Why do you think this property isn't selling?

[zzuple]

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156099821#/?channel=RES_BUY

But I think that’s exactly the point - people have different tastes and value different things when looking to buy property. But there is always the same tedious script from non-Londoners about why their house in their location is bigger and therefore must be more valuable.

The target market is getting poorer for various reasons, there's just less of a pool of buyers who could afford it now rates have gone up.

I haven't read all of this long thread so apologies if I'm repeating anything.
I would love to live in the Barbican ... but ... you need to accept that you are selling a lifestyle as much as a flat and it does need to be dressed for sale. As a minimum you need to get a handyman in to tidy up the kitchen then you need to get it furnished, preferably with some mid century pieces which you may be able to pick up cheap in flea markets of auctions. I have also seen flats of this type presented as two bedroom with the second bedroom behind the sliding doors in the L of the living room. Have a look on 'the modern house' website for ideas about furnishings and dressing.
The photographs also need to show the location - the arts centre, the lake, the conservatory. It will sell, but you have a limited pool of purchasers so need to put more effort than usual into thinking about the purchasers and marketing it to them.

I'm not sure they think their house must be more valuable as it is much bigger. I think some are expressing their genuine amazement at the prices and some are making comments about it being a waste of money, which is obviously subjective. Equally, there are snippy/patronising remarks from Londoners who think that living in London is much better than living else, which again is subjective.
I don't think there is any connection at all to those who think that Millennials and Gen Zs should stop eating avocado toast; that's just a question of maths!

Gorgeous flat and Barbican is a dream location (ignore the non Londoners who are unable to appreciate this) but this looks depressing.

I think it needs full staging rather than some areas being empty. The kitchen looks horrible and on its last legs with nothing in it.

But some of us know the Barbican very well and think it’s great, but also still think this flat is overpriced, because all prime London property is right now; and the days of it all just continuing to rocket up into the stratosphere with no regard for the economic fundamentals are probably over.

Well that's definitely true. There is less demand generally now, particularly from wealthy foreigners.
@pontivex not all Londoners like the Barbican. Some people just don't like rather oppressive concrete.

The kitchen

Don't listen OP to the riff-raff that doesn't understand architecture.

Get a survey done! they will also provide you with some clear findings either do a homebuyers survey yourself or get a digital property condition done as both work and will give you objective view on what it is

I’ve read most of this thread and completely agree with you! Was always my dream to retire to The Barbican, I feel so relaxed just walking round there. Perhaps some people commenting don’t realise it’s the whole complex and its proximity, as you describe.

Yes I’m assuming the people surprised at the price don’t know it. Brutalism isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but that location is a premium location even within London and the flats are generally of a good size. Yes there are known issues with the Corporation of London but the Barbican is still one of the most desirable blocks in London.

@zzuple I would get the lease sorted out and then remarket it with better agents and probably at a higher price once the lease is extended.

The pictures are really poor for a good sized flat in a very desirable location and the description doesn’t make anything of the selling points (which do include the original features). Its odd that in an era when property details have too many random pictures, this agent doesn’t even have pictures of all the rooms.

No matter how desirable it is it is still going to have to be priced appropriately in order for it to sell.

It does appear to be a specialist property so asking for advice on here is likely to lead to some comments not understanding that particular issue and how it affects price, what the features do for it etc.

If I had a property like that I would probably talk to a specialist agent.

I'm not a Londoner and live in a modern (sadly not modernist).house in the North. In my alternative life where I don't have kids and trained for a much more lucrative job or was born to a richer family I would have loved to have lived in the Barbican in my 20s and 30s.

Anyway, this flat was furnished in the right style for the building without being a pastiche or a time capsule.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/09e78d36-029b-4c9e-b575-a54749edc55c

This one as well www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/95edf15f-e7d5-4d7f-906d-d49647d45aa9

Who'd pay 800k to live in colditz?

Not this piece of riff-raff, oh no, no, no. 😀

Same.

Is that the original kitchen?

Yes to all of this.

The photos don't do it justice, and you need to market it abroad as well as in the UK.

As others have said you’d be better going with a specialist estate agent,
https://themodernhouse.com/
https://www.modernistestates.com/
https://www.nicolalee.co.uk/

Don’t change any original features (kitchen & bathroom) as these are highly desirable for many buyers in the Barbican. Staging/ dressing the property would make a huge difference, this company specialise in this property period:

https://modernshows.com/property-staging/

Lastly the lease length is not ideal, maybe look at what’s involved in extending this and tie the extension process in to the conveyancing.

Its currently priced on the low side for the size and location of the property, as everyone familiar with the block has pointed out. The lease and the shitty details are the likely problems.

As I said I would get the lease sorted out and then remarket it with better agents