Why Wont My House Sell, Showdown With The Estate Agents

sickofdebt_2

We've had our house on the market for 11 weeks now with only 2 viewings & to be quite honest I'm stuck for what to do about it, short of dragging people off the street & forcing them round has anyone got any suggestions. First have a look at the house but ignore the price because we've just knocked 5 grand off (it should read 154,950 but the site hasnt updated) it's on the link below & any hint or criticisms would be most welcome.

http://www.monkeymove.com/viewProperty.aspx?propID=95ed4c67-de86-4caa-b2ee-be9a4c0d3d63

We spent ages refitting the place in the hope that it would aid in the sale. All the agent's we had round valued it at a similar price (except one who was 40 grand off the rest but has been known to undervalue to get sales targets met) but the ones we chose were the only ones that would allow me to market the house myself as well on the web & noticeboards etc. I thought this might be a good idea because every little helped & they agreed that if I found my own buyer there would be no fee's to pay them. Very reasnoble I thought but i'm beginning ro regret going with them now.
Every time I phone them for updates or advice the only thing they tell me to do is reduce the price!! The market is actually quite good around here with houses selling within a good time (few weeks / months) but not ours.

One thing they have said is the neighbours garden is putting people off, someone has described it as 'scummy' which is a fair point. We've spoken to him about it & he said he'd do something but he hasn't. We've offered to do it for him if he shift's his van off the drive but he's hardly ever there so we dont see him that often to remind him. Another complaint it there are roadworks!!! Like I can do anything about that!! & I would have thought people might realise that isn't a permanent fixture, & there are too many differing styles of house on the street, yet again something I can do nothing about

Anyway we've had enough now & after only 2 viewings in 11 weeks I went in on saturday & had a review of all the things I want them to do. I noticed that the house details wern't in a good location in the agency so I made them put them up in the window. We were promised the house would be in the local paper each week until sold but it has only been in 4 times & one of those were when they were running a promotional 'sale week' where they asked people to reduce the asking price for 1 week to generate interest. If we hadn't reduced it wouldnt have been in.

I've also asked them to come & retake the pics of some of the rooms because they dont do the place any favors, they've agreed to do that.
The agency agreement runs out in 2 weeks & I've told them I'm going multi agency at the end of the term but even that hasnt worked
Anyone got any suggestions???

Answers on a postcard to .....

markmc999

Personally, I'd say - move agency.

You seem to be doing a hell of a lot of work for the agency, what exactly are they doing to earn there commission?

Girl_least_likely_to

Your house looks really nice . Change agencies, you're doing too much to earn the commission for them. Good Luck for a quick sale

LizzieandThomas

have you got the rightmove link ? I know the agents in nuneaton, im an EA myself in leicester. Which agent are you on with ?

sickofdebt_2

Seemingly not that much. Is it generally this hard to sell a house. I've never actually done it before so dont know.

EdInvestor

I thought this might be a good idea because every little helped & they agreed that if I found my own buyer there would be no fee's to pay them. Very reasnoble I thought but i'm beginning ro regret going with them now.

This gives them little incentive to work hard on your behalf.

Every time I phone them for updates or advice the only thing they tell me to do is reduce the price!!

I'm afraid if there's no interest and nothing obviously wrong (though the neighbours could be aproblem) then price is usually the culprit.

At the same time you have put it on the market at a very slow time. Families don't house hunt in July and August. So things may pick up soon.

But IMHO you'd be better to stop second guessing the agent.It's a false economy, particularly if there are a couple of difficult points when a little bit of charm and salesmanship may be necessary to get a sale.

sickofdebt_2

What do you mean by the rightmove link? The agents are your move

abbecer

Your house is lovely and i can't see why you've had so little interest. I would definitely change agents. If there is one little comment i could make the house looks too neutral. I only mean that i would add inviting colours through fruit bowls, flowers etc nothing drastic. I really believe that a clourful bunch of flowers looks really inviting and homely. Hope this helps a little.

Rebecca x

PS if the neighbour has said it's ok to do his garden i would just do it while he's out (obviously if van isn't in the way!!). It seems unfair to you to have to do this because he is too idle but will benefit you in the longer term.

DrFluffy

What is the market like in your area at the moment? If it is generally boyant,
I'd say move agency. Your house looks nice and clean, is a blank canvas with a reasonable kitchen and bathroom.

chocomonsta

Hi, I have had a look at your house and it looks very clean and tidy.

There is no picture of the front of the house, what does that look like? Would that be putting people off.

If I were buying a house and the neighbours garden was manky it would put me off so perhaps you ought to concentrate on helping to do your neighbours garden, with or without their help.

Also when I sold my house, which was over 3 years ago, I did not put that many pictures of the inside, on the brochure. I knew that it looked good from the outside and I wanted people to be curious enough to come around and have a look. So perhaps that may be an idea.

Also, what is that in the back garden, a pond? If it is aimed at first time/family buyers you might want to get rid of that or atleast cover it up. We had a pond and I completely removed it. Just a thought.

Hope that helps and good luck

sickofdebt_2

Thanks Edinvestor.
It's on at what THEY valued it for, infact it's less now because weve reduced the price.
If I hadnt seccond guessed the agent my property details wouldnt be in the paper as agreed, it would still be stuck at the back of the agency office on the wall over someones workspace not in the general line of sight, now it's in full veiw in the window for people see without committing to going inside first. That's the sort of thing we need because we live on a quiet street & dont get much foot traffic to see the for sale sign out front of the house itself & they have NEVER once called ME to give me updates from veiwings or feedback they have had from people who have done drive by's to have a look.
The only time I get anything out of them is when I do the leg work. Potentially they could make good commission on my house sale, I think they should put a bit of effort in to earn it!