Very few viewings - estate agents being useless

louloumul

Hi there,

We put our property up for sale 2 weeks ago.

The way our agency works is that they do a launch after 1 week and book several appointments on 1 morning.

Since 4 days after it went live, we have had no more calls about the house. The house is a turnkey - no work to be done, recently redecorated, muted tones, modern but very cosy, insulated, off road parking, garage, front and rear gardens, end terrace, new windows, bathroom etc. (will post a photo soon, this won't let me because I'm new!)

We have priced it right where it should be - not being unrealistic. We had 5 buyers come - all the feedback was "lovely house, right price" but they had personal reasons like preferred location for not wanting to make an offer or it was outside their budget.

I phoned the estate agents today voicing my concern at how slow this has been, given this should be the period we get most viewings, they advised it would be very popular (demand is far outweighing supply in our area at the moment) and also that we haven't had any more phone calls in nearly 10 days. They agreed - it's very strange, they were shocked we didn't sell it on the first weekend, then left the call with "look I don't know what to suggest" - which frustrated me even more!

I have 2 questions:
1. Does it sound like they aren't vetting buyers properly? Why have someone come to see a house in X location when they want to live in Y? Or when they can't even afford the house?
2. Should the estate agent be doing something more to try book viewing - it feels to me like they have just posted it online and left it at that.

Thanks in advance for your opinions! Getting frustrated - I nearly wish we had some negative feedback so we could at least do something about it!

quantumlobster

You can't post complete links because you're a new user, but you can just put a space after the http:// bit and then we can figure it out

PasturesNew

The market's quiet... mine's for sale and not much of a sniff. Everybody's waiting for somebody else's to sell ... stuff I am watching, potentially to view, is being reduced... I won't be viewing any until my house shows signs of interest.

It's a slow market. Doesn't mean the agent is automatically useless.

I am watching every house that's in the same price bracket as mine, that'd be a "competitor" for my house ... and none of those are selling either. Are your competitors selling? I'm watching any house with 2-3 beds (mine's got 2), that's within 2-3 miles of my house, whether it's newish or older or on the ex-council estate... watching them all.... nothing's moving.

With selling I am watching 55 "competitors".
With buying I am watching 105 properties. If mine gets an offer I'll then line up 5-6 viewings from those, until then, no point.

... I need a new hobby.....

Cakeguts

If you post the post code we will work out where the house is.

louloumul

Oh you know all the tricks!

Postcode is HD95JQ - Guide price 175k

The market is really not slow in our area at all. We have already lost out on 2 houses we wanted. Everything is moving really fast - the estate agents are even surprised on this. And I say they are useless because they literally have zero suggestions - nothing. Just shrugging the shoulders, while I make suggestions that perhaps the photo where you can see all of our neighbours wheelie bins isn't the best one to have as a featured photo :rotfl:

Appreciate the feedback after you've had a look

PasturesNew

louloumul wrote: »

Guide price

Who suggested you use those words? Those automatically go to the bottom of my list as I figure you actually want more than the price says ... so I start off disliking you and "you can stuff your house"

louloumul

Oh really?!! This was the estate agents suggestion as they said you can get more viewers in the lower bracket to come see it - more about just getting them in the door I think (which hasn't exactly worked anyway!)

Ms_Chocaholic

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75629837.html


I usually see "guide prices" for properties that are due to be auctioned, could this wording be putting off potential buyers.

louloumul

Oh dear - I might need to reconsider that then.

Would it not then look terrible to change it to a set amount? Which would be 180k - so higher than this guide price?

Thanks again!

PasturesNew

louloumul wrote: »

Oh dear - I might need to reconsider that then.

Would it not then look terrible to change it to a set amount? Which would be 180k - so higher than this guide price?

Thanks again!

So you DO want more .... which is why I'd not view it. You never know how much more people really want, so no point wasting your time viewing or offering if you don't know if you can afford it You feel "stiffed" before you pick the phone up to arrange a viewing.

Plenty of other houses for sale....

WeAreGhosts

What made you go with Willam H Brown? I found they were the pushiest and most lacking in knowledge when I was trying to sell.

I agree with getting rid of the guide price. Just state what you want, then everyone's clear about it.

I can't see anything wrong with the house itself. Looks nice. People may be put off with the downstairs being a bit too open plan, but some will like it.