House not selling

[Swx]

My house has been on the market for just over 5 weeks. It’s had 2 price reductions and still we’ve only had 1 viewing. Initially it was listed at 425,000 we then dropped to 399,950 after 2 weeks and now we’ve been almost 2 weeks at 369,950 with one viewing at this price but no offer.

it’s a 5 bed detached house in Ammanford. It’s fully renovated with just under half an acre of garden space.
the only down side is that it’s on a busy road. Should we reduce the price again or just wait? Estate agents advised us not to reduce twice but we feel we are more competitively priced at the moment.

thanks in advance.

@daffolilly where abouts are you?

We are on the border of Mid/North Wales in a good and popular location. Previously houses in my village have always sold quickly due to where it is and its proximity to the welsh mountains and hills and some popular seaside towns. Our house is unique and has bags of character and we renovated it a few years ago and its in great condition. We have outbuildings and incredible views.

We did lots of research ourselves of what similar property had sold for in the vicinity and went on the market for a realistic and achievable price. However it still took 9 months to sell and it took a while for us even to start getting viewings. We made the mistake of listing it during the school summer holidays last year and didn't get viewings until September. The first two viewings we had were people wanting to relocate to 'anywhere in Wales'. The first one said it was too rural, the second one said it was not rural enough. We had a family and they came back for a 2nd viewing then decided the location was not quite right and they might feel a little cut off. We just kept the faith and that our buyers were out there somewhere.

Have you had any viewings at all? I think the one thing that reassured us a little is that we were at least getting people wanting to come and look.

@DIYQueen93 I'm in Staffordshire. When I bought the house it was very run down and in desperate need of modernisation. It didn't even have a bath/shower - I had to install one! It is all done up now. Not to a luxury standard; it's basic, but clean and modern looking.

I wonder if you offered on that house again, whether this time they'd be more willing to accept your offer, or at least negotiate?

@ErlingHaalandsManBun I'm in Staffordshire which is commutable to Birmingham. I lived up in North Wales for a while and it is stunning, and I believe you - the views are breathtaking. I think I also made the mistake of listing my house just before the holidays (Easter). I had no viewings for the first two weeks, then I have been averaging on around 1 viewing per week. The estate agent said they were gobsmacked it hadn't already been snapped up (but they probably say that to everyone, because they don't want their sales techniques to be blamed). They initially only booked in viewings with FTB or viewers who had already sold their property. Recently, they've got desperate and have been booking in just about anyone who shows an interest. I think it's to just get 'someone' through the door.

I have had two offers very early on, but both changed their mind an hour later before I even had a chance to negotiate/accept the offer. Like yourself, the feedback is so varied, some have commented on the layout, a couple have commented on the garden, one said the house was too big, another said the house wasn't big enough, one said the house was the same size as the one he is moving out of so it didn't make sense to buy mine, one said the area wasn't rural enough, etc. The only very positive feedback is from someone who isn't even on the market yet, but at this rate, I'll still be here waiting to sell while they will have sold theirs and found something else that they found more appealing to buy. It's soul destroying. I really hope we are not sobbing by our Christmas trees in Dec 😅, but if that's the only thing left to do, then well, so be it.

You’ll find your buyer 🤞🏻 the renovation projects are less desirable because it’s just so expensive now so you have that on your side!

I don’t know - I did say, if they were willing to negotiate, I’d be open to discussing but they wanted £500k and wouldn’t budge!

@daffolilly I think its good that you are at least getting viewings. So people are interested enough to want to come and look. I always thought that with ours. Okay so we were not selling it initially, but at least we were getting a steady stream of viewings. We knew, due to the quirkiness of the house and its location that it was not going to be for everyone but we held out hope our buyers were out there somewhere. Someone, at some point, was going to love it as much as we did when we initially viewed it.

Its a shame, for us, that our buyers have just been so dreadfully slow and we now don't know whether we are going to be proceeding. But as my DH says, we sold it once, so we will sell it again, even though it may take another 9 months! Trying our best to stay positive during a very frustrating situation.

