could do with some advice...

grownupgirly

Hi

I am quite inexperienced in all this so please be gentle!



I put my flat on the market mid August. Since then I have had only 2 viewings.





So.. do I take the property off the market till after Christmas and re-market it in January with a different EA? (My current EA is 'ok' but has annoyed me twice - both times by twiddling with the price on Rightmove and his own Agency website without letting me know what he was doing! I found out by checking it on Rightmove! Grrrrr)

... do I keep it on the market but go with a different EA?
.... do I drop the price AGAIN? (I have seen in the last week that a number of 2 bed flats equivalent to mine have also dropped to the same price as mine now)....
(I have already reduced the price by 2k, to 110k).

... do I rent it out? (I dont want to as I will hardly be able to cover my costs (well, just about at a squeeze..) and then there's the fear of future bills for external works from the leaseholders....)

... do I stay living here into 2011 ??


...any other ideas? My EA had the audacity to suggest auctioning the flat - he is meeting with an auctioneer next week to discuss auctioning several other properties on his books... hmmmm... I wasnt sure about that.. when I consulted my OH, he said 'no way', as if it doesnt sell at auction, no one else will touch it in the future!!!!!!

Argh. This is fairly frustrating

sorry I know I am going on a bit...
this is the flat if you are interested.



thanks for your help!!!!!!

Grownupgirly (Not feeling that grown up today!)

missile

Your flat looks very nice and well cared for.

I would be extremely annoyed at an EA who changed price without consulting me. Property Auction would be my last option. If I were you I would get a.n.other estate agent. Go for the best one in your area.
Items which MIGHT want to address first >
1. Lounge looks cluttered with too much large furniture and those floral covers may not be to everyone's taste.
2. Too much cosmetics and stuff on display in the bedroom. Makes what is a nice room look untidy.
3. Those photos are not very inspiring, I could do better with a polaroid.

Property letting is hard work, particularly when you are living some distance away. There are some companies who contract to guarantee you a set figure and do all the work and this could be a n option for you. Be warned, even the best tennant will never look after your property like you obviously have. I think you might find it very distressing when you see it after 6 months rental.

Obviously you want to be with boyfriend asap, but maybe you need to think. What are your employment prospects? How are you going to pay the mortgage and bills if you relocate to Devon before you find employment or sell the house ?

Accountant_Kerry

Hi,
I agree the living room picture would put me off viewing tbh. It looks dated.
Tidy / hide stuff away, minimalise everything and take some new pics, i took the pics when selling my flat myself as wasn't happy with the ones the EA took.

Good Luck!

tealady

Hi
Just a couple of thoughts.
Livin room looks cluttered
Bedroom with red curtains, could you move the bed to make the room look bigger?
HTH

DVardysShadow

Photo 7 of 8: shows too much concrete, but would be improved if retaken with the grass between the cracks removed.

As for renting out, the rental market is probably saturated, so you would be less likely to draw better tenants. And not having a job will make you absolutely reliant on the rent. This in turn will mean that once you are moved out, you will not feel able to leave the place untenanted. But you will need the tenants out to conduct viewings - even if you put viewings in the rental contract, the tenant has the absolute right to refuse. Personally, I would sit tight and do whatever is necessary to make a sale.

clutton_2

have you got somewhere you can store at least half of the seats in the lounge.. it looks a really tiny room - but irs probably not

drop the price again....

kmmr

You could just move the sofas out of view for the picture. Don't have to get rid of them. People get a better sense of a rooms size when they visit so you don't have to worry about the sofas being in place for viewings.

Just an idea!

missile

grownupgirly wrote: »

thanks, you all.

I am not all that well currently so when I am feeling better this week I will have a serious declutter. The stuff in the bedroom with the red curtains is my lodger's stuff, so i can't really move all that.. (I will, though, next time I take new photos, just for the photos...) I have just this minute taken it off the market 'for the time being' (didnt tell EA that!) and will consider my options over the next few days... I think I am going to sit tight for a while and see how the market does. I will probably put it on again fairly soon with a new (better?) EA. How do I find out who is the 'best' in the area??!!! Do you think that people are not buying/looking at the moment because of the coming Budget announcement in the next week or so?? Is this affecting the market? (wrong question for this thread???!!!)

As for the sofas... hmmm.. thanks.. I'm on a tight budget right now so can't really afford to buy new.. would a load of plain cream throws over them just make the place look too studenty??

thanks again

Grownupgirly x

I thought your lodger had moved on?
I would suggest you are reading far too much into press releases and yet another budget announcement. Would that make you hold off moving, no? me neither.
Beg, borrow, rent or steal more suitable furniture for your next photo shoot and EA viewing. It is important that your EA likes your home, otherwise he/she will find it hard to promote.
Ask for recommendations, check websites, visit as prospective buyer to help you choose a.n.other EA

If you do decide reducing price is the way to generate interest for a quick sale be bold. You will need to make a substantial reduction £2K is not going to make any difference. Think positive "if I sell it, I can save £K's in mortgage payments"

HelenDaveKids

Agree with everyone else, just need to remove sofa not buy new one. bedroom looks a bit cluttered but overall very nice,

Need to feel like EA on your side, We had 4 valuations and i knew straight away who I wanted and i think thats really important.

Also considered renting it out but after spending so long telling the kids not to slam my kitchen cupboards, i'm not sure if can cope with stranger doing it. suspect to emotionally involved! Have therefore offered mine as part x considered.

Have u considered open days?

papalimabravo

grownupgirly wrote: »

Argh. This is fairly frustrating as I would ideally like to release some money from the equity in time for the wedding...

Just think though, you'll not be paying your mortgage when you get rid of it.

If the place in Devon is paid for, then you should, in theory, be able to save quite a few quid each month in the run up to the wedding. (Lack of job down there may throw a spanner in the works of course.)

Weigh up getting shot of the flat (potentially not releasing as much equity as you would like) against being able to move down to Devon soo and start sorting your wedding (and the rest of your life, by the sound of it).

Good luck.

geoffky

nothing wrong with the place..its just the timing is all wrong...the housing market is on its knees due to restrictions on mortgage supply.