No viewings - please tell me what I need to change in house!

[Whywontitsell]

Desperately trying to sell a house that we've never lived in and is nowhere near where we're currently living. We move around with DH's job and have accommodation provided with that, so we bought the house 6 years ago to keep us on the ladder.

We've already dropped the price from £500k to £490k to now £475k, but there's just zero interest. It's definitely not looking its best having had (good) tenants in for the past few years - some dodgy curtains left up and some hanging off the track! So the pics definitely aren't selling it well.

We live about a 3 hour drive away but I have a week off soon. If I go through there to do some work - what would I be best to focus on? The showhome pics make it look so nice - I presume you can't add a link to these on the Rightmove ad? An empty house is just so unappealing...

I would really appreciate any advice...

House:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143709212#/?channel=RES_BUY

@Whywontitsell have you asked the agent if any of the ones they've sold recently if they've gone for anywhere close to initial asking price?

However. At the time of year you’re lucky to get any.
We buy and sell property and the winter months are depressingly slow for sales and viewings.

The agent said they've had a particularly busy January and most things are selling fairly close to asking price.

As it is currently presented, you're basically selling a cosmetic job/ rehab. Does the price reflect that?

If you think it is in move in condition, then your presentation should reflect that, and you need to stage it and don't neglect the front and back gardens.

I think you need to be realistic that any buyer will want to redo the kitchen and the bathroom, plus that ensuite, so your price needs to reflect those shortcomings.

Watch what you believe.
Agents always say they are busy Or they have people on their books that are interested etc etc etc
All sorts of often nonsense just to avoid you finding another agent or
getting you to lower the price for a quick and easy sale for them.

There’s a lot of good suggestions on this thread and I don’t want to keep following, but intrigued to know what you will do next?

Will you go down the staging route? Repaint and new floors? Leave as is but lower the price?

if you do put some work into it, I’d love to see an after shot and hear how it went.

and…..

zero feedback?

meanwhile yours has sailed through Jan without so much as a viewing

op the message is clear

price

but say they have had a particularly busy Jan

and here we are with tumbleweed at op’s property

doesn’t that just confirm that op’s property is not at the right price

I think that description is quite subjective though. There are three things in that house that would be absolute deal breakers for me if I was looking to purchase a 'high spec' home (and two would be fairly costly to retrofit), but I know those wouldn't bother other people.

what room in this listing would you describe as high spec out of interest?

Absolutely I agree
I’m just saying now is not the time to lower the price necessarily. Waiting till after half term when things get busy is better. If it’s still not getting interest then lower it.
I would give it a bit of tlc though and re do the photos.

For me, none of the rooms would be 'high spec' but that doesn't mean other people would agree. In my opinion, the old-style radiators create an ugly aesthetic in every room but I particularly dislike them and have UFH throughout my own house - entirely personal preference though. I would also expect high-quality fixtures and fittings in the kitchen and bathrooms and no laminate.

I would wait until March/April and see how things go as it's typically the best time to put a house on the market.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the house, I can envisage how it would be to live in. For me I wouldn't view it because, although it looks like a 20s/30s house, it's a new build and I'd want an old one.

i can’t see how anyone would see any room on this listing as “high spec”

Also....If mortgage interest rates keep dropping, it could stimulate demand so you might need to do nothing other than wait for rates to drop....

Savvy people might jump in when rates reach 4% knowing by the time they hit 2% house prices will have increased so they will win the game.

Inside -clean the carpets, sort the curtains, hire furniture and have new photos done by someone that knows what they are doing. Outside planters by the front door with some bright pansies in, the back of the house is so drab, borrow some garden furniture and get some planters.

If it's been on since October itust be the price I reckon. Iike others have suggested, I would lower the price, re take some photos, clean the carpets if you think they're dirty rather than just worn which won't make much difference. It's a lovely house. Staging it might be worth it if so many people have no imagination but I personally wouldn't bother.

Hmmm....looking at the listing for the cheapest detached 3-bed on this Redrow development near to me, it doesn't include 'high spec' and looks to have a better fit out:
https://www.redrow.co.uk/houses/tabley-park-knutsford-022673/mere

exactly

the OP’s spec needs to say “cosmetic reno project” “potential”

not bull shit like “high specification”

Worth a try 😂

I've just seen who the estate agents are. I'm sure they are ok, but having dealt with them when trying to buy a house they really weren't good. Or at least the agent we saw wasn't, who we had several viewings with.

Hmm. I wouldn't trust an estate agent.
If you actually check their listed properties, there are masses of reductions, as there are in most areas currently.
It's really rather over priced compared to others. If you want a sale, you are likely to need to reduce quite a lot. You may get lucky in March, but I can't see a big Spring bounce this year. Job losses have ramped up recently and that doesn't exactly suggest a bounding housing market.

@Whywontitsell I'm trying to move at the moment, so I look at a lot of property listings. The 2 things that stuck out to me were that because it's empty and not that old a house (so no features) it looks a little soulless, furniture would make a big difference. Also with a house of that size you need more pictures, when it's a big house with less than 20 pictures my first thought is what are you trying to hide because you're clearly not showing vast amounts of the property. There is a walk in wardrobe, show me, an ensuite, show me it all etc. Don't go overboard, I don't need a tasteful photo of a vase that doesn't come with the property but at least a couple shots of each room would be good.

I have to agree that the "spring bounce" this year is likley to be a complete non event if your a seller. On the other hand if your a buyer - there is likley to be more choice at better prices.
Next year though it could all change again. Impossible to predict - but personally I see this year and at least half of next year being negative growth (who ever came up with that expression needs to be pts imo). By 2026 we will likley be back in to above inflation price rises again.