I sunk £50k into an unsellable flat.

Boat_to_Bolivia

Looking at the marketing history you have priced it 35k above what you paid for it last year? Why did you think it was worth so much more 6 months later, especially considering the rises in mortgage interest rates.

 I suspect the property was seen to be over priced , hence no viewings and why you have reduced the asking price significantly since first advertising, but that does not mean the flat is unsellable.

I would seriously think about taking it off the market for a few months, then re-listing in the Spring at a more modest asking price whilst also getting your agent to take some much better photos.

EndlessStruggle

I bought a house in December 2021 for 325k.

My life also changed a lot so I did the same and put the property on the market at 350k with an aim for 365/375k.

I sold for 358k. 

You can buy and sell quickly without making a loss but your buyers will be very suspicious.

Mine wanted a very intense survey done as any buyer will likely assume the neighbours are awful or there is something seriously wrong.

Looking at the listing, there are very limited photos and it doesn't show the flat in a good light. 

The kitchen photo in particular.

The house also looks unloved and unlived in, which might be the case but personally I think it needs some basic dressing and maybe some dashes of colour.

The maintenance charge is also quite hefty with cost of living increases so it is another factor that could be an issue.

theoretica

I agree that the listing doesn't seem to be doing the property any favours - what does the estate agent say about it?  The 3rd 'bedroom' is so teeny tiny, is it best described as a 3 bedroom property (dissapointing people who wanted 3 normal sized rooms) or as 2+box/study looking attractive to people who want 2?

Probably you will lose some money on buying and then selling again so soon - buying fees etc at the least.  But it seems too early to be catastrophising that you are losing your entire deposit.

nyermen

Are you near to the high street?   I live in Farnborough, which doesnt look great in some places due to works (eg. the leisure centre fun for those who know rushmoor).  Aldershot has some great areas, and some equally bad ones.  

But the Aldershot highstreet (the one with the library on it, actually called the highstreet i think) in Aldershot is awful, the whole of the shopping centre closed, the carpark half boarded up with lifts permanently out of service etc.

If I was to come look at a house in aldershot near there, from outside the area, I would park in that carpark, and even if your house was a palace, I would be put off by factors out of your control.

That said, rushmoor has good parts, and there is investment, and in 3-5 years it'll probably look a lot better (I hope so at least).  The problem is you looking to sell so soon. 

GiantTCR

[DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

Oh god, if it's this one...it's dreadful.

Apart from the obvious issues with the layout, for which the OP have received good advice already, I see no love in this property at all. 

The photos are garbage (estate agents should have a professional photographer). The decor itself is just bleak. It honestly look like a crack den that has been cleaned up.

Put some pictures up, buy some colorful rugs to cover that worn out carpet and some cozy soft furnishing to spruce up that dumpster couch or even better buy a smaller and nicer couch altogether. Get some plants. If you're good at DIY repaint some walls like do a nice feature wall in the bedroom and in the living room behind the couch.

Good luck

RAS

Robbo66 said:

The photos are shocking and do the flat no justice, Surely the agent can take better photos to use

I can't even see the photos other than the exterior shot.

That might be putting even more people off?

GiantTCR

RAS said:

Robbo66 said:

The photos are shocking and do the flat no justice, Surely the agent can take better photos to use

I can't even see the photos other than the exterior shot.

That might be putting even more people off?

They're disgusting. You're not missing anything

nyermen

btw one other point, I presume you're in an exclusive deal with romans. When I was looking, by far the best i found (as a first time buyer as I was then) was a more local firm - Greg James.  Just a personal view ofc. 

Skiddaw1

There's so few photos- only 5 unless I'm missing something? From what the OP said, I doubt there's any available funds to change the internal layout but I'm sure it'll attract attention if it is presented more favourably. I can't get any sense of it from the available pics. If I was looking, that would put me off in itself- I'd be assuming there was something to hide.

Aldershot isn't a bad gaff when all is said & done. There's some nice countryside around and about and very good connections to London, Reading, etc.

Brie

Initial glance at the listing has a lot of things missing - length of leasehold, etc but some of that info is buried.  The EA is doing you absolutely no favours by making people look for things.  And yes, more photos and better photos required.