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 👍

Noooo!

If it was worth only that, all the others would have sold for that price.

The location clearly hasn't put all the other residents off on the estate, has it?

If your mum is unsettled due to dementia moving again won't help.

And what's with the piles of laundry everywhere?

Why isn't there a door on that kitchen cupboard? Or if it's supposed to be open, at least put a shelf in it and fill it with cookbooks or wooden chopping boards so it looks intentional and well presented.

At the moment it looks like a new kitchen that's been damaged.

The piles of stuff on table and in the living room say 'no storage ' so move those.

There are too many pictures of the living room from bad angles that make it look small. Two decent ones would be better. I wonder if the photographer was avoiding the clothes.

A few more pots and plants would make it look more appealing front and back.

It's a nice house though.

Those were my immediate feelings when looking at the pictures.

Unfortunately people won’t know this so assume it’s full of major errors, unless you get the agent to say selling due to fAmily circumstances

Ok Yes...but they are new new builds! The new shine has rubbed off this one.

People often buy new builds for that 1st owner feel!

I know the area well and know of much bigger properties in nicer areas going for around the 150 mark this one is slightly overpriced.

There is a missing door by the small cupboard in the kitchen.

Get rid of the washing
Put the ironing board away
Maybe move the photo of the cat in the bedroom and the CAT FOOD box on the worktop
(Buyers can be funny about buying a house that has had pets.)

On 2nd look, the photos are at funny angles in some rooms.
It's hard to see the whole kitchen diner and I had to keep looking at the floor plans to see if it was 1 room or 2.

I like that even the washing in your machine matches your white and pink theme 😂

seriously though - no one’s going buy a new build that soon after the first sale.

Really? After 6 months?

The thing is, if there are better homes around close to it, why did anyone buy on OP's estate?

I agree it's overpriced but not by much.

I disagree.

The agents should promote it on the basis of 'personal circumstances forcing a sale'.

Which is the truth.

It will also have full warranty so if there was a major fault it would be covered.

Seeking a “profit” within a few months is beyond cheeky. Buyers will understandably be questioning why the quick sale and assume something is wrong - you are hardly beyond the snagging phase! Also I’d never look at something which screams “cats live here”.

People bought on the estate as it was new! And wanted that first owner feel.

This is no longer new! And at 6 months will question what's wrong with it!? Wouldn't you?

That's because they were buying new builds, rather than a second hand new build. New builds always come at a premium. This one has lost value as a result.

I would think it isn't selling because you can get 3-bed semis for considerably less than what you are asking, and an end-of-terrace is not the same as a semi.

The first picture I'm sure is meant to show the driveway space but it just looks horrible!

The beds look too big for the bedrooms, it looks like there is barely any room for the drawers.

Your estate agent is so wrong about it looking like a home with stuff everywhere. We want to see clear spaces in the photos and then we can forgive stuff being out in a viewing.

And i really don’t understand people advising to put bottles elsewhere, or add a vase, or whatever, as long as its clean and not a cluttered dump i never care about anyone’s taste or if cleaning bottles are out or not. Everyone thinks about how to decorate themselves potential new house, all you usually care if layout, no of cabinets, storage etc is to your liking but not much you can do about it.

You need to show the reason you are moving...in the words and pictures.... As potential buyers will think there is something wrong. And appeal to buyers that are most likely.... Is this professional couple, young family etc

Eg 'reluctant sale' ... Stress that current owner absolutely loves living here, focus on all the positives. If it has a better view, or a deeper garden - then say this.

Show that it's you and your mum that have rooms...maybe by dressing room with an 'older' parent style and one in a 'younger' style (but not a teen....) so the buyers then can kinda figure it out / make assumptions etc. They will want to know that they won't be falling into a 'trap' - and get them over the 'there must be something wrong ' etc

All the other bits (eg size of the rooms, new estate, flood risk etc etc etc ) you can't change.

I'm not sure that the Google street view you open on the agent's listing is all that helpful. Some years out of date by the look of it.

@IcyCoralMaker
Lovely for a new build but some 'easy wins' and make it more aspirational, I have circled areas that could be improved and photos re-taken eg washing machine empty, washing up liquid under sink, clutter off table, lose ironing board (even if u have to put in your car and drive around corner during viewing!), lightshade.

You could add personality with some artwork on the walls as it is all quite sterile (because you have recently moved in). Thinking maybe local coast or nature pics rather than family portraits (you dont have those but best to add personality, not personal to you, if that makes sense).

Also, havent read whole thread but has the build been completed or are they still building other properties?

Maybe some garden furniture but I wouldnt suggest spending your way out of the issue. Unfortunately, the issue is living somewhere for short period of time before moving suggests a problem with property (even if that is not the true situation)

Best of luck (and ask agent for feedback from those who have viewed)

Not read the whole thread and I don’t know the area. I do know water, seaside living and flooding….. if you have any ssurances about the likelihood of flooding, get that at the top of the right move blurb. Also, have these houses been built with seasid3 conditions in mind? Wnd damage multiple times a year quickly gets untenable.

I think you may need to give the EA a line about why you are leaving so soon, so that they can tell buyers it's a change in family circumstances rather than issues with the property (they will ask and also may presume divorce!).

As PP have said some of the pictures do need redoing: Ironing pile, kitche table, garden, bathroom stuff and picture fo full estate (replace with beach/loely bits of local area). Otherwise ithe house does look nice. Perhaps dress it a little more, a bit like the show-home version - set the table etc?

And then it really is just price. If you lower it, and you should, you can also give EA's a line about priced to sell as you are needing to move nearer family. It is only going to shift against the new ones if you do this.

EAs always say they will do everything, but often you need to manage them into doing and saying the right thing online and to buyers.

The drive looks awful....can you put some planters or something to break up the expanse of tarmac?

Other than that Ok. White inside so not offensive if you like new builds...

As well as all the things mentioned before, this would be the thing that would really put me off.

If it’s really not selling, are you allowed to rent it out under the terms of your mortgage and rent somewhere else? You maybe more likely to sell in future and a new build is relatively easy to let.

If not I think dressing the house for a more aspirational family lifestyle - garden furniture, kerb appeal etc would help, as well as getting rid of washing etc

Your map position is wildly off. I know it's a minor thing but would suggest a general lack of care from your agent.

Agent is also wrong suggesting some clutter shows it's a family home. It just shrieks not enough storage. Personal touches to emphasise 'loved family home' are pictures on the walls, plants and flowers, towels in the bathrooms. Your house looks a bit like you haven't really finished moving in. The cat stuff (particularly litter tray) should have been moved out of the photos.

I realise that it's very difficult for you when your mum is unhappy but a dementia diagnosis may mean she is unlìkely to settle anywhere. Will moving suit you in a few years time, or will you be wanting to relocate again? Would renting out this house and finding somewhere to rent nearer family be an option?