Selling house through lockdown

Dougie0202

Anyone else struggling to get viewings since the second lockdown? My house has been up 11 days had 2 viewings booked last week then both cancelled. Wondering if it may be the price, or generally people don’t want to view during lockdown

thanks

LHW99

Ours has been up a week, no viewings, though one prospective. I reckon its going to be slow until things are eased again.

RelievedSheff

I think you will have the double whammy of the second lock down plus this time of year is traditionally slower for house sales with the run up to Christmas looming.

Davesnave

Depends where you are and what your selling strategy is.

Our niece in a Bristol suburb went live on Rightmove in the middle of last week, had 11 viewings and 3 offers, including two above asking price and she's accepted one of them. Funds confirmed.

However, Bristol's a hot market, she priced very keenly and her house is in move-in condition with no obvious down-sides. She's offered now on a property she wants, which wouldn't otherwise hang about, so she calculated taking a small hit to do that was worth it.

Some people are of the opinion lockdown2 is a farce, given the disingenuous way Boris and his chums used data to justify it, so they're voting with their feet. In my view, this will grow, but the basic messages around distancing and hygiene are sound, so it's to be hoped these aren't lost sight of. Viewings aren't against the new restrictions, but it's how people feel that decides whether they go out to see property. In my area people are generally relaxed, but in more urban situations they might not be and  the time of year isn't auspicious either.

jonners666

We’ve been up (again after buyers pulled out) 7 days and had 5 viewings and 1 booked in today.

Hate to say it but if the price is right, they will come 

amandacat

Our house had loads of viewings pre lockdown and when our buyer pulled out and it went back on the market post lockdown we had hardly any viewings booked in. 
One of my neighbours sold their home during the first lockdown based on the buyer seeing the online viewing video only. I really thought that buyer would pull out but she’s recently completed without the buyer ever having physically seen the house!  
Have you got a video or virtual tour available on your listing? Might be worth adding this if not. 

Hebblethwaite

I've been trying to arrange to view a house that meets all my criteria for the past week. I can't get any kind of response from the EA. Given the house has been on the market for the past month without an offer (admittedly, a bit of a red flag in this market), I suspect the sellers would be pretty irritated that the EAs are ignoring enquiries from prospective buyers. This is the second EA from which I've had no response, even though I've been very clear that I'm a serious FTB with a big deposit, mortgage agreement in principle, and very secure employment. I guess it's a good way to work out which EAs to steer clear of, as I suspect the two that aren't responding are likely to drag their heels when it comes to moving things forwards with an actual sale.

Dougie0202

We are in a north Norfolk village close to sandringham estate, 3 bed detached bungalow with large garden and field behind priced at £285000 

Davesnave

Dougie0202 said:

We are in a north Norfolk village close to sandringham estate, 3 bed detached bungalow with large garden and field behind priced at £285000 

So, rural, with a smaller supply of people who will be looking than in urban areas, but probably with a more relaxed attitude to risks in doing viewings. But where are all these folk we hear about, allegedly deserting the cities for a work from home life in the sticks?

Certainly, in my part of Devon we've seen a healthy interest in property like yours, but it's not been the mad scrum the media would have you believe; just steady. Maybe it is the time of year and the less panicked outlook many people are taking now. I'm sure someone will want the property if you have it priced right.

Having probably found yours now, I think there's plenty of competition around the price point, though you seem to be in the right ball park. I'm not clued-up enough to say more. You'd get a bit more for your £ where I live, but we have no royal connections! 

Dougie0202

The trouble is we have found our dream home abs obviously can’t put an offer in until we have a offer on ours

Davesnave

You've only been marketing for a short while so reducing the price this soon might look a little desperate, but price is always key.

IMO my niece's house might have made at least £295k, but she went to the market at £280k and blew away the opposition, settling with someone fully proceedable at £285k. She may have 'lost' £10k doing that, but like you, she had something specific in mind and no other plans, so it was sell now or bust.