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

I think the house is presented quite well overall for a quirky character home.

Things I would address; add a table and chairs to the kitchen (remove sofa), then make the upstairs study a proper living room.

Most people are going to be massively put off viewing it if there is no obvious living room.

Try to store as many clothes as you can (hanging on rails), as it highlights no storage/lack of wardrobes.

@FolkloreEvermore1989 how much smaller was the 40k cheaper house?

There's a new thread ..wanting to move to Beverley!
I think it looks charming really like your taste, even the multi-picture wall doesn't bother me. Agree with a pp about the sofa, I'd be more concerned if there wasn't space for one! Things can be changed according to taste, it's the practical things like parking.

1 bedroom, no study, significantly bigger lounge and square footage. We also have a bigger and more private garden…

Which makes yours seem worth the extra however I think some issues are starting to play out in the housing market. A ffordability is very stretched.

That property has a double garage and that’s just for starters

posted too soon!

Affordability is stretched, COL & higher interest rates, higher taxes. Wages have stagnated for years which means less disposable income & it's been harder to build equity in recent years. I know london flats that have sold for just 5/10k more than they were purchased 5 yrs ago. So much of the property market was driven by equity & cheap lending. I think it's important to think about who the target buyer is in your market. Near me I have terraced houses that are selling fast still for 650/700k but the bigger 750/800k properties are much slower to shift even though you get much more for your money. There is more competition for the 700k house because it attract buyers with a good income & decent equity/savings. The more expensive houses are just that bit out of reach & whereas before you might max yourself out borrowing 5.5 x your salary etc it's a very different landscape now.

I like the house and I have a friend in Beverley so I know it's a good place to live. I think the photos look dark, especially the one of the garden, dark and damp and unloved. I agree pots are needed and a bit of tidying up. And that "family room" is grim with just the bench against the radiator. It needs to look like a place you want to spend time and when you do, you're comfortable. I agree staging makes a huge difference. We sold an empty flat recently within a few weeks because of the staging and like with your place, it was in an area where a lot of very similar properties on the market at the same time (which never helps).

I really like the house.

You should also get the estate agent to mention the excellent rating of B that the house gets. It saves people money and means they are comfy in winter.

Get listed with these guys, so much better and people will then view both properties same day.

I think it is a nice house but I would be put off by the lack of living space on the ground floor. If the front first floor bedroom was the living room, that makes sense and I would dress the house as the original plan although I would not buy a house with that configuration but many people would.

Agree with other comments, do you have three fridges in the kitchen/diner? Get rid of the cat, why is it in loads of photos. ? People who don't like cats will imagine the house smells. Is there cat litter near the front door or is it a mat with boots on, either way get rid. Paint swatches, that's not a question you'd ask the EA you'd simply paint over them or put a picture up.

The clothes not in wardrobes need to be in wardrobes. Or in bin bags whist the house is selling.

I know this area really well as I used to live around the corner. I went to the open viewings when the houses were built.....celebrity opening with Linda Barker from changing rooms 😁 Beverley is very sought after and the house is an excellent price for the area but flemingate can get overrun with teens in the evenings. But the house is nicely presented and I think you might just need to be patient for the right person. Agree about the dining room. Also that estate agent tends to market itself as upmarket and I wonder if they are not very hands on as its not a detached in bishop burton.....but I might be throwing around unfair views here. Good luck!

Just wanted to say that we don't live that far from Beverley and are in a similar situation with being on the market a couple of weeks with little interest. Our next door neighbours house is also for sale! Our estate agent has advised similar and thinks things will pick up in the next few weeks!

Some things that would put me off looking, you have open hanging rails for the clothes instead of wardrobes. That instantly makes me think there isn't the space for storage. You have a kitchen/family room but no sofa/chair and no table to eat at. The breakfast bar at the kitchen is not adequate for this room, where are guests supposed to sit? Again this makes me think there isn't the space. I personally don't like people being able to walk right in front of windows so this would be a complete no go for me. I'm a fan of dark colours but in your pictures they look drab and uninviting. As a PP has mentioned opening the blinds fully and putting the lights on would have helped the pictures.

I think it's lovely- apologies if this is a duplicate but I'd be looking to understand more about the parking situation.

It's a very nice house.
I agree with some of the other comments that you would be better to label the first floor bedroom as a living room and dress it as such. Also, make the living space downstairs look like a proper living space with a dining table and chairs, etc.
Unfortunately, you seem to be competing with a huge number of other properties in the area, including lots of new builds which are being reduced (see Rightmove). Also, there has been a beat the SDLT holiday rush but there is next to no chance of beating it now so that will cause the market to turn down and things to slow more. If you really want to sell quickly, I think you will need to reduce. Perhaps you could try at 250k and see if you get interest.

I think it's a lovely house. Haven't read all the other posts but I would

Redo the hall photo without the paint swatches

Spend some money on some pots for the front & back garden.

Take out the bench in what I presume is a lounge not if the kitchen/diner and stage it with a sofa to make it more family room.

Your house is on at £265,000 and next door is on at £279,950 for same floor space. But next door 'appears' much more liveable and requires less work to clean up the garden, find space for fridge, repaint unusual wall colours.
That's about £73 per month difference on the mortgage. (assuming 10% dep)
You know that potential buyers are directly comparing your house with next door and will play you off against each other:
eg. offer you £249,950 - you reject the offer. They say they will go next door for £265,000+ as it needs less work. They offer next door £265,000, next door either reject or accept £265,000 as they know the buyer will go back to you.
I think it's game theory? (any statisticians?)

No vehicular access to the front would be a no from me.
Looks like the same for the back , where to you park ?

Also small back garden.

I'm not so keen on sloped walls / ceilings upstairs although never lived in one so don't know if it's the inconvenience I assume.

People may also wonder why two houses are for sale at the same time.

I would add a focal point in the lounge like one of those electric heaters that resemble a wood stove, to make it seem cosy. A couple of nice upholstered chairs by the "fire" and some sort of small dining table.

Can you borrow chairs from anyone?

Do you normally just eat on those stools up against the wall?

NC to comment - my new name tells you where I’m coming from!

You know how obsessed with parking people are in Beverley. If they can’t park immediately outside their property any time of day or night, the parking is “a nightmare”. Maybe try being much clearer about where your parking is and how convenient.

There can be something of an anti-social behaviour problem in that part of town. Local people will know that. I think these houses are lovely, and very well positioned, but I have wondered about this.

Your EA is probably the best in town (it’s not me, and no connection!) if you have her on side. Try to work with her. The market is glacially slow and there are loads of lovely properties which are not shifting. Be patient.

That said, I completely agree with the comments about the lack of living room. What’s that about?