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

"As I keep saying current level of interest rates didn’t impact the housing market in the run up to 2007."

There is a reason for that.....

https://www.statista.com/statistics/751605/average-house-price-in-the-uk/

At least the chart shows us where prices need to go back to, although I think base rate/mortgage rates could go higher meaning we overshoot on the downside.

How did you discover that?

Smart move, do you play chess? What are your views on the chances of the OP shifting their house without a decent price discount?

Visited house - it needs a deep clean and a full redecoration.

Got a new agent, as recommended by a pp (thank you). Will be doing some staging of my own once decorated as I have a lot of unused furniture at the moment. Not a load of random rubbish - nice Loaf beds, etc. Will re-market when ready with a price drop.

Best of luck to you, hope it sells well.

that's good, really good ! that you have been. Now you know and now you have decided.

Good luck, tho I am sure you don't / won't need it.

Thank you 😊. I ironed and hung some (tasteful) full-length curtains in sitting room and main bedroom and that alone made a huge difference.

Don’t bother with staging it’s a complete waste of time. New agent + deep clean incl carpets + redecoration is sufficient (the latter isn’t necessary either but useful for people looking for something they can walk into).

Ensure the curtains are hung properly and the next photos do the property justice. That’s it.

I keep changing my mind about it, but I think you may be right. If I wasn’t so far away I think it would be worth it, but may be more hassle than it’s worth.

Great to hear the update OP! Good luck moving forward. it’s been an interesting thread, despite some argy bargy!

I was just looking at photos of the property my sister bought in Salisbury (Nov last year). It was 4 beds not 3, period property in Old Harnham, v well finished inside, walkable to Cathedral. £475k (altho no garage/ off street parking). So on that basis I’d say unfortunately, ur house was over-valued (lack of viewings also supports that). Out of interest, what has ur new agent advised on price?

OP we also had a empty property to sell that is quite some distance away. It was a mess inside so we scrubbed it clean, fresh coat of paint on all the interior walls, gave the carpets a run over with the Bissell to take out the worst of the years of use, and left it at that. It looked bare and not homely or cosy, but it was fresh and honest about the things that need doing (some new windows, central heating, new kitchen etc).

We put it on the market with an enthusiastic and proactive EA who obtained nice clear photos of it. Sensible price (£150K but we would accept £140K upwards) and within hours of its going on RightMove we had multiple people making appointments to view, then an asking price offer before it had been on a week.

You're doing the right thing polishing it up a little, but it's a lovely house and won't need much. The price is more important plus good photos in a decent, informative listing to show it at its best.

when are you planning to relist in rentals op?

@TheNoodlesIncident out of interest, how long ago?

@bestmoment We got it on the market last October. We'd hoped to be able to get it sold last year as it had been lying empty for a while and we just wanted to move on. The searches are taking a while though, must ring the solicitors and ask for an update on progress...

The market is awful at the moment for sellers (and also for buyers in a way, as there's a lot less choice than usual and nobody really wants a doer-upper, which our property is and the OP's fortunately is not). Ours is at least in an area where demand is still reasonable but there are still plenty properties that have been on for a while and reduced.

As long as its clean and doesn’t smell, then that is how i like to view a house ……..empty. Im looking at the house i don’t want to see whats not going to be there when i buy it ( furniture).

Good points.

the reason i asked is that i was 😮 at thought of a recent property listed for just £140k! i’m guessing you’re not in the SE!

the problem with styling a property that fundamentally needs a repaint throughout and new carpets… is that it just highlights the marks and stains and scruffiness because of the juxtaposition with the styling.

Better clean to best, focus on fact it is structurally sound blank canvas rather than try to “polish a turd” (not that i think this home is a turd!!)

Late to the party but…. any update Op? have you re listed?

I’ve just left the house and it’s ready for the new agent to go and take pics at the end of the week hopefully. My lovely dad came and decorated the whole house (with my help). None of us wanted to leave - the estate is lovely; met some neighbours, including one who’s a gardener and is going to tidy ours up. The house felt much bigger once furnished - will pop some pics on.

Sitting room

Oh it looks lovely OP! Fingers crossed the new agent does a better job for you. Who have you gone with?

Master bedroom