Advice on selling

tomstickland

I'm pretty sure you could write a better description and take better photos than the average EA.
My thoughts were sort the front photo and remove the tv on the wall from the bedroom.
Check out the competition and lower the price.

vodkagirl001

tomstickland wrote:

I'm pretty sure you could write a better description and take better photos than the average EA.
My thoughts were sort the front photo and remove the tv on the wall from the bedroom.
Check out the competition and lower the price.

I agree, it may be doing there job for them however its probably worth it!!!!

This is my check list / or plan list in no particular order

* Move Estate agents.
* Get better external picture from the main front side
* get better kitchen / living space pictures taken
* re-write description
* remove TV/DVD from wall, fill holes, paint over, move bed to that side of the room, remove wash backet, new bed covers in a brigher colour, with matching brighter curtains & lamp shade and picture on opposite wall - then get new picture of room
* reduce to £111,950 for 2-4 weeks with new agent, see what interest is like, if non or minimal, reduce to £109,950
* Try to get agents where possible to take pics with wide angle lense

Anything I have missed?

oh yes - show you my pictures and description when finished to see if its improved lol

vodkagirl001

Go on then, this is my idea for brightening up the bedroom, baring in mind we can't spend alot as we don't have anything as all spare funds are currently going on prams, moses baskets etc lol and the maternity covering wage funds lol so - I want to brighten up the bedroom after taking on your advise so my plan is to remove the TV thing, fill the hole and paint the area. Get some new bigger (ie longer and fuller) curtains in a lighter shade and some tie backs, new matching bed set for curtains again with splash of colour to brighten up the room. Move bed to other side of the room kind uf underneath where the tv is now (not on the wall with the window on but the oposite to where it currently is) but leaving room for a new bedside table to go inbetween the bed and the window. Picture to be placed either above bed on the wall the headrest would be or oposite side - which side do you think is best?

Now since the bed is dark brown lether, its hard to pic bright colours that will go with it (cept white) and a bedside table to match but I think this lot should work ok together and brighten it up - and with the bed on the other side of the room, it will look bigger when you walk in the room

Bed Side table :
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6301291/Trail/C%24cip%3D49764.Furniture%2Band%2Bfurnishings%3EC%24cip%3D49840.Bedroom%2Bfurniture%3EC%24cip%3D49843.Bedside%2Bcabinets.htm

Bedding and matching curtains (which can just be seen in the back ground)
http://www.next.co.uk/items/X39/shotview/868/122-500-X39s.jpg

Lampshade and bedside table lamp (the first teal coloured ones):
http://www.next.co.uk/items/X39/shotview/778/125-672-X39s.jpg

and as for art, I have no idea really untill I can see sizes and something I like but I was thinking something like this
http://www.next.co.uk/items/X39/shotview/788/118-359-X39s.jpg
however it says W is 30cm and im unsure if thats the whole thing or the individual sections, if the whole thing its way to small!

Anyway this is probably mainly a post for the ladies but who knows - with the bedroom changed like that and better pics, I hope the potential will pick up a bit.....maybe.........possibly...........shruggs.............who knows!!

(bed will be in this same position http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c249/doozergirl/LondonBedroom.jpg thanks to doozygirl for the image as it is what made me decide to actually try moving the bed to a new position lol)

gallygirl

Crikey, did you go to bed last night

Covers look lovely, that would go really well with dark leather, as would the units.

Do you have an au naturel (sp?) near you - they have loads of big canvasses at very reasonable prices. Also Asdas have lovely cheap cushions, sure they have teal coloured ones.

Good luck!

Enjoyed reading the bicker last night, 'friendly rivalry' between towns can't be beat can it :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

firesidemaid

you've taken on some really good ideas!

i was going to say add a splash of colour - and try to take that same colour through the rooms.

someone may have already said this but:

better photos/change estate agent/price etc will hopefully get people through the door

once they're in - those little luxury-look touches (that you can get cheaply) add up in each room

primark do fab silk/satin throws for bed (turn down to bed end) and towels. get some 'posh-looking' toiletries for bathroom.

good luck with everything by the way!

fivemice

I'd be wary of dropping the price twice in quick succession. As a buyer I'd see that as you being nervous of not selling and likely to accept an even further offer. I would be reluctant to offer the asking price.

