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!

The housing market is awful, that’s probably number one.

however- things you could change/improve

• the photos are awful, ask them to redo them and focus on fitting the whole room in one photo.
• it looks like a bachelor pad, not a family home. The black sofas and red curtains in the lounge don’t look very welcoming. Can you change the curtains to a more neutral colour?
• you need to have a ruthless declutter, even if just for the photos. People don’t like to see others mess, they can’t look past it and visualise themselves in the house. Photos off the wall in the upstairs bedroom, swivelling mirror hidden, pin board in kitchen away, that kind of stuffs

The market is dire

So yes, to price if you need to move

But also, the photos…. It looks like there isn’t a garden and if you’re buying a house, you want a garden. If there is a proper garden, you need to redo those photos completely. I thought it was just concrete.

The opening picture is awful sorry, looks like an old fashioned bachelor pad.

I don't suppose the plans to convert MOD Bicester into a camp for asylum seekers help with selling houses in Bicester.

I would ask for a floor plan to be available on the main page. It is in the brochure but many will not think to look there for it.

Good advice, run the mortgage calculator to see what you think the target market can afford, it always comes down to price, or maybe falling demand in the area?

It looks very narrow like they squeezed it in and shaved 3 feet off either side, the garden looks unkempt and void of any nature (sorry)

Interiors are dated, those naff canvas prints, the mismatched cushions on the sofa, horrendous red curtains, that green LED strip light- it’s more budget holiday let rather than a £400k house.

It’s personal preference but to me it would need a heck of a lot spending on it in terms of decorating and sorting that yard out- is that a thing prospective buyers would consider for your area?

The problem with Bicester is that the schools are significantly worse than the West Oxfordshire schools, measurably so.

It might mean that houses are generally a bit more expensive outside of Bicester.

Personally I'd be making the family room next to the kitchen really obviously the a comfortable living space, get rid of the desk a nicer sofa arrangement so it looks like you can basically live downstairs. The red and black too is dated but thats easy to get new warm curtains and cushions maybe a rug. The double view photos are confusing get rid of those. The rest is fine. If no one uses the office space on the bedroom floor maybe set it up as a dressing room. Which could make the master feel bigger.

Honestly the market is terrible and you're probably going to have to accept a lot less than you're hoping for if you really want to sell. I wouldn't bother wasting money changing interiors or curtains, whatever you do someone won't like it. The one thing I would do though is get some planters for the garden and add some flowers. It looks grey and depressing at the moment and it wouldn't cost much. If you're getting the photos retaken I'd get rid of all the clutter on top of the kitchen units and make the beds neatly in the children's rooms they look a bit messy. I'd also put the outside of the house as the first photo, there's nothing wrong with the front of the house, so I don't know why you're trying to hide it.

The sitting room window faces straight onto a brick wall in the very first picture (a new angle needed). The photos are amateurish, one of the bedroom's photo is so bad. Have them all redone at angles that present the rooms to their best. Dress with some tasteful colour and tidy all the rooms. Towels in the bathroom need folding nicely. The kitchen pictures are really bad as it looks untidy, squashed and very little character. The garden is awful with no greenery, it looks just like a yard.

None of this needs more than £40/50 spent to make the place look really nice in the photos. Get rid of stuff you don't need, put other stuff in the car to declutter. Hang the curtains straight or drape them. Nothing hanging over chairs etc.

Your market is reduced instantly because a lot of people don't want three storey living. I'd say the EA has no idea how to stage photos. Some of the rooms could have been captured at much better angles. Also I personally don't want to see someone's 'stuff' in the marketing photos - towels and bottles and clutter. Rooms should have been emptied as much as possible before photos taken. The child's bedroom is pretty normal for a kid, but the open fronted wardrobes packed full of toys is not a good look for marketing. I would also be put off by the small paved over garden.

Bicester has always struck me as a tad chavvy. I imagine there are issues with kids on E scooters.

I don’t look at any property that states OIEO.

The garden looks rather grim, sorry.

Take down the Live Love Laugh style pictures and can you get rid of that mural? It all looks a bit 1980s bachelor pad to me.

I think it’s always going to be a tough sell because of the garden, and your best bet is selling to a landlord who will use the first floor lounge as a bedroom to maximise income.

Kerb appeal at the front of the house needs improving and your rear garden looks sad and uninviting. Both can be rectified with some decent large planters giving the impression of more natural open green space.

Reduce the number of photos so that people have an element of intrigue and want to investigate further.

You only need one person to make a decent offer so try not to worry too much about the low number of viewings.

Photos are awful, bedrooms look cluttered and the back garden looks grey, boring and has an abandoned look.

I agree. The decor is either bland or ugly (cityscape, prints etc) and there’s no proper garden or greenery. In a sellers market this wouldn’t be a problem but buyers have a lot of choice at the moment.

the other £400k house someone posted looks far more homely - even though that still isn’t to my taste I can see how it could be. Yours just looks a bit bleak

Op, I don’t want to speak badly of your home but it unfortunately looks very cold and unwelcoming.

Also the big fridge freezer just stuck in the coffee of the kitchen/diner does nothing to make the kitchen look as if it works.

Perhaps different pictures could make it look more appealing.

The market is shot to pieces at the moment. High interest rates plus other costs of living rises, stagnant wage rises, are all factors making buyers very cautious about making a move and taking on more debt. Downsizers ( sometimes with spare money) don't normally want 3 storey townhouse s and tend to like properties that are either brand new or professionally fully renovated, and in more desirable locations although I don't know Bicester so perhaps yits is in desirable area..

Look at the land registry website or Rightmove or Zoopla for the sold similar properties on the development, in the same street to gauge the value prices. Assume that you will get about 5% less than one sold in similar condition a year ago, in the current market. do you need to lower your price to offers in excess of £375k just to generate interest? Remember you don't have to see it at all unless you need to .

‘I’ve waited here for you everlong.’

sounds like it was written by Temu’s AI

I looked at this as someone who is actually looking to buy at the moment, so-I ignored the fact you're in the wrong location and went by if this was in my area, what would I think.

The thing that stood out for me is the desk in the front room. Me and DP work from home and that smacks of 'there is not enough space here to WFH'

Could you move the desk setup and get the photos redone?

The market is cr*p OP so, if you don't have to sell now, perhaps wait until next year if you can?
Other than that, your house is beautifully clean and neat. For what it's worth, I feel it needs to look more homely. Can you get it staged by a professional perhaps? Or a clever friend who's watched House Doctor back in the day? Just my personal feel - I think it needs some attractive art on the walls, and some lush potplants here and there, a colourful rug or 2. Again, perhaps you can borrow - and move them room to room with the photographer. Agree with PPs who suggest better photos. Good luck!

I also don’t like offers over. State your price if you got £400 would you be happy

usually it’s the price

or £390 and under it

your layout is similar to my friends town house and agree rooms look smaller in pics

I would take out ALL the clutter in the open storage units. Put it in boxes in the shed/car/hire a storage unit. Some people can't see beyond it. The human brain makes a decision in 3 seconds- it's unconscious but people will think "I don't want to live like that" and they won't view.

The photos aren't great- weird angles. So de clutter and get them retaken.

I’m sorry but the decor is really dire. It looks like how I’d expect an unloved rental to look.

I would try to remove as much furniture from the rooms as you can for some new photos to set it up as a complete blank canvas for someone. The cityscapes ABSOLUTELY need to go. Burn them!