Help! House on market, little progress, feedback needed!

[IcyCoralMaker]

So, my house by the sea has been on market for 4 weeks, had 3 viewings, no offers.
The house was built December 2024 and I'm selling to move into a detached house, closer to my family.
House has been reduced by £5k to bring it down to the search point on Rightmove and to attract first time buyers.
I think the photos are good and agent says they'll continue to push it but when asked how they were doing that, they didn't answer my question.
Any suggestions on what I can do to attract more views?
Thanks 👍

We are also by the sea (completely different part of the country) and have also been on for a month. Just two viewings.

We haven’t got a sign up. Our nosey neighbour has just chased me up the road to inform me that he’s seen we’re “on the move” and that any house will sell if the price is right, implying that ours is overpriced. Normally I would agree with that. Currently though, in our area at least, houses are being reduced repeatedly but still aren’t budging. It seems to be an extremely flat market, regardless of what my nosey neighbour has just informed me.

Bloody good price I reckon, particularly if near the sea and shops. Give it a chance.

Is the floor plan back to front? Isn't the downstairs loo on the other side?

Tbh it's just what we are looking for!

I live locally to you OP, 15 miles down the road.
I might be completely wrong but is this not the housing estate that is very near to a really awful area?

My friend was looking for a home in hartlepool and was warned off these (if it's this estate) because of all the crime and break in they were having from the nearby horrible neibourhood.

If this is the case then this would definitely be the reason as news has spread about it. Ignore me if it's not this one! X

@IcyCoralMaker
Dinner table - set it up like for dinner or have a bunch of flowers or cake.
It looks like a rental, try as a bit of colour, even if it’s just a throw or a picture, the downstairs bathroom needs something, try adding a patio set & a barbecue.

Good luck 💐

How did I not see that! You're absolutely correct

Did you agree your purchase price 'off-plan' - so a few years ago? Is the £174 950 equivalent to yours - ie setting etc - or is it the show home with furniture, landscaped garden etc?

Its about supply and demand - if this is all that is left your compares favourably.

I dont think yours is overpriced if you have had numerous viewings - people are interested enough to get themselves out.

What is it like when people visit? Tidier or messier than the photos?

I would be patient with the price for now - its very early days.

I am sorry about the struggles with your Mum focus on getting support for you both. Best of luck.

It's looks lovely but very plain. Everything white (which isn't a bad thing, people can easily put stamp on it) but could you put up some pictures? Even canvases from the range.

This. I would never buy a house with cats due to allergies too, & it suggests no storage.

I’m advance looking for inspiration before moving to the coast next year and I have seen your house on rightmove. I scrolled straight past despite the good price due to the first picture with the drive as such a huge expanse of grey and no planting area. If I had clicked on and seen how near the beach it is I would have been interested had I been ready to move, maybe swap the overhead picture to the one showing on rightmove.

Theres a thread on here from a couple of years ago which warns of a bad area near a new estate, as a pp mentions, so I would have checked that before bothering to drive past and add to my list of possible areas.

No, this house was partially built when I reserved it. The other one for sale at £174950 hasn't been built yet but it won't be a show home or have the extras that mine came with, upgraded carpets, nicer outlook etc.

How long ago did you reserve it?

Although I have 4 cats I'd remove the cat tree from the living area.

Put your cleaning bottles in kitchen in a cupboard.

And drop the price. Estate agents always over price

The estate agent always says a higher price then you reduce based on how it goes....
I'm selling my mums and I was told 650k which is around 200k less as it needs updating new kitchen bathrooms etc but it's huge... I then had to reduce to 600k then 550 then 500 then 425 and had an offer for 300k!! Bearing in mind house next door less than half size also detached but new stuff went for 695k.... its the timing also I think... I would invest myself but I can't even afford basics let alone a new kitchen lol

Then don't move! She won't settle anywhere, OP.

I speak as a specialist dementia nurse BTW. There is nothing to be gained by moving your mum. She'll carry on looking for whichever house you moved her from, or even the house she grew up in.
I'm really sorry. It's so difficult.

The living room is a weird layout - move the TV.
Take down the photos of the washing.
The place looks like any other new build - you need plants and personality.

I think the tv is in a funny place. The picture of the driveway is also a bit miserable. Could you put potted plants to somehow section off the walkway between the houses?

But the pictures don’t make it look large with all the piles of stuff and angles used tho
i would have them retaken

The estate agent always says a higher price then you reduce based on how it goes

A good estate agent doesn’t.
the only one in our area that does that has houses sat on the books for months before being reduced before going SSTC and they are then frequently relisted for a lot lower. Presumably once people’s mortgage valuations come back. They priced ours at £40k more than any other agent, ridiculous. Dropping the price screams desperation and leaves you open to people then putting in a really low offer.

The bathroom is ensuite to the living room (😬) and the living room is also the downstairs hallway, how do you keep it warm in the winter when it's all open like that 🤷🏻‍♀️

Have not read the full thread…

1. remove evidence if having a pet
2. fix the cupboard door next to the oven, which looks like it has fallen off
3. Tidy up so that all clutter is removed
4. put some color in the front, for example hanging baskets and small trees in planter pots either side of the front door, which you can take with you

Agree. Picture of the beach and redo the photos with the piles of clothes and boxes shoved under the desk.

There's alot of new build estates springing up around Hartlepool so unfortunately you're going to struggle. As you've got a new build that's not new!

I think a price of 129 -135 is more realistic if you look at the area and how close it is to undesirable areas.

I'm usually really picky over threads like this but I have to say that I can't see much wrong with the photos, other than the stuff you could put away like the clothes.

It looks clean and tidy and you've an ensuite.

You could possibly put some plants or flowers in the house but I'd not bother with the garden. At 6 months, it's bare canvas and a buyer can do what they want.

Somebody mentioned something about a cat? Is there a photo of the cat? If so, get rid.

I don't think you can sell it for more than you paid simply because prices in the NE are always pretty stagnant. You've only been there a few months and it's not increased in value.

The very most you could get would be what you paid for it.