Why aren’t we getting more viewings? Honest feedback welcome

[Diva78]

We’re selling our four-bedroom townhouse in Bicester and have reached the point where we’d really value some completely impartial opinions.

We originally listed at £425k, have since changed estate agents, reduced the price to £400k, changed the lead photo and updated the kitchen cupboards to give them a more neutral look.

Despite all that, we’ve still had very few viewings and hardly any interest coming directly through Rightmove.

We know townhouses and three-storey living won’t appeal to everyone, and there are larger semis and detached houses available nearby. However, our house has good square footage, three bathrooms, flexible living and home-working space, a garage, driveway parking and a quieter position on the estate.

Would anyone be willing to look at the listing and give me some honest but constructive feedback? Is it the price, layout, photos, description or something else we’re just not seeing?

50, Fontwell Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 1BP - Estate Agents in Bicester, Oxfordshire | Barton Fleming

Thank you!

You won’t like it but… it’ll be price Op. nothing more nothing less

Would probably help if you posted the rightmove link op as well.

The Op did

I think maybe the rooms look kind of narrow? It's very tall and thin. The garden to me looks too small and not enough mature plants.

I'm not keen on the exterior visually. It kind of looks dated. I guess it's not really my taste as I prefer either older or more ground space.

The interior decor is absolutely fine. Nothing wrong with the kitchen or bathroom fittings at all.

From the pictures, all the rooms look a bit cramped, not sure if they are or if that's just the angle of the photos. The garden would put me off even viewing - not a green thing out there, it'd take a fair bit of work to bring it to life. But maybe that wouldn't be a deal breaker for others

Rightmove link! - https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92266752#/?channel=RES_BUY&utm_campaign=property-details&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard

I don’t like OIEO, just tell me what you want for it. I would also be put off by the first photo not showing the frontage.

The split photos of the stairs and cloakroom etc are weird and make me think it’s tiny and being done to make it look bigger.

I think there are too many photos, you don’t need to show every corner of every room.

I don’t know what the photo of the cars is showing me.

It looks like there are a lot of similar houses for sale in the nearby area, perhaps people are spoilt for choice?

I’d be more interested in this, I think it is presented well and has better kerb appeal.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92114877#/?channel=RES_BUY

There is nothing wrong with it but there is a lot for sale in Bicester, many have also been reduced.

I always say think who your target market is, what were you looking for when you bought. Can that same target market still afford these properties when you factor in higher interest rates?

So I know three people who all have had buyers pull out in the last week- 3 different areas of the country... The market seems to have stalled

The photos are terrible.
Truly terrible.

The house looks incredibly cold.

Rooms look tiny in photos and there is no floorplan...?!?!?

Opening photo of a living room is a mistake.

The picture of the end of terrace with your terraced circled in the distance is just 🫠😵‍💫🧐

British dont like OIEO i always thinks its a poor pricing strategy.

Your EA should be ashamed...

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92266752#/?channel=RES_BUY&utm_campaign=property-details&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard

Larger houses on the same street have sold for less this year, there’s nothing wrong with your listing, so it’s the price.

OP I feel your pain, we are trying to sell our house again after our buyer pulled out 2 months ago. We’ve had a few viewings but no offers, it’s beyond frustrating. Both our neighbours sold a couple of years back and went within a week. So I think it’s just the way the market is at the moment.

It’s being marketed as a family home but the rooms are tiny and no garden.

Why is the fridge freezer in the dinning room?

Looks nice to me? It's always the price

I suspect it is just the state of the market

It not very well presented and the photos aren’t great. The living room and back yard aren’t very nice. Can you do them up? The red curtains and the cushions need to go, and that cityscape mural is going to put people off. The backyard is small but it needs some plants and greenery. The front view of the house isn’t very appealing either, but not sure what you can do about that. The other rooms are OK. I wouldn’t look at this house, mainly because it doesn’t have a garden.

It's presented beautifully. The photos aren't the issue. It's either priced too high for the local market or the market is stagnant (which amounts to the same thing).

It looks extremely sterile, particularly the outside which looks much more like a block of flats than a house. The lack of green space would have me immediately moving on to the next property (this can be solved with planting and/or pots as you have the space it just looks like a yard).

But also, the price - look at comparable properties in your area that are on for the same price bracket and the bracket below. If your house isn't on a par with others that are the same price then no one will view it.

The photos make the rooms look small. You should have them retaken.

The mural is a choice.

My personal view is it doesn’t have much kerb appeal. The parking spaces and garage out the back would be annoying and the garden is very small for a family home.

Having had friends whose houses had a similar layout, the lounge being on a different floor to the kitchen is a nuisance for carrying drinks up and down the stairs.

It doesn’t look particularly homely or inviting to be honest.

I don't like 'OIEO'. Just put the price you are hoping to get. It looks very cramped both inside and in the vicinity but can't do much about that. You'll just hav to drop the price.

the interior looks very dated like 1980s bachelor pad, decor very masculine so makes it feel less homely

Do you have anyone who is good at interiors could come and stage it for you ?

We lived in a very similar townhouse, ours was 3 big doubles, ensuite master, family bathroom, downstairs loo and utility.
We loved it but we were child free at the time. We sold it for slightly less than we paid for it after 10 years.
People with families hate them, they have small gardens, everyone complained about the shared drives/garage set up.
It's just preference and sadly you will have to price it accordingly.