Please tell me why this flat isnt selling?

[curiouscat1987]

Posting this for a family member. Flat has been on the market for months and not only hasnt had any offers but hasnt even had a single viewing! The price was in line with the area, but has been dropped twice and agent changed too with new photos but still no viewings. Its a lovely little place, not the biggest but lovely and bright and quite modern. Im not the best at design etc so would appreciate any thoughts on what they could do to improve the desireability or improve for the photos etc to get some more interest?

Obviously they know they can drop the price, however if they drop it much more they'll be selling for what they bought for 10 years ago!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156450941#/?channel=RES_BUY

Thanks everyone ☺️

I lived very happily in a flat partly under the eaves, but the kitchen and bathroom were full height with proper sash windows, so it was just the bedroom and living room with some restricted height. Even so, when I came to sell it, it took quite a while to sell in a busy market because it will put many people off. And that flat was much bigger than this one, over two floors.

I think because of the windows it really does look like living in someone's loft conversion rather than a proper flat that's designed to be lived in.

I agree the photos are dreadful and don't really give any sense of the space. I'd look at that and think I wouldn't be able to stand up properly in the kitchen/bathroom.

And unless I downloaded the brochure (which I didn't spot until I read the thread) I would assume a bland purpose built block and not a lovely looking conversion.

It's a Victorian conversion? Seriously?

You need to sack the photographer and possibly the agent!

The selection of photos including drone pics makes it look like it's in a high rise. If I was looking at a flat and didn't want high rise, I'd scroll past it.

Why isn't there one of the front of the house? This is a necessity especially if it's a Victorian property you're missing a massive selling point. Loads of people love Victorian. Only a few are after high rise. The two groups probably don't overlap very much.

So is it actually in one of these houses? If so, it's gorgeous! What a shame though, this pic makes you think this is the view from a high rise, not the property itself.

This would be great photo to include - but only if it was clear it was of the house.

You really need a photo of the front of the house from a normal angle - i.e. the street - uploaded and used as the main pic.

Yes, this photo from the prochure! Perfect!
Why isn't this the main pic on the website? It should be.

And look, it's detached - lovely!

That will get you more viewings, I'd bet good money on it.

Oh, it didn't upload the pic? I'll try again...

Just as a comparison, we just bought a terraced house in the Queen's Park area of Brighton a month ago. It is 1500 sq feet, has 4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, new kitchen and bathrooms, outside space and it was £450,000. So I'm guessing the price might be quite high for a 2 bed flat.

It's the one in the middle with the street lamp outside.

The flat is a loft conversion with the dormer running all along the rear of the house.

You can see the flat roof of it in the picture.

I totally agree this needs to be the main picture, then maybe any potential viewers will be enamoured by it before they get to the loft bit...

Are you thinking of leasehold?

Could be the price? I'd love my house to have so much natural light.

It is a bit pricey for what it is, and that sloped ceiling in the kitchen would put me right off.

It looks like one of those rental flats you find on booking.com that have been overused. Needs updating and the blue rug and sofa is a big no

Do the bedrooms fit wardrobes? Bed2 is tiny on the plan, surely a bed AND a wardrobe might be a squeeze?

Friend’s daughter in similar position with a nice one bed flat (large) be a station. Nothing moving out there.

Too many sloping ceilings and it seems like an awful lot of money for what it is.

According to Rightmove there are 381 2-bed flats for sale between £210k to £400k, within 1 mile of Brighton.

Of those 381, 193 have been reduced in price in the last 12 weeks That’s over 50% of available properties and indicates an issue with either a cooling market or estate agents getting valuations wrong.

It’s not your property, the demand is not there for flats and looks like it’s been reducing over recent months.

Personally, I’d be changing to an estate agent who is more aggressive in their direct marketing and whose market is people searching for apartments.

This was my thought.

Im actually looking to buy in the same area and saw this listing on rightmove. I clicked off pretty quick due to bedroom size and how much I hated the weird triangle window😂

I actually like it very much. It has character,and shows how properties are very subjective in appeal.
Agree there aren't enough photos, or details about ground rent, communal areas etc
The estate agent hasn't done any favours at all

The price? I live in the midlands though so the thought of paying that for a flat when you can get a 4 bed house here for similar seems bonkers. But that's what it usually comes down to

I live in Brighton! I know property is expensive here but honestly there is nothing in that flat to me worth paying over 300k for. Sorry! It looks small, it has no character. Just looks a typical new build. Plus many of them are being built round here with communal areas, free wifi, cafes in the block etc… does your block have any of those?

It's overpriced. If it was worth 320k then they would have had some interest/offers.

Disagree. In my opinion having a share of the freehold company (presumably with the other owners in the building) is hugely preferable to Leasehold. You are in control.
Yes, its the pitched roofs coupled with the price OP

How much is the ground rent and service charge? How many years left on the lease?

It’s not in a block, it’s a loft conversion in a Victorian semi.