I find the black and white tiled main bathroom very disturbing.

Great family home - all that space, inside and out!
As others have said I think it would be a good idea to take it off the market for now and then put it back some time in the Autumn.

The current first image gives the viewer no idea of how wide the parking space is or that it leads to lots more parking at the back - certainly needs to suggest that.
Might also reassure families that they wouldn't need to unload kids/buggies next to that main road.
Definitely more personality in the kitchen - ideally a couple of prints, perhaps even just a tea towel or two or a fruit bowl. Something to add colour.

The family room onto the patio is great - will be even better when the railings are installed.

Like other posters I would want to see what's out the windows. At the moment I just wonder why the blinds are mostly drawn.

I don't think you need three photos of the bathroom. It certainly makes a statement but it's not universally appreciated....as you can tell from other responses.
I really would want a pic of the utility room (but I'm odd that way)

Perhaps a picture of your hens pecking away at the grass to sell the semi rural lifestyle?
Best of luck - your buyer is out there!

Have you had any feedback from the Estate Agent that could help you identify what is positive and negative about the house? I hope you've had more viewings since your first post. I understand that feeling of confusion as to why it's just not getting more interest. You need the right buyer. Just like me!

Thanks all. Yes quite a few more viewings but nothing for about 2 weeks again. And still no offers. Don’t really get much feedback from estate agents only what we ask them. Hopefully our buyer is out there!

If it’s anything like my area , there is a lot to choose from so people can be a bit more picky .

Hope you get there soon OP.
Looking at the photos, I would have been put off by the dark kitchen with no window and the black and white marble in one bathroom which made me quite dizzy. And I wouldn't like the busy road. But there were lots of lovely things about the house and the garden is fabulous.

I've just seen the purchase price in 2018. A rise from 205K to 669K is gigantic, and unless I've missed something in the thread, I can't see how it can be justified by the work you've had done. Sorry, not meaning to be rude, but prices haven't gone up that much, and the main difference between Then and Now seems to be new bathrooms and kitchen, and a rebuilding of the conservatory structure, which couldn't account for a rise over 400K. Have I missed something?

It’s 369k not 669k x

Why can I not see the link?

Did you manage to complete the sale on your house? :)

@daffolilly we are still on the rollercoaster and its been one hell of a ride. Positives are that we still have our buyers, who are now in rented accommodation. Negatives are that our onward sale, we have had two sales fall through! The latest only last week so we are back viewing property this week.

Our buyers want our house and are willing to wait. Which I think its only fair as we waited for SO long for them which lead to our first sellers pulling the plug as they were fed up of waiting. We are hoping to offer on something by the end of this week and be ready to proceed again shortly. This process has been a complete nightmare for us. So stressful. We wonder if we will ever bloody move! 😂How I have kept sane through all this is beyond me.

How are things with your sale? Did you find a buyer?

Ah, you are so much further ahead than me! Well done for securing your buyers. I know it's so stressful, but I wish you all the best in finding your dream home. Well, I am still in the same boat as I was before, trying to get a buyer. Still averaging on one viewing per week. I had two second viewings a couple of weeks ago, but I was pipped to the post by a "slightly better house" on both occasions. So disappointing. Six months now, and quite bored of the whole saga!

@Swx I've just come across this post having googled "Why is my house not selling?" 😆. I've looked at your house and am pleased to see it's now SSTC! How is it going for you? I'm currently stuck with my own house having been on the market for 2 months now and only 2 viewings. Doesn't help that our estate agents have been absolutely useless and don't give any feedback, guidance or support. It genuinely feels like they've stuck it on Rightmove and that's it 😩. We tried to sell last year and did get a buyer after 6 weeks, but unfortunately they pulled out as decided to leave the area. And we got no further interest so took it off the market to try again this year. It's so frustrating, but makes me feel a bit better having read this thread that others are currently experiencing the same. I will be joining the sobbing under the Christmas tree brigade! 🌲🤣