Time on the market

Tassotti

Astaroth wrote:

Well, at least you confirmed the wall colour for me

Wall colours purple

PhilDS

Thanks for the honesty guys :eek:

Seriously, I'm gonna take those points on baord (the curly mat is an excellent spot ) and get some more photos done. The sole agancy contract runs out in two weeks so perhaps that will be a catalyst for a clean start.

BobProperty

Tassotti wrote:

Wall colours purple

It's at the violet end of the cornflower blue range to me

bylromarha

Throughly agree about the photos...just silly things like the bag hanging on the dining room chair and the wire dangling from the table.

The photographer hasn't even turned the lights on to make it look brighter.

And what is pic 5 about?!

Saying that, 20 viewings in 6 weeks means that 20 people have seen the photos and viewed, so it must be a popular house. I may be wrong, but do you need to hide some things? pic 2 shows the big red thing in the corner...I can't see what it is, but from the outline it looks like a big blow up hand, which would put me off as a buyer. Maybe a declutter is needed?

Why not get a friend to come round and view the house as a potential buyer and see what they say?

Doozergirl

6 weeks is not an excessive time on the market, but the combination of 6 weeks and 20 viewings makes it time for a rethink. The purpose of decluttering is for people to see themselves living in it instead of you. You have to clear out when you move anyway, why not do it now?

I'd pull the dining table into the middle of the room and make it a dining area instead of a corridor and workspace. If your kitchen is small you need to move all the stuff off the worktops (I think I can see through from dining area) to create the illusion of space.

Tidy and clean the house within an inch of your life and get an agent back for new photographs. A decent agent will have a camera with a wide angle lens that fits loads into each photo and makes each room look bigger.

You have to sell a lifestyle to people, make them see the house as a peaceful retreat where they can just relax away from the world. The only things people should see are your pretty things.

Good Luck

sportbeth

From someone who has just had an offer accepted on a house and must have viewed at least 15.......

It sounds feeble blaming the wall colours, but everyone on here and the likes of Phil and Kirsty are right. We wouldn't have minded painting here and there when we moved, but the place we've just bought has magnolia throughout pretty much, and it really helps a buyer to appreciate what they've got to work with in terms of space etc.

It's also a big bonus to get something knowing you can live in it a couple of months and get a feel for the place before you have to wield a paintbrush. With yours I would have to decorate straight away. De-personalising in terms of colour really can help.

For the garden etc, I think the angle of the photo can sort it from looking unappealing instead of appealing.

Can't comment on prices as I'm in the south east. One other thing, do you have any pets or do you smoke? We went to one place and the smell was really offputting. My other half and I are both smokers but this place really hummed of stale smoke as soon as we walked in.

It might be worth trying to get your viewings at a time of day when you have your best chance. Ie if you live in a road with noisy kids, do viewings when they are at school, or if you have a traffic problem nearby, avoid straight after school etc.

Doozergirl

One other thing, aren't Countrywide agents quite expensive commission wise? I hope you knocked them down at least, otherwise the expiration of the sole agent period will be just what you need to find another agent and knock them down to 1%.

Tassotti

Also consider selling it privately and save those huge agency fees.

You can advertise on many websites fior free and also your local rag.

If and when you get a new agent, you need to check the contract to see if it states sole selling rights or sole agency rights.

If you sign a contract stating sole agency, there is no issue if you sell privately.

At 1% you can save £1600 (good night out)

PhilDS

I have looked at selling privately, you also save the VAT (another £280).

I can see I've got some decisions to make over the next 2 weeks!

Doozergirl

Tassotti wrote:

At 1% you can save £1600 (good night out)

I still haven't had an invitation on one of these nights out, Tass!

:beer: