Selling house - Agent has sent no viewers

fredmila

I have had a thought, tell the EA: re-take the pictures, slightly reduce the asking price and reduce his commission by 2.5%. If they say no I give them notice and go to agent that has actually sold properties in the area. Or maybe give them notice anyhow and they have 2 weeks to get viewers and offers. The only disadvantage of changing agents is that I get stuck with another one for another 12-16 weeks of the contract, i.e. until the end of the spring.
What do people think?

Milliewilly

fredmila wrote: »

I have had a thought, tell the EA: re-take the pictures, slightly reduce the asking price and reduce his commission by 2.5%. If they say no I give them notice and go to agent that has actually sold properties in the area. Or maybe give them notice anyhow and they have 2 weeks to get viewers and offers. The only disadvantage of changing agents is that I get stuck with another one for another 12-16 weeks of the contract, i.e. until the end of the spring.
What do people think?

! Reduce by 2.5% what are you paying !

Doozergirl

Can you do your own viewings? That's why I do my own - the agent can't possibly remember all the details.

My own experience is that houses sell better when they looked lived in - is it possible to furnish it properly (not a half-hearted attempt!). Some people can picture what a place will be like without furniture but if it's in then everyone can clearly see what fits.

If you keep it empty then it's still important to ensure it is warm for viewings so that people are comfortable, turn all the lights on and continue to dust and clean it. Keep the garden neat etc.

btw, VAT and Stamp Duty increases have no impact upon houses at that level.

fredmila

Oops I made a mistake, I meant from 1.75% to 1.5% = -0.25%

kmmr

What a terrible time to take that garden picture. Presumably at some time the garden isn't covered by blocks of shade.

And a floorplan is a must for me. I don't look at a property at all without one.

I'd get rid of the agent. No viewings at all is a pretty poor sign! And will be a combination of poor pictures, no plan and obviously no major marketing effort.

brit1234

Reduce the price maybe, could be simply overvalued.

fredmila

Doozergirl: I cannot do my own viewings if the EA does not send me anybody. Being a new house I prefer to present it as "modern minimalist" unoccupied and unused (everything being new), ready for people to move in. It is a blank canvas for people to play the designer and fill it with garish curtains, rugs, things hanging from the walls and clutter it with furniture. If it was an old house I agree that it may be better to show it with furniture, curtains etc.

dander

It sounds as though you haven't been keeping in touch with your agent and getting their feedback. You need to be keeping a dialogue with the agent. Ask them why you haven't got viewings. Ask them how many people they have on the books looking for houses like yours, ask them what reaction people are giving to yours, ask them how many similar properties have sold. Then you'll be far better placed to make decisions about whether you think they are working hard enough on your behalf.

Plus, if you keep in touch, they'll take you far more seriously as a buyer and keep your property on top of the pile.

fredmila

No I have not pestered the agent enough; back at the beginning of December I resigned to wait until the new year -because of the Xmas break-, then in January the agent called my wife and told her that the market was quiet because of the snow, then at the end of February he called me and told me that the market was picking up and he wanted to put plans in the description - why wait until now?

Kez1983

jenny_13 wrote: »

Get a friend to ring up asking for a property like yours and see what they offer.

I did that for my friend yesterday, and the EA were actually really good, suggested it straight away and offered to arrange a viewing. Seems there just isnt many people looking around where his house is!