First time seller, what to expect from online estate agent.

Indygood

Hello all,

I'm currently selling a one bedroom flat throught online estate agent mousesale.co.uk.

The property has been on the market for 2 weeks and not had any calls/viewings.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to whether I should be contacting another local estate agent to see about them marketing the property? I know that 2 weeks isn't too long, but the flat is in great condition and I was sure I'd have had some interest by now. My worry is that the online agent doesn't have a large client base looking for local properties.

The property is listed on rightmove, mousesale and zoopla, but not in our local newspaper.

I'm really lloking for any advice or information as to how to proceed with the selling.

Thanks

Indy

googler

Two weeks is no time at all in the current financial climate, where the generally-accepted viewpoint is that FTB properties like your one-bedroom flat are harder to shift due to lack of available mortgage deals.

Why did you pick mousesale in the first place?

Did they give you the impression there'd be a ready market for your house, or did you form this opinion yourself?

<sebb>

Have you checked that your property is showing on the main internet portals like rightmove and findaproperty? Are you happy with the listings that are shown?

SelbyJay_2

I'm feeling like i'm in the same position. We're listed with housenetwork.co.uk (have listings on the main property websites but no local newspaper or agency).

We've been on 4 weeks and not one viewing yet (3 people have requested viewings and then cancelled without giving feedback as to why).

Many things have been thru my mind as to why no one's been to view, but could the lack of local agency really be what's missing?

new_home_owner_3

i tried both if someone wants to view your house they will look on rightmove and arrange to view, if you want to pay a higher fee go local, if you want to save money use a online agent.

I had more viewings from my online agent housesimple than any of my traditional estate agents and when i come to sell again ill be using housesimple again....

WallyBird

Most people look at Rightmove, so you should be OK with your online agent. We are with Housenetwork and although we have not had viewers pouring through the door, the ones that do come seem very interested. Fingers crossed!

Indygood

Hello,

Thanks for the responses.

I picked mousesale as the agent said they advertise on rightmove and that's the site I usually check myself. They didn't think there'd be a problem selling the flat as it's in pretty sweet condition. Also the were pretty competative compared to the hight street agents.

Perhaps I'm just expecting too much too soon. I understand that FTB's are having trouble getting mortgages. Just have to keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks again,

Indy

WallyBird

I think you are right about Rightmove. We reduced our price and have recently had more viewers, some very positive - so it is looking good.

bitsandpieces

Obvious first questions are whether the rightmove details look decent and whether the price is reasonable.

Owain_Moneysaver

1. Do you have a sign outside the flat?

2. You can advertise the house yourself in the local paper - a few lines of semi-display shouldn't cost a lot.

3. Are there any other free/low cost places you could advertise - parish magazine, university staff newsletter, etc.?

daisbuys

I am currently going on the market with a local EA. I was thinking of an online EA but thought I will go down the traditional route first because I want to shift my property fairly quickly and the EA also has the "house" I am after.

But I am only going to give them the 8 weeks which I will be contracted to, and if nothing has progressed through them I will then be using housesimple!