Selling house - Agent has sent no viewers

Blackpool_Saver

Who designed this house?
Who chose the window frames?
Who chose the exterior finishes?
Who chose to spend far too much on interior finishes/fixtures and fittings?
Who chose a useless estate agent?

Yes you are right it is up to you but let me tell you this, estate agents push the ones they think will sell......

fredmila

googler wrote: »

http://www.eastlothianprimeproperty.com/property/12-Shillinghill-EH36-5PX-ap86sl0.aspx

Here is why I am not doing any more expensive fancy stuff: A clever developer came around here and built a group of 7 houses similar to the one on this link, prices £450-£550. He had them in the market with all kinds of EAs for months and, to cut a long story short, he ended selling them to a property speculator for a ridiculous price. You may end up with a lot of nice photos of your house designs in your portfolio but little money.

I am a designer and I like to do fancy things too, but I have learned where to stop.

The problem around here is that -to my knowledge- no-one has managed to sell a house quickly so the EAs (and us the sellers) need to get smart this spring

fredmila

googler wrote: »

Last one for tonight

If you can find a REALLY GOOD interiors photographer in your area, why not just hire him yourself, and get him to supply the pictures to either your current EA or the new one?

Yes, maybe and then I take the photographer's fee off the EA commission

Doozergirl

fredmila wrote: »

Yes, I agree, I will think about it, but of course if I put together and did everything that people suggested, I would end up designing a house like Homer Simpson designed a car for his brother.

But one thing is for sure I am not spending more money because I know I will not get it back. Remember I came here asking for advice on the Estate Agent. It's free advice but I have to decide what to do myself, in the end.

Presumably people will have driven past the house and seen the sign - if they like the look of the house they will look in the windows etc. If they still like what they see they will arrange a viewing, regardless of the EA's pictures or descriptions.

Yes, you asked about the EA but you can't lay the blame solely at their feet nor can you put blinkers on and deny that you don't play a part in the marketing of your own house. You think the problem is your estate agent, we agree that is definitely an issue. But the objective view of those outside that don't know you is one that there are things that you can do.

Someone has told you that they think there are better looking cheaper houses out there, a couple of people have told you that they think the outside is not welcoming, that perhaps it isn't the shining beacon of architectural flair that you think it might be. I shall warn you for next time that your budgeting skills need honing. Cheap pea-gravel and dodgy shower fitments do not sit will with granite flooring and hardwood staircases as cheap devalues the expensive. If you want a top-notch look then it must carry across all areas. You must strike the correct balance. Rosewood effect upvc is not fashionable. Stick with white windows, especially on dark brick houses as they will not offend people's taste. Pedestal sinks hide messy pipes - often not very well, you want to hide these sorts of things to get a high quality finish.

fredmila

OK Blackpool_saver I think you want to be re-assured that you are a bright designer, I have no doubt you are.

Just to repeat again, Doozergirl, I came here asking for advice from people who may have been in a similiar situation as mine with the EA or who have dealt with a lot of them. I will come back tomorrow to re-read the messages, there must be interesting things in them.

Emmzi

OP,

I a not sure you want advice, it sounds like you want people to sympathise.

I'm sorry it isn't getting viewings.

But I am also sorry you are rejecting Doozer's advice. She's been at this a long time and helped many people.

What sort of suggestions are you looking for?

fredmila

OK Doozergirl, you are a bright designer too. I could write a very long message here about how you don't know the area and the finishes on doors and windows around here, how I think white PVC looks estate house, that you have not seen my shower fittings, that absoloutely everybody in the area adviced me that anything other than pea gravel (block paving, etc) will not add a penny to the value of the house, how the materials on the drive and staircase do not have absolutely anything to do with each other, etc. but we will go on all night.

LIke I said, the house front is neater now, without the rotting leaves etc, so new photos of the house will make it look better on the brochure/site.

BTW, about one car passes in front of this house every hour and they are mostly local residents and the postman. If people are interested in the house, they would have to call the EAs phone on the board, so we are back to them.

fredmila

Emmzi wrote: »

OP,

I a not sure you want advice, it sounds like you want people to sympathise.

I'm sorry it isn't getting viewings.

But I am also sorry you are rejecting Doozer's advice. She's been at this a long time and helped many people.

What sort of suggestions are you looking for?

I'm sorry but I have said it many times: how to deal with this and other estate agents. I am asking people to help me decide whether to dump my existing EA or give him another chance and what to tell him to do.

Blackpool_Saver

YES DUMP THEM

I have just read your other post and realised you are male, what is your wifes view on this bare clinical looking house?
Does she not want to dress it up a bit and make it a bit more appealing?

fredmila

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Who designed this house?
Who chose the window frames?
Who chose the exterior finishes?
Who chose to spend far too much on interior finishes/fixtures and fittings?
Who chose a useless estate agent?

Yes you are right it is up to you but let me tell you this, estate agents push the ones they think will sell......

Or the ones where they can convince the buyer to sell the house for less than its market value, then they get their cut before they get dumped for another agent