No viewing requests in first week?

Aaroncity2

Hi all

So we decided to list our two bed flat last week with Yopa, unfortunately  we've had no viewing requests in the first week  and can't seem to figure out why.

I can see there are a few flats for sale in the area that haven't shifted, and I wonder if it's a combination of less first time buyers out there due to most banks wanting 15% deposits, too many flats on the market and perhaps the school holidays? I'd expect first time buyers or someone downsizing/retiring as we mostly have older people here.

What my question is, does my listing look OK? And is this normal in the market at the moment? We feel a bit deflated about viewing any houses ourself until we at least have a viewing request! Honest opinions welcomed.

Link as follows: rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-96395513.html

Thank you

numbercruncher8

The photos are fine.
The exterior photo isn't great, nothing showing the front entrance. 

The real issue is price, only looked for a bit but seems to be others on at £215k nearby. For a FTB in the Basildon area I'd think you could also get a 2 bed, 2 bath for under £200k. Going further afield I think the competition also could be from the stations that are in the Travelcard zone.

AdrianC

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-96395513.html

The job of the listing is to get people through the door.
Yours isn't doing that.
So why not...? What are people seeing that's making them say "Nah, next."?

Guide price £230k. Guide price £230-240k. Make your mind up.
Nothing wrong with the photos - the living room's a bit repetitive, but that's not the end of the world.
It's 2020 - why are the dimensions only in Dibnah...?
The living room dimensions look misleading. There's no way the TV-to-sofa depth is 4m. So that must be the very longest dimension, to the end of the angled kitchen wall... So what's the relevant dimension?

That apart, there's nothing wrong with the listing. And they're being a bit picky.

So... comparables...
On a surface level, the price looks about right - plenty of similar flats listed for similar amounts. Nine within half a mile.
Does that itself tell a story? Is everybody getting out, for some reason, with not many buyers looking...?

davidmcn

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-96395513.html

numbercruncher8 said:

The photos are fine.
The exterior photo isn't great, nothing showing the front entrance.

Also claims a "lovely outlook", so why no photos showing that?

moneysavinghero

Hoards and hoards of people are doing what you are trying to do - getting out of a flat and into a house. Few people want to live in a flat at the moment. For the few that do, they have a massive selection to choose from. Supply and demand.

Not sure a retiring couple would want to buy a top floor flat.

Doozergirl

An estate agent was telling me that flats without balconies/gardens are not selling well, post-lockdown.  

Have you also checked to see how easy the booking process is with Yopa, as a prospective viewer?  

NinjaTune

Nice flat, well presented.  Second bedroom slightly smaller than I would expect in a 2 bed but still big enough to fit a double bed in.

The picture you have are fine as stated above, but I agree that a few more would be good (e.g. car parking, communal entrance).

Guide prices put me off, I much prefer a fixed price so I can judge what offer to make.  When you have a 10k differential that makes it harder, especially for people who have a maximum budget of 230k or just over; they may feel there's no point in viewing.  The 240k part of the guide price makes it the most expensive 2 bed in your area.

100 year lease is okay; if the buyer sells after 5 years then there's still a reasonable amount left on the lease.  £1600 a year service/ground rent seems a little steep to me, assuming that the ground rent is also paid quarterly.  That may well be average for the area though.

Personally I'd get more photos of the exterior/communal areas and also put it on at a fixed price so buyers know exactly where they stand when it comes to making an offer.

Vestraun

Photos and listing look fine, sorry to bring the bad news but it will be the price.

Angela_D_3

I ahve to say I would not buy a flat now and I think that's going to be the case until lockdown is a distant memory tbh.

getmore4less

more like this 3 miles, sample size for 1 miles small
forsale/SSTC
price....2b.........3b+
0-200 045/055 01/12
0-210 056/064 01/15
0-220 075/087 02/21
0-230 097/105 04/30
0-240 114/122 06/49
0-250 134/136 16/78
0-300 193/203 121/230
0-max 235/265 519/687

breaking down the 2b into types
price.......all....Det. Sem..ter......flat
200-250 99/95  1/0 1/1 28/37 70/51

Up against 3 beds and 2 bed house at that price range and loads of 2bed flats to choose from..
looking 1mile 200-250 there are 13 2 beds for sale and only 3 SSTC.  1/2mile it is 9/2

numbercruncher8

In FTB territory you have places like this:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59465247.html
Walking distance to the station..... also en-suite. There are also lots of listings and that one has been on for over 1.5 years.

It is probably safe to say that any FTB wanting your place will not be using the train, using a car to get to work. 
For a family, these flats are not that suitable, and there are houses with outside space available for not much more money which don't come with a monthly service charge.
For retirees, would they really go for a top floor flat where there is no lift? (If there is a lift, it isn't mentioned).

The target market seems thin to me, which is why the lack of interest.