No viewings at all?

[ThatUniqueCat]

We've been on the market for just over 2 weeks, and have had absolutely nothing - no viewings, no requests to view, apparently no interest whatsoever. I'm pretty sure the EA hates us now, as I've followed up repeatedly and asked to make some changes to the listing. EA keeps saying it's a difficult market, which we could understand, but we expected at least a little bit of interest!

We told the EA we wanted to sell quickly as we've found a property we would like, and we've priced at the lowest valuation we were given (£265k) and £15k under the exact same house, which is for sale next door. The last one for sale on our street, an end terrace (ours is mid), was up for £315k and we think sold (they changed the sign, nothing on RM yet) about a month ago.

Is the market just atrocious, or should we be expecting our EA to do more? I'm becoming unglued, I just want to be able to proceed with the property we've found! I know the photos aren't ideal - it was a drab day, and I've since touched up the paint throughout so there aren't any more swatches/patches - but the EA says they feel the photos represent the property well and wouldn't advise changing anything else for now.

The listing in question:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157713758#/?channel=RES_BUY

For me it's the dark grey and the mustard walls. I know they can be painted, but I'd be miserable until they were painted.

I don’t know the market in that area but I think it’s a lovely house and home! Could your estate agent have it pinned at the top of Rightmove as a featured property for a bit?

It says 3 bed on the description but there are 4 on the plan.

We've no particular issue adjusting the price to the market's requirements, but EA is advising against doing so still! Is it the norm to overprice things and leave them to sit for ages now? Every house we've viewed has gone over asking and in the first few weeks!

Hi I think you need to dress the kitchen family room with a sofa, it doesn’t look like there is room for one. If I was looking for a 4 bed I would be disappointed with the amount of living space, could you list as a 3 bed with a first floor living room instead?

It looks like you're on a high street, not a residential area? If so will be tricky as it'll put a lot of people off. Also it looks like the living area off the kitchen isnt presented as such but has a strange couple of bits of furniture - it makes it look like you dont have a proper sitting area. It's a nicely presented house but if you want a quick sale you'll probably have to reduce the price.

It is a very difficult market atm.

I love the mustard walls!

I don't know the market in your area at all to have any insight on area / pricing.

But as someone who's been to see a lot of properties lately and has spent far too long on Rightmove, there's nothing changeable about the listing in itself that would put me off viewing.

I think it's a lovely home and the decor is fine - certainly nothing I'd be changing to sell.

I'd hope your estate agent could do more - premium listing perhaps as a PP has said? Or a video tour?

EA originally had it on as a 4, I put it on reddit as we were not getting any traction and the response was overwhelmingly that it was a 3 bed and should be marketed as such. IIRC it was originally sold as a 3 bed with the first floor bedroom marketed as a lounge; we obviously use it as a 2 bed with 2 'reception rooms'!

The only thing that jumps out is the lack of wardrobes, the garden being a little poky and a tad dull, plus the perhaps lack of kerb appeal. As we’re coming into spring I’d make up a few pots to put either side of the front door and a few others to dot around the garden to give it some colour/interest.

Otherwise it’s a perfectly nice little house. Hopefully things will move more as spring kicks in.

Next door is exactly the same house, they were built at the same time, and the garden is the same size - theirs is just painted breezeblock while ours is productive/planted. Either their EA or ours has done something dodgy with their measurements!

I love the mustard!

I wouldn’t view because of the windowless bathroom, no front garden or demarcation zone set back from the street, zero storage and other factors, but the mustard is fine.

It’s very stylish but then the styling of the photos lets it down: the cat bed/litter tray thing, (don’t mind the one with the actual cat!), tablet plugged in next to the bed, the paint swatches on the wall by the front door (!). I would tidy up and try again with the photos – if you’re selling the mustard walls, stylish, Inigo House thing, you have to do it 100%. Like with the church pew thing with the radiator poking out from behind a bit, it’s “almost, but not quite”.

You’re looking at a limited pool of people who don’t have much stuff or need for storage so you really have to showcase the beauty or sleek minimalism, I think.

We've been advised not to repaint - I know they're not for everyone!

That's a great idea - I will pester the EA further to see if that's possible!

I don't live in England OP so I'm not sure what way the pricing is there. But I think it is a beautiful home inside and out 🏡 🥰 Good luck with it all, I hope you get your dream home.

No idea about the area as I’m in South London but it’s a lovely house x

It should be listed as a 3 bed now, as we had recieved similar feedback from reddit. EA has advised not to re-take photos for the time being!

For me, there doesn't look like there is a front room / sitting room and that would put me off

My first reaction was handsome house, the wall colour should you not like it as a buyer can be easily changed. However people can literally walk right by your front door and windows. You seem to be just off the High Street which means even more foot traffic and noise. There is also no front garden which I dont like and the back garden is tiny. However it might suit someone who does want to be within walking distance of shops etc.

Well done for posting a link though. It really really helps with feedback. It will sell at the right price but you might well have to reduce so that people think THEY are getting your house for a good price despite some of the disadvantages of it.

Good luck!

It states there is parking but where is it? The rooms look dark so I’d retake the photos with the lights on (and fully open the blinds in the living room). I’d also remove all the clothes on the hanging rails in the bedrooms as it looks cluttered/messy. Can you put a dining table in the kitchen so that people can actually see that the space is big enough to accommodate one?

You could make the living room more obvious. It's very sparse and doesn't look homely. A lack of storage in bedrooms - no wardrobes - would put me off. Too many pictures on some walls - curate them? Some plants?