Selling a 4 bed sandstone - advice needed!

martin.cat

Beeches3 wrote: »

Thank you Silvercar, I'll certainly bear this in mind when I'm looking for another one. But 3 agents in such a short space of time would worry me, what message is that sending??
I know it comes down to marketing but if they are all on the same websites what are the benefits?!

A good agent is proactive
They follow up enquiries and push / offer similar properties

At the moment you are relying on the internet and your ad doesn't market your house at its best.

Your relying on would be buyers to find then bother to ask about your property. As there is plenty of choice this isn't happening.

What you are missing out is the local agent whom knows client x has sold and is stepping up or down with 400k to spend.... So markets your house to them. They have viewed property z but wanted more space.. I have this fabulous one that ticks your boxes etc etc.

With a unique property multiple agents is probably best.

Your problem is you're already dropped because of the poor interest and marketing and now I guess offers will be as low as 375

ecgirl07

Beeches3 wrote: »

Our first agent told us that he had a database of clients looking and he would spit it out to all of them...12 weeks later, we told him of our disappointment at NO VIEWERS (or even interest) his reply was "you're not the only ones"!! We also asked about any feedback from the database, and a rather vague "not interested" response was given. Got the feeling from them that once we had signed up we were just another one on their books!!

At 400K you are competing with the gated houses between Uddingston and Bothwell or a Farm House with a bit of land. If i had 400k to spend on a house Airdrie would not make my shortlist. Its a very expensive fish in a relatively not nice pond (Airdrie might be nice but it doesnt inspire me to live there hope that makes sense)

I might be enticed to look if the blurb had a bit of info about it being the headmasters house and noting any original features left.

Beeches3

AdrianC wrote: »

<coughs, shuffles feet, raises hand>
<looks around own drive>
Six cars here, and one that's still in a rented garage near the old house, 18mo later.

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Look at this way. Estate Agents make their money by selling property. For whatever reason. Price, locality, looks. There's no immediate interest in the property. So you are just going to have to wait until there is someone for whom your property ticks all the boxes. You took the risk on improving\extending the property without considering all the implications of doing so. Stamp duty changes won't help either I suspect.

You're right Thrugelmir...but I'm also hoping the upcoming changes to stamp duty might help bring buyers before the April deadline, who knows it might even have a positive effect:o

Beeches3

Martin.cat how do you find that agent though....I appreciate it's their job to sell houses and fully understand the difficulties of the market...but losing faith in EAs!!

Beeches3

ecgirl07 wrote: »

At 400K you are competing with the gated houses between Uddingston and Bothwell or a Farm House with a bit of land. If i had 400k to spend on a house Airdrie would not make my shortlist. Its a very expensive fish in a relatively not nice pond (Airdrie might be nice but it doesnt inspire me to live there hope that makes sense)

I might be enticed to look if the blurb had a bit of info about it being the headmasters house and noting any original features left.

ecgirl07, if you could lift my house and put it in Uddingston or Bothwell then I'm pretty sure I could ring the removers right now! But as you say it's in Airdrie and if someone has 400K to spend unless you are Airdrie born and bred then it might not be your cuppa tea.

gardner1

looks like a care home from front picture......you need lots of green/plants/tubs etc. to soften it a bit and lose the fountain

Beeches3

gardner1 wrote: »

looks like a care home from front picture......you need lots of green/plants/tubs etc. to soften it a bit and lose the fountain

LOL...that made me laugh...might just turn it into one :rotfl:

cte1111

I think the house and outside look a bit cold and unappealing. The first picture in particular makes it look rather foreboding, combined with the lack of greenery it looks almost unloved.

The inside is clearly immaculate in places and the extension looks great. After that I got a bit confused by the number of rooms and couldn't see how they fit together, they just blur into one without an explanation or floor plan. In photo 17, is this just a mattress on the floor? It being so low and the bedding trailing on the floor looks a bit studenty / bedsit.

Then the final pictures of the stained deck area, which overwhelms the small remaining dead grass space, followed by the scary gates would put me off viewing. I think most families looking for a large home, which yours certainly looks like, would be put off by the limited back garden. Returfing and taking garden pictures from a different angle might help make it look more appealing.

silvercar

There are 6 agents that sell in Airdrie who are on rightmove.

Colin Tomney has one property above 300k

Countrywide has 3, all substantial older properties, including one development opportunity

Independent M & PS has 3

Joanna Daly has none

Raymond Logan has 3 - the same 3 as Independent M & PS

Remax has none.



On the basis of what they currently have for sale, I would go with countywide.

MadelinesMum

The fountain isn't that bad. You could put some live/natural yogurt on it to make it look older and more weathered.

http://gargoyle-statues.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Make-A-Garden-Ornaments-Look-Antique

Good luck.