks warmth. I'd suggest: moving some of the furniture away from the walls; stage the dining table; lose the shoe rack; put some plants in pots outside; put some vases of flowers around the place; cushions; throws. Stage it - generally make it look cosy, warm and friendly.

Is there potential to use some/all of the front garden as Off Street Parking ?
You'd need to extend the kerb but it would solve the issues with the neighbours' parking and make it more attractive .
Even if you don't want to go down that route yourself , if it is do-able then bonus.

Me too

Absolutely. Many of the neighbours have already done this. I would have done it had I had the money.

Sylvya · Good luck with yours and thanks for the insight. I actually had two viewings booked in today for next weekend so fingers crossed. I'm not desperate to move but I would like to be moved by September at the latest if it's going to happen this year. My mortgage goes up quite a lot in April so it's going to be tight but manageble for a short while.

The agent has removed the last picture for me.

I am going to move the dining table out from the wall and change the furniture around a bit.

Get rid of the smelly shoe rack and shoes.

Buy a few colourful bits to put around and maybe some flowers.

Look into jet washing the front patio and front of house.

I've told the agent that they can park on my drive or across it.

I can't do anything about the parking situation unfortunately but I'm planning on trying to keep a space out the front next weekend so at least the viewer or agent can park.
My daughter actually said to me tonight that the agent had parked quite a long way down the road (not having found a space) so I'll go out early in the morning and see if I can save one with my own car.

Yes. It was here when we came and it's paved underneath so you wouldn't be able to put real grass under it unless you took all the paving up.

I live locally to you, I think I know what agent quoted you a 20 week contract!!! It's a lovely house, it's spacious, you've got a drive/garden etc - kitchen needs a good overhaul I'd say BUT I really don't think people are too bothered nowadays! Your main issue is the area, I do think however large etc the property is that sometimes there's a roof on how much you will get in a certain area. I've just sold mine very recently with brand new everything in it - took me three months to sell with only four viewings! I've noticed over the last few weeks that the market is flooded with houses in Newport and the area in general has been extremely hard hit by the COL crisis. One week is early days though. Don't reduce it yet, I took a couple of thousand off mine two months in.

Oh, Maybe you had a similar experience! Did they tick all the boxes themselves as well without asking you before you had to digitally sign and see a new figure quoted on the commission in teeny tiny writing? 😜
I didn't realise how flooded it was justanotherday until someone said upthread. Why do you think it's been so hard hit by the COL crisis (genuine question)?
I guess in asking that, I'm being hit by it myself in not being able to afford to keep the place on for much longer.
It really is a lovely house for someone who can take care of it and maybe do a bit of DIY. It's been great for the kids having the space and it's lovely in summer with all the light. The views are fantastic too from the bedroom windows. I'll definately miss these things. I just know that by myself, I'll never be able to make it the home I want as money and time get tighter.

Yes! I'm sure it's the same one! Same % you quoted too... Don't get me started on solicitors fees too... I'll have to be careful with my reply as this could be quite outing! HUGE housing crisis, people with debts, high food bank use all BEFORE COL kicked in, as a City these issues have now grown - people on track two years ago to buy now completely priced out by mortgage increases/house prices having risen/food costs etc. Funding running dry. Higher reliance on all of the above with no real opportunity for social mobility in our younger generations as a result which as a City we're dependent on really in improving as a whole. ASB worse than ever etc etc It all connects... I'm guessing you are a single parent also? Its difficult. It's a huge house, I honestly wouldn't make any changes at all, just hang on in there. Don't move your shoes either! They're buying an empty house at the end of it. It took me a good month to realise, after new photos had no benefit here either, that all people want to see is that it's fairly clean.

Yes, I'm wanted to keep 20K back for moving costs and to pay off a loan if possible. I'm possibly looking into the equity loan option but not sure if that will work yet.
I am SP but father does contribute and help out. I am fortunate in that way.
Renting seems impossible and would be more expensive for me than having the mortgage which is why I really don't want to go down that route.
ASB really is bad and it certainly connects to unemployment and poor finances.
I've had a good mortgage deals until now at 1.49 - 1.59 %. It's going up to 4.35% so you can imagine the change that will make to monthly outgoings. Many people have it a lot worse though.

