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Original poster

Very little interest - is this normal?

26 replies

Housen · 20/03/2023 19:28

I’ve never done this before and it is sooo stressful. 2 bed flat, in a popular location. Been on the market 10 days, and only two viewings so far. One left v negative feedback; haven’t heard from the other.
2 more people booked last week and one cancelled, the other didn’t show up.
1 viewing that was supposed to be last week was rearranged for the end of this week, and another is booked for this week. (both of these viewings were booked so far in advance, I can’t help thinking they are not really serious?)
Should I have had more interest by now? It doesn’t seem promising..or are my expectations too high?

please help! 🙏🏻

OP posts:
CocoFifi · 20/03/2023 19:35

Not a lot of interest, generally means a property is priced too high

Original poster
Housen · 20/03/2023 19:38

CocoFifi · 20/03/2023 19:35

Not a lot of interest, generally means a property is priced too high

Would you say the interest I’ve described is poor? I definitely regret not putting in up for less tbh, but is dropping the price after just 10 days a silly move?

OP posts:
FiveShelties · 20/03/2023 19:39

Was the very negative feedback justified?

Pepperama · 20/03/2023 19:41

Do the viewings you’ve got booked in, if then no move I’d drop the price quite quickly. We had to and then interest picked up

GoodChat · 20/03/2023 19:45

What was the negative feedback? Is it something the EA has to warn potential buyers of?

You're only 10 days in and it sounds like there's actually been a decent amount of interest.

Original poster
Housen · 20/03/2023 19:47

FiveShelties · 20/03/2023 19:39

Was the very negative feedback justified?

To be honest, i’d say it was pretty fair. It’s a ground floor conversion of a Victorian terrace. Part of the feedback was that the overall building is a bit shabby (which it is) and it wasn’t clear if other freeholders would share the costs of redecoration (they will - there’s some money saved and plans to redecorate- and I told the estate agents to let others know if they asked). The other part of the feedback was it is much too damp. In response to that I’ve organised for a damp survey to be done. The third bit of feedback was “bit expensive”.

OP posts:
Original poster
Housen · 20/03/2023 19:48

Pepperama · 20/03/2023 19:41

Do the viewings you’ve got booked in, if then no move I’d drop the price quite quickly. We had to and then interest picked up

Thank you - that’s sound advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
Housen · 20/03/2023 19:49

GoodChat · 20/03/2023 19:45

What was the negative feedback? Is it something the EA has to warn potential buyers of?

You're only 10 days in and it sounds like there's actually been a decent amount of interest.

Ahh thank you, that’s good to know . I wasn’t sure if it was terrible or not; as I keep reading things about people getting several viewings booked for the very next day.

OP posts:
FiveShelties · 21/03/2023 05:13

I would let the other viewings go ahead and see what they have to say - it is really early to be reducing the price.

Good Luck

Alexalee · 21/03/2023 12:42

Ask your ea for the tightmove viewing stats

JohnnyM · 21/03/2023 15:23

The market is slow at the moment. Up until to summer 2022 flats for sale in our development always had a 'launch day' with multiple viewers lined up.

As interest rates have gone up from historic lows most buyers have now lost significant purchasing power. Halifax and Nationwide indexes are both showing falling prices over the last quarter and expectation for many is that they will fall further, so lots of potential buyers are waiting to see what develops. Plus most buy-to-letters are looking to exit now.

You may need to reduce but as others have said could be too soon for that - I would wait until it's been on at least a month before reducing.

We listed in October, for 5% less than 'peak', reduced by another 5% a month later, then got an offer soon after for just under asking).

We're in SW London.

Kerrysgotabicycle · 21/03/2023 15:25

Properties on our street normally sell within a week. There are currently 3 on the market, they've all been for sale for 3 weeks now and so far none has sold. I think the market is slow because people are expecting prices to fall.

tracylamont13 · 21/03/2023 16:32

We've been on the market for 6 weeks and only 1 viewing so Id day you're getting a lot of interest. However, we're in a very different market to you.

