Few viewings but no real interest yet

Crashy_Time

Davesnave wrote: »

It's decluttered to the point of looking like no one's really lived there. While you don't want there to be too much in the way of personal belongings and muddle, the spaces just look like a half-empty furniture showroom and it's all far too clinical.

A few well chosen pictures or pieces of art work would help, and some flowers strategically placed for the shots, or larger pieces of live greenery, grouped to make it less sterile-looking.

And does your child have no furniture and nowhere to put their toys? Poor kid! Where does a filing cabinet and an ironing board fit into their life?

Yes, most of us iron, but it's not something viewers will aspire to, and you're selling a lifestyle here, though you don't seem to understand that, or you wouldn't have bare light bulbs showing how poor one has to be......

Sorry to be harsh, but it's tough love here!

No, they are selling a basic living space in Reading, people don`t buy the TV property show type spiel any more.

StumpyPumpy

To be honest, the listing you linked to is pretty appalling. For instance it doesn't even say whether or not you have an actual allocated parking space because if you do it is going to be a big plus. Even more so if that space is in front of your flat, otherwise you will have strangers cars pulling up a couple of feet from your living room and/or bedroom windows which would be a big turn off for me.

As a wider point I think you need to consider who your target buyer is. Reading's demographic tends toward younger, single people often linked with the university, hospital or the tech parks such as TVP at the end of the A329(M). It is also commuter territory with the fast line into Paddington, and I think your buyer will come from one of those groups (or a landlord targeting them).

Unfortunately you are on the wrong side of the Kennet really to be in prime location for them but obviously there is nothing you can do about that (unless you can hire a crack team of guerilla beavers to divert it for you). But even so, you need to think about what more you could do to appeal to those people. A better listing would point to the ease of commuting and access to hospital, university as well as the centre of town.

The other problem you have is that you are in exactly the type of property, in exactly the area of the country, that is currently experiencing a downturn due in part to an exodus of young EU nationals who no longer feel welcome in the UK but would otherwise be looking for affordable flat shares. There are currently 140 listings for 2 bed flats at £275k or below within 3 miles of your place (excluding shared ownership) which gives you an idea of the scale of the problem and your competition.

Sorry I can't be more encouraging, but I think you are going to have a long wait before you manage to sell and you may need to review your options with regard to selling price. I'm assuming the owners of the other part of the shared ownership don't want to buy your half? Because that might be your best hope to shift it quickly, I think you are just digging yourself in deeper to staircase to 100% and then sell.

SP

t0rt0ise

Reading should become popular when people realise that they will be able to get from Reading to the centre of London on Crossrail direct.

Davesnave

Crashy_Time wrote: »

No, they are selling a basic living space in Reading, people don`t buy the TV property show type spiel any more.

So you agree with me that it looks pretty basic. That's good.

It's troubling to read that human psychology doesn't exist, though. That's going to upset all those who have qualifications in it, to say nothing of advertisers who spend zillions on it, apparently all to no good purpose. Ah well...

getmore4less

Standard RM more like this inc SSTC.

1/2m 240-325 2b+

44/29 numbers are for sale/SSTC

price 2b 3b+
0-230 09/01 0/1
0-240 13/04 0/1
0-250 19/04 0/1
0-260 28/06 0/2
0-270 31/09 1/3
0-280 35/12 2/4
0-290 35/13 3/4
0-300 39/17 5/5
0-325 49/25 8/6

If we focus in
240-280 22/11 2/3

There is a lot of choice at this price point and you are competing with 2/3 bed houses.

There are 14SSTC in the 260-280 have a good look at those that is what people are making offers on.

Marvel1

2 things put me off:
Leasehold and parking.

lincroft1710

hariprabu2010 wrote: »

Hi all, thanks for great replies. As you all said I will look to make it a bit lively. I really can't do much about the length of the rooms though.

It is often the case that the things you can't change are what puts buyers off rather than decor or dated fittings

kerri_gt

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Reading should become popular when people realise that they will be able to get from Reading to the centre of London on Crossrail direct.

There is (or was) already a lot of interest in Reading due to Crossrail, which has also driven a lot of property being built in the area.

Unfortunately Crossrail has been delayed which isn't helpful. On the other hand, there are a lot of businesses who have moved or extended offices to Reading (and lots of new office space too) where the real estate is cheaper than London. Reading is already commutable from many areas of London and Crossrail should help extend this in the long term.

Crashy_Time

Davesnave wrote: »

So you agree with me that it looks pretty basic. That's good.

It's troubling to read that human psychology doesn't exist, though. That's going to upset all those who have qualifications in it, to say nothing of advertisers who spend zillions on it, apparently all to no good purpose. Ah well...

I take it you never studied psychology then? The whole discipline is based on the work of around 12 -15 people, who`s methodology and subjects of study are debatable to say the least. If advertising worked like you would like to believe the central banks wouldn`t have needed to pour trillions in QE into the broken financial system would they, people would be out spending day and night? The idea that you can "sell a lifestyle" on this flat is in the same camp as "Re-arrange the photos, change the EA!", in other words a waste of time, the best psychological tactic to use IMO is DROP THE PRICE!

quantumlobster

Crashy_Time wrote: »

I take it you never studied psychology then? The whole discipline is based on the work of around 12 -15 people, who`s methodology and subjects of study are debatable to say the least. If advertising worked like you would like to believe the central banks wouldn`t have needed to pour trillions in QE into the broken financial system would they, people would be out spending day and night? The idea that you can "sell a lifestyle" on this flat is in the same camp as "Re-arrange the photos, change the EA!", in other words a waste of time, the best psychological tactic to use IMO is DROP THE PRICE!

How does "DROP THE PRICE" work for you, in practice? How much did you DROP THE PRICE on the last property you sold?