House Viewings Have Dried Up - Advice?

CS1986

My flat has been up for sale off and on since last July. We put it on originally in July and then took it off at the end of February this year to give it a break as we worried it had gone 'stale'. We then put it back on in May and had maybe 5 or 6 viewings in the first 2 weeks, then nothing. We had one viewing 3 weeks ago but that was as a tag on to another viewing.


I'm just wandering if it is our flat that is unappealing or if it is priced too high. Any advice would be great. I am not allowed to post a link for some reason, but it is in Hertford, on at £300,000, 2 bedroom flat on Mead Lane 0.11 miles from Station and is currently the featured property.

Throwaway1

If you post a broken link (just put a couple of spaces in it), someone can post it for you. It's hard to give comments without seeing the property. Have you had any feedback from the viewings you've had?

CocoLouie

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65405938.html

Throwaway1

CocoLouie wrote: »

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65405938.html

Thanks, there's 2 on Zoopla in the same place for the same price so wasn't sure which one it was.



First of all, and I know it sounds harsh OP but those pictures are awful!! The first one is over saturated, the second one looks like you are trying to just sell the vase of flowers rather than the flat, the third one is randomly outdoors again when we'd just moved to indoors. The fifth is of a random corner of the room with a cabinet in (are you even leaving the cabinet?) Number 6 isn't too bad except the focus is on the sofa which then makes the rest of the picture blurry. We then have some nice ones until we get to number 12 which is a vase again! 13 is just a picture of a desk and a picture on the wall, it adds nothing. The advertisement keeps saying long lease, but how long is the long lease exactly? The flat looks lovely but the photographer has let you down big time. Get some new pictures put up and you'll have way more interest I reckon. I can't comment on price really as I don't know that area. How much have other flats with a similar lease length sold (rather than just been advertised) for recently?

CS1986

Thanks Throwaway1 - I have kind of thought the same about that initial photo to be honest. Makes it look like an artist's rendering as opposed to a real life photo! Noted about the lifestyle shots. The agent talked us in to spending £200 on professional photos and now I'm wondering if they were even worth it.

Throwaway1

CS1986 wrote: »

Thanks Throwaway1 - I have kind of thought the same about that initial photo to be honest. Makes it look like an artist's rendering as opposed to a real life photo! Noted about the lifestyle shots. The agent talked us in to spending £200 on professional photos and now I'm wondering if they were even worth it.

Just edited above but you may have missed it. The flat itself looks lovely but the photographer has really let you down with those. Get some new ones taken and I'm sure you'll have plenty of interest. Good luck.

Fosterdog

I agree with Throwaway, the pictures are bad, you do not need the artsy photos of vases and closeups of bedside tables, that is just the EA trying to look artistic and failing to actually sell your property. Plus they have been taken with a lens and at angles to distort the rooms, they've attempted to make everything look bigger but it just looks like your sofa, tv, and oven are unnaturally long, it makes it appear that the rooms are so small you have to use fancy camera angles just to make it look liveable.

The actual flat is well presented, well laid out and does look good but the photos look deliberately deceptive, people don't want that, they want to know what it actually looks like when you are stood in the rooms.

Picture 4 shows what looks like a really good sized area for dining, however picture 6 shows it to be quite confined on the angled wall.

lisyloo

What's been the feedback from the 5/6 viewings?
What has the EA said?

hb2

I agree about the photos. It looks, to me, more like a developer trying to sell an unfinished new build than someone selling their home. I know the advice is always to 'de-clutter' but it hardly looks as if anyone actually lives there (you must be far tidier than me! )

However, you have been getting people through the door to view, so the photos haven't put everyone off, but that has not translated into a buyer. What is putting them off? Has your EA given any feedback?

hazyjo

Honest opinions.

1. Yes, it looks like an artist's impression. I would automatically think 'new build' and pass.

2. Definitely a new build type of pic. Lose it.

3. Fine, I think. Is that a photo? Still got a bit of 'artist's impression' about it! Plus it makes me think the blocks are rather extensive and puts me off a bit.

4. Really shows off how odd-shaped the room is. Never usually popular as can be hard to furnish. Not sure that's the best layout - is there only one sofa? I would have it facing the TV.

5. Fine - although thought it was showing off a built-in cupboard until I realised it was freestanding and I was meant to be looking left at the hallway. Also brought my attention to the heating. Is an 'electric heater' and 'electric radiator' or a 'storage heater'? The latter aren't for everyone!

6. Ah, the kitchen is all in the same room. I would definitely have the sofa's back to it to separate the space a bit. This would be a massive turn off for me, although appreciate others (often FTBs who know no better lol) love it.

7. I see a second sofa! Would much rather this pic be first - would make it seem more like a separate area! As much as I like sofas facing each other, I would turn that one round still (back to kitchen).

8. Fine - although would have taken from the right a bit more. Really don't like the table/chairs where they are - they need to be a bit further away from that end cupboard.

9. Fine - although really emphasises it's just one room with everything lumped in.

10. What a strange camera shot. I thought it really was that wide until I realised the sofa would be weird over there, plus pic 7 tells me otherwise!

11. Great - although hate the 'office blinds'. Not appealing at all in a bedroom - would change to a blind or curtains to soften it.

12. Lose it - it's a 'new build development' sort of pic.

13. Strange place for a desk instead of a bedside table, but if it works for you... Looks really nice so it gets away with being there I think.

14. Bit soulless and like a converted office building (too much white, blinds, not a great light...)

15. Great. No window though?

Overall, nicely presented and neutral.

Price doesn't look to be horrendous for there.

Streetview - is that in the wrong place, or weren't they built yet? I've found a large block near the end which may be it. I'd get them to change that so it opens in the right place.

Hope not too harsh - wanted to go through each pic. You really have been had by that photographer! Thinks he can charge that amount cos he's chucked in a few arty shots? So bad!

Slinky

Photos aren't good, but to be honest, it's £300K for a flat with a combined kitchen/lounge/dining room, and that room is a wierd shape and not particularly big.


ETA The living area is actually larger than I thought possibly. The measurements on your floor plan aren't the same as the ones on the description. They're out by several feet!