Only three viewings on our flat in a month - critique welcome!!

[BasilsDad]

Hi, have had our flat on the market for a month now and have only had 3 viewings with no offers. Flat market is slow in general but there are some that have sold in our building recently.

Happy to hear any thoughts and what we could do to improve the listing!!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149966219#/?channel=RES_BUY

Honestly, I think it’s the price. The photo’s are good and it looks lovely, but even on Rightmove it shows there are at least 2 others locally for 25K+ less than yours is listed at.

How do you access the kitchen / lounge ? Floor plan shows no door ?

There is little cosmetically I’d say would put people off maybe a couple of paint colours so it is possibly price

From a quick look, I'd stage the living area so it looks a bit bigger and take a better photo. The agent's photo is either at a funny angle - or it's a small area. If the latter, that would put me off.

Otherwise, it's quiet as it's the summer and the market (not across but board but quite widely) went quiet a bit before the election and that's now slid into the summer period.

Otherwise it's price - but I'd see out August unless you are desperate to sell quickly.

I think this could be a case of the market not being great for flats at the moment.

This would have been in my budget, but I've deliberately looked at areas in London where I can get freehold properties for the same price.

The flat looks lovely, but simply being a leasehold with the worry of increasing service charges has put me (a FTB) off flats completely.
I guess this reduces those would would be looking for this type of property.

Well, I think it looks fantastic - bright, spacious and airy. It must just be the summer slump. Hopefully you'll get more interest come September.

The hallway looks like a waste of space, is there a way you could dress it with a desk so that you can show a clear WFH space?

What would put me off would be the photo of the children's play area, I'd presume lots of noise from this. Unless it's in a very family focused area where this would be welcome 🤷🏻‍♀️

I don't know the area so can't comment on price.

It's the price. It's always the price.

It's a very nice flat which is presented well.

Lead with pic 9.

The flat itself looks ok & I have no idea of the price for that area.

However, 2 things that would put me off viewing is that the service charge is almost £2k and there is no sale history. Seeing as the blurb says there is 996 years remaining on the lease I'm assuming you bought it new 3 years ago.

So what did you pay at the height of the market ?

It's a lovely flat and my only criticism is the price, but I don't know the area and if it is reasonable or not.

The photo of the hall is surely misleading. Doors aren't that wide!

Nearly half a million for a small flat in chingford and service charge of almost £2000 a year.

I don't think so.

It says disabled access, so maybe that's why there's wide doors and the spacious hall.

I don't think there is much you can do to improve the listing, it already presents well. It is very possible you will need to reduce the price to generate new interest. It looks like a nearly new build so maybe you are just asking too much for a second hand new build as they don't always appreciate in value for quite a few years.

I know HP has just had the boost from the Sunday Times but I'd still say that's punchy. Flat in Walthamstow might go for that much but they tend to be Warners without the service charge. It's beautifully presented but there are houses locally going for not much more. Stow Brothers are known for being quite punchy price-wise. Have you tried McCraes? They tend to be more realistic and have a great track record.

Love these posts.

I can't see anything wrong, the fiat is lovely so I guess maybe it's the price putting people off.

No lease details or service charge details on the rightmove advert that will put a pot of people off.

Decor wise it looks fine to me.

I don't know the area at all, but it does seem a little heavy on the price compared to others locally.

It's also a very quiet time of year in an already quiet market. People really don't seem to want flats.

Gosh it's lovely op but usually it is the price if you don't get a quick sale

Get rid of the shoe rack in the photo. It's looks like there isn't enough storage

Also get rid of all the pots on top of kitchen units
Any
Shows lack of storage.

Lay the table nicely as if your having a posh dinner.

I love it, but yes the shoe and coat rack looks messy. And all the stuff on the cabinets screams not enough storage.

I think it's the price, the photos are fine. I might take out the pub reference in the description, whilst that appeals to me, for others they might take offence at the assumption of going to the pub and the kind of area.

It's a lovely flat and other than putting a few things like coats and shoes away that suggest not enough storage, it's well presented and good photographs. Summer in general is slow so I wouldn't get disheartened just yet but if September / October comes around and you still aren't getting viewings then it's the price.

I think your flat and furnishings are stunning and very up to date with current trends. Photos are also nice. This would make me think it’s potentially the price that’s putting people off? It’s a tough market right now

They are there if you click on the leasehold tab - 996 year lease, £350 ground rent and £1,935 service charge p/a.