Waiting to sell … is market bad?

[SisterImpera]

After a flurry of activity to get our house in the market in November, we’ve not had a lot of interest. In fact the agent says we’ve had nobody inquire after viewing on Rightmove, the five viewings we’ve had so far were apparently all from the agent’s list.

We really need to move, for so many reasons. In early Jan we dropped the price and a couple of weeks ago we “neutralised” the decor in a couple of the rooms but this hasn’t made any difference to the interest. Our agent seems puzzled by the lack of interest and can’t make any suggestions to improve things.

Some of the rooms are still a bit vivid and there is still some clutter, but we’re limited in what we can do as we still have to live here while trying to sell. I’ve already packed away hundreds of books and a drumkit, which has cheesed me off!

I know it’s probably price, it’s always price. But I really think the house is good value compared to others in the area. Is it the market? I‘ve had letters from about three different “we’ll buy your house” firms - are these any good or are they all a bit scammy?

House here, if anyone wants to take a look. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/154645388#/

We're elsewhere in the Midlands and things seem to be slow selling here, according to my Rightmove stalking. In my, completely uneducated opinion, people are waiting for the market to reflect the additional costs that the new stamp duty rules will cause. They haven't come in yet, but there isn't time to buy a house now before they do. But houses around here seem to be going on at the usual price but then only selling after 1/2 reductions (unless it's a bit special)

We've just sold a flat within a week, at asking price, but that is at a price unaffected by stamp duty changes

Wrt your listing specifically.

The photos don't show evidence of parking or the garage, is it for one car/two? In good nick? (Remember, most people don't read the blurb). The first photo makes it look like there is no parking

The conservatory looks like a completely unusable space and a mess. So I'd be wondering about that costing money to change.

Tidy the garden (clean patio, put away brushes etc), makes it look like there's no storage (again can't see garage in photos)

I'm not sure the photos reflect the house flow very well. I get the impression it's quite bitty. Is that true?

If you’ve got to the stage you were you are considering one of those firms that will buy your house then I would remove the offers over bit from the listing as that might put off someone willing to pay £5k under after negotiating. We request an offer from one of these companies and it was less than market value. We went on to get the offer we were hoping for. As for the house it’s self I’m not really sure how it compares with others in the area.

To be brutal (sorry), that house looks miserable. Just a pile of bricks sitting on top of a road made of bricks in a really characterless area, with what looks like a layby up the side. Gloomy unkempt garden - don't know why there's a lawnmower in the conservatory because no-one's been mowing the lawn. Loads of bleak hard surfaces. Then you look at the floor plan and it's 3 single bedrooms with 1 pretty small double.

I'm sure it's not as bad as I describe above, but that's what I see on Rightmove so if you want to get people interested you'll have to make it look appealing in some way.

I’m perhaps going to come across a bit harsh here, but the photos are awful. They need redoing. And you need to tidy some crap away for them. Currently the photo of the living room shoes a load of stuff piled up behind the door. One of the bedrooms has a load of “stuff” piled up on the desk in the foreground of the picture. The conservatory has a stack of wellies and god knows what in front of the shelves. The garden needs a tidy and a mow. It just looks like a house with no storage. Put all these things in the garage while the photos are done. Guitars included. You need to showcase floor space and surfaces. At the moment it looks like there is no storage.
(this is coming from someone who has done ten carloads to the tip and five to charity shops and taken nearly six months trying to get our house ready to go on the market in April). This might be another issue - Nov to now are fairly slow months to sell. Our estate agent said to hold fire til spring when everything starts to look better.

We were also told that “offers over” can be off putting as people think they’re going into a bidding war from the off, or just don’t know what to offer, so don’t.

The lighting in the house doesn’t feel right to me. Especially the strip light in the kitchen, it’s very canteen looking and uninviting when you want a kitchen/diner to feel warm and homely. Also the other strip style overhead light in the bedroom and lights seem to small for all the rooms. Spotlights would look better throughout the house. Other than that I think it’s a lovely house. The right or wrong lighting can completely change the “feel” of a house.

I know that area quite well. I agree with others that the house looks bleak. the lighting is odd and it doesn't look at all inviting. Lots of photos of swivel chairs. A photo focusing on the shower control. The garden needs some colour and interest. Put away the brushes. Cut the lawn and power wash the patio. Put some plants in the kitchen. Take the posters off the walls and get rid of the tiger. Make the garden look like it's a nice area to sit in. The photos are awful, get another agent. Some colourful throws or cushions in the living room would help.

We are in the same position. Went on the market in November and we have had no viewings.
We have reduced the price twice but being told the market is slow and will pick up soon.
A neighbour sold to one of those National firms buying houses ( a few years ago) further down the line they dropped their offer by 8K! She backed out and managed to sell.
I would dress your conservatory either as a relaxing space or a music room. It needs a purpose.