Heronwatcher · 21/03/2023 18:01

Yes I agree about the price and I would say that is low interest but I know that flats are taking a while to sell more generally. Can’t you do some redecorating yourself in the short term or bring the plans to decorate forward? Damp can be a code for “smells dodgy”- can you have a clear out, spring clean and clean carpets/ sofas etc? And obviously make sure you’re leaving a window open for a few hours a day and have adequate heating. Don’t try to mask it with plug ins or coffee though- that won’t work.

ComtesseDeSpair · 21/03/2023 18:55

I’d take it off the market until you’ve had the damp survey completed and remedied any findings. If it’s bad enough to be immediately noticeable at a viewing (presume smell, mildew or moisture evident on internal walls?) then it’s going to put any viewer off and all that will happen is you’ll be on the market for ages which just reinforces to anyone newly looking that there’s likely a problem.

Advancedpie · 21/03/2023 20:45

Put it up on here, you know we'll give honest feedback.

Twiglets1 · 21/03/2023 20:54

A new property on the market normally generates more interest. I think possibly your property is overpriced.

Lcb123 · 21/03/2023 20:55

Sounds pretty standard at the moment. Took us 9 months to sell a Two bed flat in London last year

CoffeeWithCheese · 22/03/2023 13:47

We were on the market last year (we went on just before Kwazi's sodding budget fucked it all up) and it was quiet as hell throughout on the viewing front - and the agents were reporting that yes, it was quiet as hell. Having said that - it only takes one viewer to see it and buy it and we actually ended up selling to a family buying from overseas who showed up randomly looking for houses with sale boards outside and didn't get a sale via the estate agent organised viewings at all. Estate agent earnt their money getting sense out of this bunch of bloody buyers though cos they were pains!

whirlyhead · 22/03/2023 14:35

I've been on the market a week, 3 viewings so far with 3 more over the weekend, and have had one offer of just below asking. I do live in an area with great schools which helps. The estate agent has said it's very quiet at present and taking about 12 weeks to sell.

Original poster
Housen · 22/03/2023 14:39

whirlyhead · 22/03/2023 14:35

I've been on the market a week, 3 viewings so far with 3 more over the weekend, and have had one offer of just below asking. I do live in an area with great schools which helps. The estate agent has said it's very quiet at present and taking about 12 weeks to sell.

Sounds like you are doing really well! What type of property is it you are selling? There are Great schools near us too, but mine isn’t really a family property- it’s a two bed flat.

OP posts:
Original poster
Housen · 22/03/2023 14:42

Thanks all for the advice, it’s really helpful. We have had feedback from second viewer- they didn’t mention damp, but said there wasn’t enough natural light in the property (they came to view on a really miserable/ wet afternoon).

We have the damp expert coming this afternoon and 3 more viewings this week. So that will be two weeks on the market and 5 viewings altogether.

Not sure whether it’s advisable to post a link here or not? 🤔

OP posts:
Original poster
Housen · 22/03/2023 14:42

Lcb123 · 21/03/2023 20:55

Sounds pretty standard at the moment. Took us 9 months to sell a Two bed flat in London last year

9 months 😮

OP posts:
whirlyhead · 22/03/2023 15:38

Housen · 22/03/2023 14:39

Sounds like you are doing really well! What type of property is it you are selling? There are Great schools near us too, but mine isn’t really a family property- it’s a two bed flat.

Show quote history

Mine is a 3-bed house in a very popular area up north. I rejected the offer anyway as it’s early days. I’m not in any hurry as I’m moving overseas and will be renting.

NorthernDrizzle · 22/03/2023 15:41

Housen · 22/03/2023 14:42

9 months 😮

Show quote history

They sell in our block in less than 5 days.
Depends where you are in London, what type of flat and price I imagine.