Flat for sale at daft time - any advice?

ellersb

Hi,
We’ve had our 2 bed maisonette on the market for about 3 months now, and we’ve actually had quite a few viewings so far (I’d say about 15-20), a couple of second viewings, but no offers, which we’re not surprised at tbh.
A few of the people who have been viewing have had bigger budgets than the flat’s on at, and have gone on the view and offer on houses in the area. I think these people are just viewing to see what better value they’re getting when they buy the house though, which is understandable from their point of view but grrrr from mine!
Anyway, here’s a link to it: http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&pid=2105823&agentid=03586
Any thoughts on what we could put in the copy or additional pictures? I know we need to drop the price, and we will soon, but at the moment, any thoughts?
It’s ex-la, which I know puts some people off straight away, but there’s not much we can do about that!
Also, a bit miffed as the EA doesn’t have presence on rightmove, but as we’re on a 12 week contract with them (up mid-September) we’re thinking of doing it ourselves through housenetwork or something, then we’d feel better about lowering the price too.
We’re not desperate to sell yet, but we’d be happy to take a bit of a drop. We’re planning to move out of London to start a family so the clock is ticking, despite the housing problems! We don’t want to sit around for 5 years hoping the market picks up and put the ‘rest of our life’ plans on hold.
Any (helpful!) advice welcome!
Thanks!

Running_Horse

Maybe things are different in Twickenham, but we did all our initial househunting via Rightmove, and would not even consider using an agent not on there. It must rule out so many potential buyers.

Chris2685

I know it is in a desirable area of London, but the price is simply to high for the people buying at the moment... A 2 bed maisonette is only really going to be bought by FTB's I would imagine, and I can't see any of them being able to afford that, and if they could I am pretty sure they would move outwards to somewhere else and buy somewhere much bigger for the same money...

That is my own opinion anyway as a FTB not too far from there.

ellersb

Hi running horse, no, things aren't different in Twickenham and we stupidly assumed that they would be on rightmove and are pretty peeved that they aren't, as we barely even look at f-a-p now when we're looking!
Thanks Chris - I know you're right, and we will definitely reduce it, but would rather have someone make an offer say 20-25k below and accept, than reduce it and then get even lower offers, if you see what I mean?

Chris2685

Yep, I understand that. I think most people looking to spend around 210-230 will look at properties priced like yours anyway...

Good luck finding a buyer, people living around that area would probably be on pretty good money anyway

mewbie_2

Couple of suggestions.

Advert has spelling and typo's...

"presented in good decotative order throughout and and be a good first time or investment purchase. "

... which give a poor impression immediately.

Nice size lawn, but edges need trimming, and hide washing line when taking photo.

ellersb

Thanks mewbie, my goodness, I hadn't noticed that at all!! I'll get onto them now to change that. My OH was so mad that I'd left the washing line up for the photo too! I'll get them to do a new one, and we can tidy the garden edges. Thanks!

napoleon

I'd remove the empty beer cans from the back garden too if I were you. It'll put buyers off except !!!!!! of course

ruggedtoast

ellersb wrote: »

Hi running horse, no, things aren't different in Twickenham and we stupidly assumed that they would be on rightmove and are pretty peeved that they aren't, as we barely even look at f-a-p now when we're looking!
Thanks Chris - I know you're right, and we will definitely reduce it, but would rather have someone make an offer say 20-25k below and accept, than reduce it and then get even lower offers, if you see what I mean?

Yes except the problem with that is that current statistics suggest that your potential buyer has 14 other places vying for their attention, most of which will fall into the categories of overpriced and not overpriced.

How about you just market it at a price your demographic can afford to pay?

Bf109

ehhh... thats closer to Whitton than Twickenham.... you can buy a 3 bed house in that area for not much more....

edit - plus you arent very close to either station.

£180k tops

ellersb

Ruggedtoast, we're trying to come up with a price to put it on at that is the lowest flat which isn't in a block of flats (iyswim). Also, what can our demographic afford? I'm my own demographic really, and I could afford it.
Bf109 - it is nearer to Whitton station, but the houses in 'Whitton' for that amount are in the borough of hounslow.