Problems selling and best plan

EssexHebridean · 19 November at 10:33AM

First up - general point - please people, if someone asks whether they are allowed to post a link to their property - don't tell them to go ahead! Us regulars all KNOW it's against the rules, please don't encourage others to do it!

OP - how "cheap" is your deal with the current agents? Does it literally just include them bunking it on Rightmove and Onthemarket and then doing nothing more unless someone contacts them, or are they proactively marketing it as well?

From the other comments here I'd suggest that terminating the contract with your current agent now, and looking to relist in the spring is probably a good idea. Make sure you have screenshots of the current photos, then put on your objectivity glasses and have a really good look at them - imagine YOU were looking to buy somewhere right now, and saw those pictures - what would you be thinking? In the property itself, go into each room - does anything immediately draw your eye? If so, assuming that is a negative you're seeing, think what you can do to either remove that issue or at the least mask it. So - a patch that ALWAYS photographs with a shadow and so could look damp in photos - can you move furniture about to deal with the issue? The layout currently in various rooms - it might work for you, but is there a way of arranging things to make the place look or feel more spacious, light or airy?

When relisting, get three agents round for valuations and quotes on selling costs - let them all know they are in competition with others but personally I wouldn't tell them WHICH others. Going with a "cheap" agent is a false economy if they can't then sell the place.

If it's a bright day when you have your new photos taken, make sure that lights aren't left switched on - to me this immediately suggests to me that a place might be dark without them - and unless somewhere looks other than that absolutely spot on I probably wouldn't waste time viewing. (Also a tip for viewings - if you get in there and the lights are all on, assuming daylight hours, immediately switch them off to see what the house is like without them!)

ReadySteadyPop · 19 November at 2:23PM

Good photos might get viewers over to your house, maybe, if they like size and location etc. but they won`t sell it, only a very sensible price will do that in this market.

diggingdude · 21 November at 8:21PM

Another tip, ask the estate agent what they charge the potential buyer before an offer is accepted. Some of the agents where I'm "supposedly buying" are charging £75 - £100 per person to check their ID to try and buy. I know in the grand scheme it's not a lot but it automatically makes me think the seller is selling on the cheap and if they were cheap on this what else were they cheap on?