Problems selling our apartment

JAYJAY33_2

Sorry just have to let off steam. Our apartment is just not selling and it means we may out on the house of our dreams. Have signed up to an express mover scheme so they pay our estate agents fees if we buy a new house. Our apartment went on market in january and we had three viewings and no offers. It went on for £129950. Then the estate agent advised us to reduce it below stamp duty to 125,000 and we had no viewings at all. Later found out there is no stamp duty in our area so we changed estate agents after numerous issues with them. We are now using a smaller estate agent but its been on with them since just after easter so a couple of months now. We have had numerous valuations done which have come in at around £140k but as its still a relatively new development we put it on 5k lower at £135k and since signing up to express mover scheme we have reduced to £129950. However there is still no interest. Problem is there are quite a few for sale as some property investor has bought a load and they are now advertised on right move which is so annoying as when we bought our place we were told they would not be selling to private investors and that the development would be completed this june. They have since bought further land next to our development which means they will be building for another year! At the moment the builders have no 2 bed apartments for sale on our development and wont have till around next june now but others are selling on here as most have been here a year now. Any suggestions on what we can do anyone as worried we will lose the house we really want and its at such a good price as its off plan, its a three bed detached with integral garage for £175k. Nothing in the area is so competively priced so they will be sold soon. Any ideas what we can do at all please? Just so frustrated at the moment.
Thanks
Kate

JAYJAY33_2

This is the apartment link on right move, any opinions greatly received about advertising etc http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-15340294.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy
Thank you!

juliapenguin

JAYJAY33 wrote: »

This is the apartment link on right move, any opinions greatly received about advertising etc http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-15340294.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy
Thank you!

Hi JayJay

I think your apartment looks fabulous - we are having the same problem - our house has been up for sale for two months and we've only had two viewings, one by someone who didn't really want our type of house and one by people whose own house wasn't even on the market. I'm in despair! We've already 'lost' our dream house in a village near Preston and if we don't move soon I'll be in real trouble when I start university in September in Lancaster - the commute is just awful from here and I can't afford to stay over while we're still paying out on our huge mortgage.

Sorry to rant - you wanted help and all I've done is moan. I just think your home looks lovely and wanted to say so.

Julia

iwilldoitthistime

Please dont take this personally, as your apartment looks fine to me - but some of your pictures make the apartment look cluttered. Especially pic 2 and 6. Could you remove some of your furniture in the bedroom, and possibly the bookcase from behing the door in your living area to get better photos? Its just the prospective buyers might think it is small as you seem to have so much on show?? (I have a small house and probably have the same storage problems, as it is new and they just dont give you enough/any storage!)

Also, could they take photos of the living area from another angle so it doesnt look so overlooked?

Just ideas!

Feanor

Hi,

I think it looks really nice, but its hard to know if it is priced correctly?

When did you buy it and how much for?

What are similiar properties in the area selling for?

JAYJAY33_2

Hi thanks for all replies, really useful. We bought the apartment last June for £116995 and are wanting a minimum of £125k but are reluctant to put this down just yet as we will have no room to negotiate. Will take advice about clutter into consideration, the room in question is second bedroom which is more of a study as we have no children so use it for paperwork etc. Other rooms are pretty clutter free as i like minimalistic look. Been thinking about putting up netting or voiles so its not so overlooked, what you think? Just concerned it will stop as much light coming in which is the main selling point when having such large windows. At the moment none of the apartments have sold privately so cant really compare prices. New ones being built are slightly more to buy that ours.

meanmachine_2

It looks very ordinary, very average to me.

The flat also appears to be looking into about six other properties.

Very exposed.

The problem with new builds is that they're always building more.

They're anything but scarce - particularly in cities outside of London and Mancester.

Leeds, for example, is experiencing a massive new build crash in prices right now.

iwilldoitthistime

jayjay

being so overlooked would put me off - could you get blinds (I know these will cost, but it might get people through the door). Could you declutter and store the excess at a friends/family members house short term? It would be worth the inconvenience if it gets you the sale.

JAYJAY33_2

Thanks meanmachine. I appreciate constructive comments but yours seem a bit harsh if i may say so, 'average and ordinary' are fine if they come with comments are to what we can do to alter that. I understand apartments are everywhere which is why im seeing what we can do to make our stand out more. Thanks for your reply though.

JAYJAY33_2

Thanks very much iwilldoitthistime, your comments are really useful. Not sure if we can afford blinds but i think voiles may help so it does not look so overlooked. Unfortunately pretty much everywhere in liverpool is overlooked as its so built up so i will try and make it look more private this week and try and de clutter that room. Thanks for everyones comments.;)

Feanor

Hi,

I actually think the main problem may also be the fact they are building brand new ones for not much more than you are asking for? From a FTB point of view, i would rather pay a little extra and have something brand new. I know that sucks and not what you want to hear but i fear it may be a problem for you.

Especially if they are developers that are offering incentives to first time buyers such as deposit/stamp dutu paid etc etc..

I hope it works out though, keep us updated!