Viewing in this scenario

[WonderWoman123456]

I just put up my house for sale as I am leaving the country. There was a flurry of viewing bookings around 7 in the first week, but only 4 bothered to turn up. One was exploring, one opined house needs work done, one didn't like the size of the second bedroom and the last one was coming for a second viewing but found something else.

Now after the first week nothing. People are looking at the ads on zoopla but no viewings. Was wondering if I should knock the price down a bit or just find a new agent. It's been 2 weeks now, I understand things are slow.

This is my listing. 139576364

Ok, I know Carshalton albeit 20 years ago! But I know for the area it is a fair price for a flat. Before I dive in, I think it is lovely, just needs a few things doing.

The term Maisonette implies a mezzanine floor. Maybe just market it as a flat.

Pic 2 looks incredibly cluttered. Can you get rid of the piles of stuff, remove the filing cabinet, exercise machine and move the footstool from on front of the fireplace. It just needs a good tidy up.

Is there a fridge in one of the bedrooms? The one with the black wall. That needs to go.

The garden is huge and a big draw. Can you tidy it up or get a gardener in?

All in all it is a lovely flat, I love the kitchen and garden (when tidied). It just needs a good declutter and tidy up.

My first thought was regarding the first photo - what's going on in your front yard? Is there building work or something?

I agree the front room and garden need a good tidy up and the photos retaking, and I'd probably lose the photo of the loo to be honest. It's hard to imagine the second room as a bedroom with the sofa etc. in there, could you borrow a bed from someone to dress it a bit?

Honestly it looks a bit cluttered and dirty from an outside perspective - could some of the photos be retaken after a clear up?

The garden with the solar panels (I think?!) would be very off putting in all honesty, it's lost a lot of usable space. Same with the leasehold being 166 years, that seems short but I'm a bit suspicious of leasehold so that's probably my issue.

OP- can you provide a link to the listing? I've never used zoopla, but tried putting in the number you have provided, but nothing comes up. Can you only see properties with an account?

If you look at the edited post, there was a Rightmove link.

@WonderWoman123456 the first photo is not great, it looks like there is building work of some kind in your front garden. Also, the rooms look a bit empty but also a bit cluttered - strange. The pouffe shouldn't be situated in front of the fireplace for example, blocking it. Maybe get rid of that?

The house looks a bit unloved tbh, maybe because you are moving away.

Well for a start its not a Maisonette by British definition so is mislisted.

A maisonette is a 2 story abode with its own front door exiting outside.

This is just a ground floor flat.

I agree non of the pictures really sell it well either.

You really need to tidy up the garden , the hedge looks in dire need of attention and would put me off from viewing. Is the barrier there because you are having work done?

That hedge and barrier do look awful being honest, can you get hedge cut and whatever the barrier is, removed. leasehold wouldn't bother me, having owned a flat with a much shorter lease. The solar panel are a bonus but I've never seen them in a garden before - I do think that would put me off.

It's a good flat but a bit tatty. I think you need to get rid of that thing in the garden that makes it look like there's building work. Get rid of the boxes and fitness equipment in the living room. The solar panels are a nice idea but they make the garden look unusable- like a big glass kitchen counter. You don't need to spend money on it, just make it look more appealing and put some stuff in storage. Oh, and move that stained chopping board on display in the kitchen.

And clear the bedside table!

Thanks for your response. I probably can. The filing cabinets are full and heavy and might break my back if I try to move them. Yes there is a freezer in the bedroom. The garden, I can mow it, but the trees are my neighbours and I cannot touch them and she is a nice lady too.

Are the trees growing onto your side?

Well in the front the UKPN had dug up to fit a smart meter, all done now. The sofa is actually the reception room, the second bedroom is a small one where I have the computer.

And here I was thinking solar panels would make it more easier to sell because of free electricity. Seems people's outlook are very different. Those panels topped up my EPC from D to B.

No only the branches creep over the fence, I didn't have an issue with that so never bothered.

I cannot see a fence, they would really put me off and I would not view so it may be worth asking your neighbour to trim them.

The lease being so long is fantastic, as is the lack of service charge. The annual ground rent is low too, which is a bonus. The solar panels are great to have, especially with the battery storage, but where they are, with no protection, means a family simply couldn’t use the garden if they had young children. I’d want them fenced off somehow to protect them. How much does having them and the battery save you each year, roughly? Maybe include that on the listing?
There are no measurements on the listing either, that would really put me off as it means I wouldn’t have any idea of how big rooms are, if furniture would fit etc.
As others have said, it all looks very cluttered and worn out. Needs clearing, cleaning, and new photos taken that show the rooms and their potential off. Good luck!

Well there is a fence on the picture #10 you can see it clearly. It is higher at the ends and low in the middle (easier to chat with someone on the other side).

I agree with the comments above, it could all do with a good tidy and declutter and would look so much better. The kitchen is actually lovely but the surfaces need to be cleared. Definitely get rid of the barrier in the front garden! I think a lot of people will be put off by the solar panels unfortunately, as it basically makes the garden unusable for children. But as you say, others may appreciate the energy saving.

What's been done to it to justify the 115k price rise to 305k since 2014?

I am not familiar with how prices rise in the area but that's not a lot of floorspace for over 300k and it's not in very good condition.

It's full of clutter everywhere and doesn't look in the slightest bit cared for. Rusty radiator, possible damp near floor under desk, peeling wallpaper, crap in front garden, messy back garden.

I would assume you have neglected it and wouldn't even view I am afraid.

If others feel the same, your only choice is to drop the price or put a bit of effort into making it something someone really wants to move into.

Its not a maisonette, its a ground floor flat.

The solar panels, great for electricity, rubbish placement! Why were they put all the way up the side of an already narrow garden, would have made more sense to be right up the end out the way. I'd be worried about them getting damaged.

That front picture is awful, why didn't you wait until the work had been finished. That needs taking again without the roadwork stuff.

Seems very cluttered/weird placement of furniture which mkaes mr think the rooms are all very small

I love the casual way the OP confirms yes there is a freezer in the bedroom.

Never complain, never explain, eh?

Well the solar panels are placed according to where they will receive the most sunlight year around. They are sturdy, they can take hail and I did drop a fence panel on one of it by mistake. Not a scratch.

Seems so odd you didn’t clear surfaces of bits and bobs like in the kitchen and the coffee table in the living room. If you look at other listings you can see how people normally present their properties for market. Ones aren’t normally like yours unless they’re rental properties.
I know it’s a pain but I think it’s worth having a clear out, arranging the rooms more nicely and having new photos.

Haha. When I did my kitchen, I thought of getting rid of my under the counter fridge, but decided against wasting a already working one and bought the freezer.