Very few viewings - estate agents being useless

louloumul

PasturesNew wrote: »

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....

Yeah I completely see your point!! The amount we want is what it was valued at - that or above based on a neighbour selling at 175k 2 months ago in a house that was very 'tired'. But the agency suggested this was the best way to advertise so we (possibly naively took their advice!)
And also on research it seems to be only my estate agency doing this on their houses - it's mostly used on auctions.
I'm going to give them another week and look to take our business elsewhere - I'm having to find solutions myself and they are paid enough!

NaughtiusMaximus

louloumul wrote: »

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.

louloumul wrote: »

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?

It's possible there was something the viewers didn't like about the property but were overly polite and didn't want to say. This isn't a criticism of you, from the the listing the house itself appears fine aside from being overlooked at the back which is pretty common these days anyway.

I agree with the comments about guide price, I'm not keen on them either. If the figure you actually want to sell for is 180k I would list at a price of 190k.

louloumul

WeAreGhosts wrote: »

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.

We had bought from them so got a nice discount and also they seemed so on the ball with marketing - the first week was fantastic - all energy and enthusiasm. They don't seem interested now!

Out,_Vile_Jelly

No obvious, major issues with your house from the pictures. Is it priced competitively with comparable properties in the area?

louloumul

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

I agree with the comments about guide price, I'm not keen on them either. If the figure you actually want to sell for is 180k I would list at a price of 190k.

Anyone have any thoughts about changing from a guide price to say 185k asking price?

Would this look really bad??

louloumul

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

No obvious, major issues with your house from the pictures. Is it priced competitively with comparable properties in the area?

Yes - almost too much so. The neighbour sold for 175 2 months ago - needed new kitched, new bathroom, smaller garden, no driveway and garage isn't integrated (ours has potential to convert) - so 180k, which is what it was valued at, seems reasonable I think.

Sapphire

PasturesNew wrote: »

It's a slow market.

I think it depends on where you are. In my area, 'For Sale' boards outside properties are quickly changed to 'Sold' boards, though there don't seem to be many properties being sold, perhaps because of the time of year? There's plenty of 'development' work on private properties, though, in the form of extensions, roof conversions and garden design (no let up in this respect, unfortunately).

PasturesNew

louloumul wrote: »

We put our property up for sale 2 weeks ago.

louloumul wrote: »

I'm going to give them another week and look to take our business elsewhere - I'm having to find solutions myself and they are paid enough!

Read your contract, they'll have tied you into using them for possibly 12 weeks or more. You can't just change agents.... they still want their pound of flesh.

Instead, go through their listing and make a list of the changes you want them to make.

[Deleted User]

I'm in the south west, and from what I see all around the area are properties (regardless of type e.g house/bungalow) taking 6 months or more to sell.
I also know several people selling their properties and up to 18 months is a real scenario
I agree that it's not a fast market overall.

kazwookie

Remove guide price, and put a 'proper' price in there

I would also put the outside front of housse photos first, as to me anyone that starts with an inside photo, makes me wonder what is wrong with the front.