If anyone is looking for a 2 bed flat in Worthing...

[TeddyBeans]

Here's ours 🤣

Feel free to critique the listing, we had a fluke viewing the day after it went live and radio silence since... Would love to sell, the kids need their own rooms and we desperately want a garden

I would put a funky patterned rug and a big plant in your lounge - it’s all very nice OP and well kept, just a bit sterile

Sorry OP this isn’t what you want to hear but for a leasehold (and the area and being a block of flats and the fact nothing is selling at the moment) it feels too expensive.

If it was an interesting character property I’d be tempted to pay that much for a leasehold. But not for a standard flat block without a balcony.

Wow lots of comments, thank you!

I can definitely ask the agent to add the dimensions to the floorplan, thank you for the suggestion!

The lease has 932 years left on it, I think I worked it out as

The agent actually said we could get 250 for it but we put it up at 240 as that's what the market is currently suggesting we could realistically get for it. There's one flat up for 220 but they're looking for a quick sale but it's been up for a month already which really shows how stagnant the market is

The dining table is fixed to the wall 🤣 it's not possible to move it away from the wall. It is the old balcony space that was enclosed by the previous owners so we made the best use of the space available.

I can see about having the photos retaken but they do show off the room sizes pretty accurately. I may have taken the decluttering a bit too far but we didn't have rugs or pot plants beforehand so it's not like I took them away for the photos

I'll have to have another look through the comments to see what else I should reply to - sorry! I tried to remember all the comments

Seems expensive,,there are loads of 2 bed flats in my part of London zone 3( nearly 4)priced around that mark and aren't selling .

All of it looks quite cold, like nobody real actually lives there. I think you may have over-decluttered by removing every scrap of human existence and left only "for show" ornaments, if you see what I mean?

The lounge looks like a waiting room and quite unwelcoming though, sorry. And it's just all staring at the TV. There's no idea that people might want to look at each other and talk, or read a book, even look at a picture or a clock on the wall, or anything other than....watch the giant tv.

It's a long thin room, so why not make some "zones"?

The flat is a bit clinical in feel - not warm enough. I agree with the PP above that the lounge in particular has a waiting room feel.

Your EA is doing what EA's do - being ridiculously optimistic. You won't get £250k and I struggle to believe that you'll get £240k in this market (a particularly terrible time for flats that aren't share of freehold - i.e the vast majority - and those likes yours with a high service charge).

It's pretty far from the centre of town. Nothing you can do, but I'm mentioning this as I just don't think the minuses mitigate the plus of the flat (good sized rooms), hence why I think you should drop the price soon.

The service charge should be listed there - everything should be as transparent as possible.

I suppose because the space in the living room was all taken up with large toys that it does feel quite cavernous without them there. Open to suggestions on what to do to make it better!

It only takes 10 minutes to get to town from here by car, there's a bus stop directly outside and the train station is a 6-7 minute walk away

I thought the service charge was listed but will ask that it's added! Thanks for pointing that out

I'll get DP onto the mortgage broker and see what we can afford with a lower sale price for here. I left all of that to him and the estate agents but seems like they were a bit optimistic!

Estate agents talk so much nonsense to get you on their books! If the flat at £220 hasn't sold quickly, even that price appears to be over optimistic in your current market. As @FettleOfKish says, prices don't always rise and flats haven't done well in recent years in general.
Definitely a good idea to do your sums for your onward purchase and also to research your local market carefully yourself. Prices have generally been falling in the South of the UK so it's worth following properties you might like/seeing what is selling and what is not and trying to negotiate hard if appropriate.

If it previously had a balcony, could you do some initial investigations into what would be involved in putting it back, and mention this in the listing? Personally I'd ignore it with no balcony, but if it wasn't a horrific project, I might consider it if it's a viable option to reinstate it.

The breakfast area is odd, from photos I dont see how its very usable. Agree id put a table in the lounge and try and refigure the 'breakfast area' for another more attractive purpose. What do other flats do with it?

I think the other flat that's for sale at 220k is still overly optimistic. I think if you come down to 215 you should start to get offers.

The balcony was a wasted space anyway as north facing and squashed in a corner which is overlooked by next doors kitchen window. We're one of maybe 6-8 flats that has the larger space, the rest all have smaller utility rooms. It is a pretty large space but the cupboard in the doorway makes it almost impossible to photograph in a way that actually shows off it's size.

Same Issue with the bathroom. There's a hall cupboard that makes the alcove where the bath is but if you move any further back, all you get in the picture is door/wall.

I'm taking all the comments on board, seriously. We just desperately need to move on so whatever I can do to help speed things up is top priority

Surely it's counter intuitive to have a property on your books that's been reduced multiple times? Over inflating prices doesn't seem like a sensible thing for the estate agents to do 🤔

From the outside looks a bit stark and utility but otherwise ok good to have a garage as well. the rooms are good sizes no junk about but i think you have stripped back too far. the chairs in the lounge are a very neutral colour the whole room is very beige. can you put some nice cushions on the chairs or a throw? perhaps a vase of colourful flowers on the dining style table and change the black cloth for something a bit more cheerful.

Waaaay overpriced for the location and property type

I mean I am from the region and if you were going to pay that money to live in Worthing you would want to actually be in Worthing at least not some random suburb.

For that price many people looking at 2 bed flats would rather buy a one bed in a crappy/farflung part of Brighton

I disagree, I think it’s well priced for the location and it looks in great condition.

Well i guess thats the point of these threads - pooling opinions

That’s a decent sized flat and the price is fair for the area.
I have a one bedroom flat nearby and the service charge is £190 per month.

I think the price would have been fair prior to changes in borrowing interest rates. Not anymore when you also add all the cost of living increases. Flats with service charges are heading for quite a reset imo.

I think it looks far too sterile and unloved - I think there’s a difference between declutterring and removing every sign that someone is living the flat. I agree with others about the need for dimensions on the floor plans. Whilst I don’t think cosmetic details really influence people’s decision on whether or not to view a property, I have to say that my eyes are immediately drawn to the curtains being the wrong length for the windows in every room!

It looks lovely (and would be a lot more money where we live…)
garages look a bit tatty, but not much you can do about that.
Round here, until recently it’d have been snapped up as a BTL - the new renters legislation have removed a big section of small landlords from the system, and also same landlords likely looking to offload similar properties, perhaps making a glut?
Someone will turn up OP - spring is the best time to sell, traditionally.

It's a really nice flat, I like your kitchen and the whole place seems light and airy.
It's the usual - price. Even if Worthing is expensive, you've got other flats for sale in the block not shifting.
Don't bother about rugs or plants, just think about the price for the property and location, and whether or not you can play the waiting game.
Things usually pick up in March.

Good advice!

Spending £100 on plants and attractive pots would be a really good investment I think. My new kitchen looked weirdly sterile. I tried out different things and the biggest difference was putting a large palm in one corner by the bifold and a small peace lily by the hob. Pretty pots helped. Have done same in narrow entrance hallway and put a big healthy jade plant in beautiful pot on the window sill. Or big sculptural bunches of eucalyptus seem cheap atm. Or a large glass or white china bowl of bright green or red apples?