Flat doesn't seem to be selling?

[DAISYBELLAxx]

Hello everyone.

We are based in Surrey and looking to upsize. Our flat has been on the market for a month and it is just not selling.

We have had a total of three viewings but no offers. All viewings have been as a result of our estate agents calling people directly. Nobody seems to be enquiring from zoopla, rightmove etc off their own back.

I was wondering, as outsiders, if you could give your honest opinion as to why people are not proceeding to want to view. The link is: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/67811323/

There are no bathroom photos currently and the estate agents are in the process of rectifying this (the photographer forgot to take photos of the bathroom??!!)

When people are viewing, I am always ensuring that I am keeping the flat clean, tidy and pleasant.

Your opinions would be much appreciated!

Thank you 😊

I agree with taking it off the market & then relisting it with a new estate agent. As others have pointed out your current agent seems really sloppy in terms of the photos & I’m really surprised they haven’t given you more info about the lease. We went with a local independent estate agent & they were excellent, so knowledgeable. It might be worth doing some research in to the best local agents.

It says there is a communal garden but no photos of it?

Short leasehold

Bedroom fixed storage makes it look dated

Black and white tiles in kitchen aren't to everyone taste, first photo of the kitchen especially makes it look quite in your face

All grey, no vases, pictures, colour, I just can't imagine any life in it!

No bathroom photo, that's is a school boy error there from the estate agent that I would be making a huge fuss about

I don't like the photo from outside, grass is all dead, you can see the neighbours house etc. I'm sure there must be a better angle here?

And it may be me, but i can't see the flat on the street view provided?

I'm sorry, but for me, there are multiple things I'd be concerned with. The front is badly maintained, that would be a red flag for me on turning up. The living room appears small, more bachelor pad than home. The price is massively up from when it was purchased, but doesn't appear to have had much done. Near a motorway, short lease left. Have you looked at similar flats in the area, and what they have actually gone for? It does seem the estate agent has been a tad over enthusiastic with the valuation.

The short lease would definitely put me off, sorry to say OP. It also looks like it needs a bit of modernizing (bedroom for example), so based on that I'd be wondering why the value has increased so much. Has he done anything to it cosmetically since moving in which warrants the increase?

@Thank you everyone for your honest feedback. We have since had more photos taken of the outside and the bathroom and living space. We spoke to the estate agents today who think that an 89 year lease shouldnt be an issue. They did however mention dripping the price around £210,000- £220,000 region.

My partner is going to speak to the lease advisor tomorrow to see. We are going to try and gather as much information as we can before agreeing to drop the price.

The updated link is here : https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/67811323/

I'm thinking we may need to extend the lease or atleast find out a quote for it. Estate agents dont seem to think it will be an issue. My partner spoke to his friend who just sold his flat with an 84 year lease. It's all so confusing! I've been mulling over your comments and do agree that an 89 year lease would be a worry for me as a buyer.

As a FTB, I wouldn't look any further than the lease to be honest.
I was under the impression that around 80 years left it becomes a lot more expensive to extend, so that would worry me as I wouldn't have loads of capacity to save up again.

I've been quite flexible (not got the luxury to be picky with my budget and location), but lease and service charges were my go to before even looking at pictures.

Unfortunately, there are always buyers clueless about service charges. And that's what your EA is counting on. Family friends only found out when their lease fell below 80 years and they couldn't remortgage. They had to pay nearly 40k to extend the lease. I think there's not much difference between buying a few years extension or 125 years so you should extend to the full 125 years.

I absolutely hate grey but I would expect the average person to be able to see beyond that! On Mumsnet it's either oh, it's too empty and not homely or too clattered, get rid of something. You can't guess what a buyer will like! I actually like the outdoors space often lacking in flats.

I would say that with a lease descrease you would be lucky to get back what you paid - estate agents are buggers. Mine told be to put mine on for £400 K I put it on for £365K - can you rent it out?

I meant clueless about LEASEHOLD extensions.

Couldn’t see what the service charge and ground rent is.

It looks unloved…so if you don’t love living there why should anyone else?

I don’t mean that literally , but when you are selling thats the image you need to convey. People know that cushions, plants etc don’t come with the property, but thats not the point. A welcoming home makes it easy for people to envisage living there.

Spend a bit of cash and effort on making it feel appealing.

Whilst it might be mortgagable by some mortgage companies I think people will be put off by the 89 year lease

It looks like a rental property with a serviceable kitchen and bedroom but for someone who is a private buyer it needs to have a more up to date kitchen and fitted wardrobes

I think you would sell it to a landlord but they would want it for much less