Disappointing amount of view on Zoopla

Orlando_Virgin

I'm actually in a really sticky situation. The mortgage on the house is jointly owned by me and an ex-girlfriend. I live in the house and have paid the mortgage and all bills since the day she left in 2010, but I'm getting to a position where I am struggling to pay for it all on my own.

The amount left on the mortgage is £97,000 and with around 16 months left on a 5 year fixed term, the early redemption fee would cost around £2500. Add to that solicitors fees and estate agent fees and I'm worried it's going to get to a point where I can even break-even.

In the mean time the ex is living with her parents saving a ton of money and basically saying "is it sold yet?"

bluep

I would also see if you can retake the picture of the outside - it looks very small, distant and dark! It wouldn't entice me to click through to the details from a broader search. Maybe a full frame just showing the front of the house, a little bit of sky and not the neighbours - from a straight on angle? Worth playing around with a bit and seeing what looks best (and I would also try and photograph it when no car is parked in front!).

I was surprised when our EA came round - he bought a didly little digital camera and snapped away (I sat there thinking of the lovely semi-pro digital SLR canon I had upstairs and why on earth didn't I take some photos myself). As it happens, he got good shots but I wouldn't be afraid to borrow a camera and have a go yourself - just be careful with the framing (or ask a friend who is good at photography) and then get your EA to change the photos in the listing.

olly300

Orlando_Virgin wrote: »

I'm actually in a really sticky situation. The mortgage on the house is jointly owned by me and an ex-girlfriend. I live in the house and have paid the mortgage and all bills since the day she left in 2010, but I'm getting to a position where I am struggling to pay for it all on my own.

The amount left on the mortgage is £97,000 and with around 16 months left on a 5 year fixed term, the early redemption fee would cost around £2500. Add to that solicitors fees and estate agent fees and I'm worried it's going to get to a point where I can even break-even.

In the mean time the ex is living with her parents saving a ton of money and basically saying "is it sold yet?"

What kind of legal agreement did you have with her if you split up?

If you had none, and you live in a two bedroom place why haven't you taken in a lodger to attempt to cover her share of the bills/mortgage?

Also as another poster has already said the majority of people look on Rightmove for a property so if your property isn't on there don't expect people to find it.

Finally if you are in an area where properties aren't selling then no matter how you dress the house up it's not going to sell unless you reduce the price dramatically.

googler

Retake the photos with the following changes;

1 close upstairs window

2 Remove everything - shoe rack, ironing board, clothes airers etc, the black things to RHS of fireplace ... This is described as the front sitting room with no evidence of anything to sit on ...

4 move the bin, the drainer and contents, all cleaning products, take everything off top of microwave and fridge, cut down number of items on worktop? Don't show off the washing in the washing machine

5 oh, dear ... Where to start? Make the bed. Remove drying clothes, guitar, clutter on bedside cabinets, tidy the bookshelf.

6 make the bed, remove the blue clutter at foot of bed. Is that a half-finished packet of biscuits on the cabinet?

8 Try not to show the door, as showing that next to the basin just reinforces how small the bathroom is. Clear away all the shampoo and shower gels, as well as toothbrushes etc, and any manky towels. Is the area around the soil pipe filled with expanding filler? That needs fixin'

bluep wrote: »

I was surprised when our EA came round - he bought a didly little digital camera and snapped away (I sat there thinking of the lovely semi-pro digital SLR canon I had upstairs and why on earth didn't I take some photos myself). As it happens, he got good shots but I wouldn't be afraid to borrow a camera and have a go yourself - just be careful with the framing (or ask a friend who is good at photography) and then get your EA to change the photos in the listing.

None of the things that need correcting in the OP's house have anything to do with the camera used by the EA. Good photos depend on the prep work, in the main.

Ivana_Tinkle

I was surprised how nice the inside looks, as I didn't think the photo of the outside looked appealing at all. I agree with bluep's suggestions for retaking it, but I think you need to go a lot further and really have a think about giving it "kerb appeal". Brightly coloured flowers in pots and hanging baskets would be an obvious start.

I know this is a bit controversial and lots of people on here won't agree, but I think it's worth considering using an internal shot of the house as the main pic. I did this when selling a house with an unappealing exterior last year, and it didn't seem to do any harm. (By contrast, when I bought the place, the agent was using a shot of the outside, and it had languished on the market for ages.) I think it's worth considering when there's such a mismatch between the exterior and the interior.

ognum

As you issue is not having enough views which I believe means not enough clicks through to look at further pictures I would say

I really dislike when people take out sach windows and put in twee bays like yours has, if it is a terrace with sach windows why change it.

Actually I don't think the inside is that bad but you are not getting anyone to look at the inside so improve your kerb appeal.

Americanism I know but how about some shrubs in tubs, something that makes it less drab and more appealing.

Lack of click through can mean price as well or just lack of buyers, have you looked at other houses in the area to see their stats,it could just be that people in your area don't use Zoopla!!!!

just my thoughts

bluep

googler wrote: »

None of the things that need correcting in the OP's house have anything to do with the camera used by the EA. Good photos depend on the prep work, in the main.

Sorry, I think you have misunderstood what I was trying to say. I completely agree with the points made about decluttering the room - I think this would make the world of differnce but I was adding more comments about the outside angle/framing that the EA chose. My point was, if his EA didn't want to come and retake the photos, it's not difficult to provide them with updated photos yourself nowdays.

I nearly rephotographed the front of our house on a sunnier day (and without the bright plastic blue next delivery bag that the EA didn't think to move out of sight before taking the photo)....but it sold before I could do so

I was pleasantly surprised by the size and appearance of the rooms in the actual listing (looking past the stuff lying around) but probably wouldn't have clicked past the initial front photo.

Nikkster

I expect you'll have had a lot more views when Zoopla next updates it's figures

Orlando_Virgin

Thank you all for your feedback. I have contacted the estate agents and they are coming to re-do the photographs on Monday.

Regarding the joint mortgage situation, it's safe to say the ex and I don't get on very well and so obviously the sale of the house is important to moving on. As I have non interest in living there, have I any right to move out of the house and in with my Mum and Dad and make sure she pays half of the mortgage and for the upkeep of the house?

giddypenguin

IMO, it's got to be price, I just did a search of within 1 mile of your location, and there are 5 3 bedroom semis all at between 100-110k. With those cheaper options below I wouldn't click on yours... sorry.