Doozergirl

Nice looking stuff! I love the teal colour.

The picture mightn't stand out too well against the wall, but you could make it stand out more by painting a square behind it using a tester pot in teal (almost the way it appears in the link!). I've seen it work really nicely - you just need a spirit level to get the angles right!

Good comment about posh toiletries. If you can colour co-ordinate again in the bathroom with towels and toiletries, it will brighten up any magnolia/white thing going on. Accent colours is the phrase of the day!

Anything posh you have is nice to leave neatly positioned for viewings as it gives a very strong impression of lifestyle. Perfumes and cosmetics arranged neatly on a work surface; a newish pair of designer shoes by the door, a couple of posh paper carrier bags hanging on the wardrobe door, a bottle of champagne on the work surface waiting for an occasion... blatant! You really need to push the luxury thing if you're going to get people to buy in to it. I think a lot of what sells houses (ones that don't need work) is either associating with the people that live there or wanting to be like them!

The kitchen is lovely by the way. I'd love to have that

tomstickland

I'll be interested to see how this goes. A lot depends on the prospective buyers. Some might be swayed by fine detail. Others, like myself, will just look at the location, size, price etc and not take much notice of the detail as long as the overall condition is acceptable. Certainly make a lot of effort to make the photos look good for rightmove.

jennron

this might help - sorry
the apartment looks very neat and tidy and well decorated /stylish , but i would get rid of the bin in the middle of the kitchen. it sticks out. hid the rubbish if need be.
The bedroom looks small , and the small telly on the wall highlights the fact , (you could hire/borrow a flat screen for the wall) i didnt notice any mirrors (im not kinky) but a large mirror in bedroom could make it look bigger and open it out.
and also dont say you are moving because you need a bigger place! as they will think that they also will have to move for more space in a few years.
say you are moving to be nearer work/family,and iots been a very welcoming home for you but alas work/family call.

MEGANJODELLE

I have enjoyed reading this thread and wish the original poster well with her marketing. Perhaps the most important message here is to remember that Estate Agents do not always know best. The external shot of the original apartment looked like it was taken by David Blunkett! In it's full perspective, it maybe quite an attractive, modern building.

I have just bought a two year old two bed apartment that was marketed pretty hopelessy by the Estate Agents. It was advertised as a first floor apartment with the only external shot being the communal entrance. I initially dismissed it for a few weeks as I asumed there was another apartment above it. However, when I cruised round the develoment in my car, I realised that the apartment in question was on the top floor, but the crescent shaped block dipped in the middle down to two stories. Therefore, though it was on the first floor and didn't have the views of the third floor apartments, there was no one living above it. I paid nearly £10,000 less than a very similar third floor apartment in the same block. I appreciate that views do command a degree of premium, but I remain convinced that I got the flat at a competetive price because it was poorly marketed.

As a previous poster may have said, always view your home as a prospective buyer before you put it on the market. Alternatively, get a trusted and honest friend to do this for you. When I come to sell this apartment, I will make sure that the details and pictures make it clear there are no apartments above it.

Also, the comments are about promoting a "lifestyle" are so true. Stage your own home in an aspirational manner. If you need ideas for free, just visit show homes to see what is expected. The comment about posh bath and shower gel is very true. No one likes to think of buying a "second hand bathroom". The reality of my previous bathroom was Smart Price Shampoo, toilet paper and with no shower, one of those awful things you put on the taps to wash your hair. However, prior to any viewing this was transformed. The hair washing "thing" was banished and Jasper Conran bath gel was placed neatly on the edge of the bath.

Ironically, the lady that bought my last apartment did say to me that she would have to fit a shower. Good luck to her, I wish I hadn't been so tight when I bought the place and had got the developer to fit one. But at least I created the image of a warm, relaxing bath in luxurious designer bath gel. Maybe drinking a glass of wine and nibbling a little square of chocolate as I'm surrounded by candles!

Whereas the reality was me cursing, crouched over the bath, trying to wash my hair with that awful spray thing, freezing cold in the light from the other room, as I'm too much of a tight !!!!! to put the heating or lighting on!!