It looks like a rental.

Photos are very poor but also the house doesn’t look very loved, furniture and random piles of clutter makes the house look far too small.

Very few people look at houses in Nov. I would take it off the market fix the issues and put it back up before Easter weekend.

The first photo is at a very odd angle, no front door even. It is a very cold looking angular house. I know some people can see through that but not everyone can. The garden looks actually depressing. Stuff out indicates there isn’t enough storage. I have 2 friends selling, one had a sort of scorched earth policy and the house was practically bare, the other got rid of loads of stuff but it still looks quite full up. The scorched earth policy mate wanted to sell quickly so was very realistic about price it sold within a week, 3 offers. She had literally nothing out of any cupboard.

Thanks guys. I appreciate you taking the time to look at the pics and let me know what you think. Exactly what I needed - some dispassionate critical eyes on the thing.

Some of the feedback might be hard for me to hear as I feel we’ve already tidied and packed so much stuff away but you’re right - more to do!

Unfortunately our agent requires 3 months notice before we quit (yes, I AM an idiot who didn’t think the contract through) so we can’t change that right now.

Thanks again - it’s all really helpful! Mind you, I won’t be able to read this thread for a bit as I’ll be off sobbing over my piles of lovely stuff as I pack ever more away! 😀

It is SO difficult, when to YOU, it looks way tidier and more "together" because you know the before picture

We only know the after picture!

At least what you pack up now, you don't have to pack up when you move ❤️

There's definitely a big problem if a house hasn't had a single viewing in 3-4 months on the market. Your agent appears to be letting you down terribly if they can't make any suggestions about what is wrong.
Looking at the photos, they are really not flattering at all. The first photo makes the house look cold and uninviting and they don't improve after that. I think you need to do some work dressing the house eg bare sofas, conservatory looks like a wasteland, the grass needs cutting and some tlc.

I would give notice to your agent now but also do the things suggested on this thread and ask them to take more photos for your listing, especially an inviting first picture. The price doesn't look out of keeping with other local homes, some of which are selling but I agree with another poster that 'offers over' is off putting for some. Your reduction was also too small to likely make a difference. I think at least 5% is needed for reductions. I'm not sure why some agents think the market is likely to pick up much this Spring with the SDLT holiday ending. It may make a difference for a minority of listings with lovely gardens and well kept, sunny interiors but buyers will tend to be looking for price reductions because of the higher tax they need to pay.

The market is great for good houses in a good location and priced correctly.

I think that your home looks lovely (by itself) but I wouldn't like that estate feel and the first picture definitely shows that. Perhaps a more focused picture might get people to at least come and look.

I wouldn't like that council tax banding. I sold a 1980;s 4 bed detached Wimpey home in 2020 in the South East - similar looking - with a garage and home office. It was Band D. We sold for less than £400K. Houseprices.io suggests that yours may only be valued around £390K. That probably feels like a more reasonable price but, hands up, I don't know your local market.

The webuyanyhome companies would probably only offer around £320K. Avoid like the plague.

I appreciate you have tidied up and done some decluttering but there is much more to do. It looks as though your house is too small and you have a storage problem because there is still too much stuff left out.
The conservatory is a negative factor - turn it into a second sitting/music room with views over the garden; a drum kit would be better than the lawn mower and wellington boots. You have an enormous fridge freezer in the kitchen already, move the second freezer/fridge into the garage.
Most people won't use a double garage for two cars, so it can be used for freezer and lawn mower storage.
Mow the lawn and tidy up outside, with a few pretty flowers and the garden could be the focus.
It's a good floor plan and decent size but not shown to its best ability yet.

The lawnmower in the conservatory - petrol, oil and grass clippings etc - would make me run a mile.
Do keep us updated and post better photos.

Get plenty of house plants dotted around, that always breathes life into a property.

Why is the shower thing falling off the wall in pic 11?

I know this area well but not your price point.

There are some super houses coming on at the moment at circa 325 and, albeit a bit smaller than yours, they have much more appeal and are really tidy.

The market at the prices I've been looking (under 300 really) was still quite fast moving in late 2024 but has slowed considerably since Christmas. But very well priced homes are still going under offer at the moment - others are not and there's a great deal more stock coming onto the market.

Also are you affected by noise from the A40, or the airport (I know its a small one, but you are close by)

It has the charm of a prison... why put a halogen in the kitchen?

Agree the kitchen dining area needs warming up a bit, my first thought was “office kitchen” when I looked at that photo. It doesn’t come across homely. Maybe softer lights, plants etc? Sorry OP, don’t want to be harsh but think you need the feedback.

@SisterImpera The bedrooms decor would really put me off. Black and purple walls, black curtains, pink curtains, garish bedspreads, and ugly office chairs everywhere. The black tiles in the bathroom are also depressing, and the 'sun room' looks bleak and uninviting.