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

If you can I would rent it out again until the market improves. My house was on the market for over a year with no offers despite reducing by £80,000. It has been rented out since December and I have no firm plans as to when to market it again. The market is terrible at the moment.

The agent's details state: "REMAINING NHBC WARRANTY". So although it looks like a 1920s-30s house, it's an estate house and not all that old.

I think it would be a mistake to describe it as a "renovation" project with "potential".

The curtains need sorting and yes, it would look better staged with furniture. Take the towel, bathroom mat and loo roll away.

Put a dining table in the kitchen/diner as there is no separate dining room.

Put some planters around the back windows.

I think it would be a mistake to describe it as a "renovation" project with "potential".
It's a new house!. It doesn't need renovating or potential.
A renovation project is something that needs gutting.

It’s definitely not a renovation project! More like a property needing some TLC to get more interest/a good price.

that is why i have repeatedly said

“cosmetic” reno

We actually got some news yesterday that we can access another house tied to my husband’s job for a bit longer, so I’m going to take your advice. Putting it back on for rental for 6 months then will get in and sort it out properly to sell (if market is better).

Also found out we have a viewing tomorrow (for sales), but I’m not holding my breath.

Also found out we have a viewing tomorrow (for sales), but I’m not holding my breath.

perhaps on back of this thread!

unlike the last couple of viewings OP… ask for feedback!

Absolutely. I don't think the bathroom would necessarily need replacing, either, as one poster has said.

Have you mentioned the delightful spire of Salisbury cathedral? It brings in tourists from ALL over the world, comrade.

I’d change your estate agent, they aren’t working for you. We had similar on with one estate agent for a month or so also on Rightmove, changed estate agent and about 10 viewings booked in the first week and sold on the 4th. I think people go to a good estate agent and they do a let me show you what else I have type pitch to get people through the door. Once you get viewings you can ask for feedback on no offers?

The pattern on the living room curtains makes them look like they have mold on them. Nice big rooms though.

Not alot is moving at the moment, we are also trying to sell, put it on 15k under valuation, still no interest, people been to view, but they are in the same position, on the market but not sold. Don't want to drop the price online, as it would just get offered even lower, but we are prepared to drop price when offers made. But doesn't seem alot of buyers out there.

You need a way better floor plan, with measurements.
you need to clean thoroughly and repaint, and have new better pictures taken with pieces of
furniture in there in my opinion.
you also need to drop the price again in my
opinion, although granted I don’t know the prices in your area but I’m in the south east, in a very expensive and sought after area for families and commuting distance to London, and just sold a similar house last year for over 75k less than you’re on at but it was much better condition, we bought for 90k less than you’re on at for a house in fairly similar condition to what you’re selling but smaller garden. I think you probably need to lower your expectations on price by quite a way unfortunately.

The outside looks lovely, it just lacks the luxury feel inside, not necessarily furniture but the doors carpet and lampshades make a big difference, could you fit some light fittings, they're pretty easy to change yourself if you're handy, just copy the existing wiring onto the new fitting (turn power off obvs) some nice oak doors although that would be costly and new carpets.
Maybe paint a couple of walls, nothing bold but just a nice warm neutral colour.

Basic rule of selling a house if you’ve not had an offer in the first 2 weeks it’s too expensive.

change the agent and drop the price.

sorry but it’s a free market economy

Good luck with the viewing tomorrow.
If you don't get an offer, I really wouldn't rent it out for another 6 months. Not many people want a 6 month rental and they may not leave easily after such a short time. The market is very unlikely to pick up in the next 6 or 12 months.

Good luck with the rental. When you come to sell list with a different agent - there’s nothing wrong the with house. Agents can make all the difference.

Fair point - trying to find a 6 month rental will be tricky.

I think it looks great from the outside, but a little tired inside. The carpets in the 2nd and 3rd pic let it down a bit. Also the curtains look a bit poorly fitted/cheap. I
agree with the others about the en suite, it looks a bit of an odd photo. Maybe re take with the door shut and just make reference to the en suite in the particulars.

When we needed to sell mil's house it looked really awfull. The person who did the sale for us told us to take out each and every personal item (especially pictures of people), because buyers look around and try to see their own family etc. in that house. We also took out a lot of the (old and dilapidated) furniture, just left a few pieces that emphasized the space - a rather nice seat close to the window, the coat-rack, a kitchen chair. Make sure there is no visible dirt nor any suspicious smells. Do clean the toilet(s) and the sink before letting viewers in! Don't use artificial airfresheners, they're a give-away something is off. We were able to sell that house rather well, given it needed a lót of work, a real fixer-upper.

You could spend a lot of money on decor that a new buyer might rip out. I wouldn’t be frightened by the pics. The outside looks lovely.
Maybe take the advice of the local re waiting.
market it as having huge potential and some cosmetic upgrading needed.

I had to drop £50,000 to get a sale. The market has been awful.

I think the house looks very tidy actually.
All it needs is cleaner carpets which could be fixed by getting in a carpet cleaner.
Wished my house looked that tidy 😁

That's a really lovely house, unfortunately, internally, it does look like my rental properties, Magnolia walls, grey or beige carpets etc, it wouldn't put me off at all, but you just need to hope for a buyer with a bit of vision. Also, the market isn't great. I've just sold my mum's house literally yesterday (probate sale) and a year ago people would've been climbing over each other to offer the asking, but I struggled to get anyone even through the door without dropping the price somewhat. Would you think about re-renting it for awhile, and maybe trying to sell again when the interest rates hopefully drop and everyone feels a bit more stable?

It needs the curtains removing and agent with imagination. Lovely frontage, very pretty.

Can you get them to do a nice guided video walkthrough. Can you get them to do AI generated dressed photographs? Put in on social media, stories, reels…. This is where it’s add these days, using technology and social media to really gain traction.

Equally, as others have said, due to raised interest rates the market is bottoming out at the
moment.