I hope you are aware that estate agent fees add VAT on top at 20%?

Yes, That was why I said it was so important to find out what the commission was + VAT rather than without like the first agent quoted me.

Good luck OP, lovely house. Sorry you are paying D council tax - I'm in the NE and we've just had our increase. 10% of the increase is for the police apparently, I can't remember the last time I saw any police, hope their recruitment drive is working.

Your house is actually lovely. I think it's the market at the moment. Very slow.

I'd move the office into the old garage - keep the open plan area all as living space, using furniture to define the 3 areas, and have the work part somewhere it can be shut away.

Rewrite the description for that converted room to help people see the potential as a guest room or playroom as well as the current use. In fact I'd look at the whole description. Reverse the order: house, then area, then agent last. You are selling your house, not their agency. Make sure there's a clear little of rooms and key features at the top, then describe in more detail.

Move the photo of the kitchen to later in the set - it's one of the less inspiring bits of the interior so you don't want it as the first impression.

Lose 'guide price' and the range - makes it look like an auction.

First move the office to the garage - self contained with downstairs loo - could even add a tray and kettle - etc to look like a proper work space.

Move that sofa to the ground room as it’s smaller - make it an adult space.

The big sofa should go where the dining table is and make this room a family living space - add some color and plants - games - table closer to kitchen - and have dining room display - cups plates etc on the open shelves.

Back room should be a games room - kids toys etc -

Photos are awful - big empty spaces show a really unloved house

Council tax here is very high. I lived in Greenwich before in London and it is higher here with bins emptied much less often. Don't get me started on potholes!

The photos are very off-putting to me - yes there is space but the house looks so cold, empty and barren. The only room with any colour is the cloakroom with the tiles over the sink.

If it was an area I especially wanted I would view but if it wasn't the interior would put me off.

Every room is just white/grey, no soft furnishings, no life.

Sorry, but it is so empty!

You're not buying a furnished house.

oh I didn't understand

The point is I'm hoping to buy a home, and this looks like a cold box.

I staged my last sale, took out lots of my own stuff but made sure it looked appealing.

I spent a total of £120 on a few bits to help with staging, borrowed some stuff from family.

No point comparing the offers (five in a day from six viewings) because the market has changed, but the point I'm making is it looks off-putting.

It is a buyer's market now, appearance does matter.

Interesting. I tried to declutter as much as poss. Wanted it to look 'calm' and neutral I guess. When. I bought it, I thought it looked hideous but some might disagree. You can still see the pics from before online.

Apologies if someone has suggested this - I have not read the whole thread - but I wonder if your agent is the problem. I'm trying to buy at the minute and it's really hard to even get a viewing. I see in your OP that the agent has at least arranged a couple of viewings but they might have given the buyers times that they were going to find difficult to keep to and that was the reason they cancelled. When I call, I'll get one time slot for the whole week - we can show you at Tuesday at 3pm, that sort of thing. That's when they answer the phone. I think agents are understaffed and, because the market is depressed, those who are there put less effort in. Lettings are crazy too so maybe that's what they are concentrating on. Just the thoughts of a would-be buyer who is finding it impossible!

If I were selling now, I would used Purple Bricks. That way buyers can book an appointment online and you do the viewing and you're not relying on agents.
Don't know if that helps but good luck anyway.

You need more detail in the description. I think I can see a dishwasher and a fridge in the photo, but no freezer or washing machine - do you have them, are they in the utility? Tumble dryer? If you've renovated, did you replace the boiler?

You're not buying a furnished house.

But your are buying the idea of how to live in the house

The living room is squashed and mass of area in the dining room is wasted - it looks like 4 people have their own space and it’s not family orientated when people spend time together.

Get moving furniture and get some better photos.

Another thing - get a quote to knock the kitchen through - and new kitchen - at least people could see how much that would cost them.