Are my estate agents rubbish?

JoJoB

I have had my flat marketed since the end of November and haven't had one viewing yet. I appreciate the time of year is slow etc, and willing to accept that's just how things are, but I'm not really sure what level of service I should receive from the agents (being a first-time seller). i thought they would ring me every so oftern to let me know what they had done re marketing, or how the market was looking - just a general "keeping in touch" phone call now and then. But they haven't rung once which has left me feeling a bit adrift and maybe that they can't be bothered.

My property is this one: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-16508809.rsp?pa_n=2&tr_t=buy Which I think looks a nice flat and is certainly in a good area so I can't undrstand the complete lack of interest.

Or am I just being paranoid?

dubsey

EA keeping in touch with a vendor :rotfl: We've only ever heard from ours when they wanted to book a viewing or when we've had an offer. Have you contacted them at all, to ask if they've had any interest? Is your property in the ball park price wise to other properties in your area? (Sorry I haven't looked yet, but will in a little while).

As to your property, you erm, certainly like colour don't you? While I admire individuals for having their own sense of style, I don't think those pictures would inspire me to view and I'm not an old lady (well, 38). Our son had a tropical lime bedroom in our last house but we painted it before putting it on the market, because we knew it made the room feel oppressive.

This should give you a little bump and maybe someone else can give you their opinion.

JoJoB

Do you think the colour is OTT? Most of the flat is painted white, just decided to add a touch of colour to the attic bedroom to brighten it up a bit, but maybe it's a bit much. Didn't think the colourscheme would put people off viewing!!!! :eek:

Maybe I am just expecting a bit much of the EA then. I popped in to the office last week and they said they expected things to pick up soon, but then they would say that wouldn't they!

dubsey

The market in this area (also Kent, but further in from you) has definately slowed. We had two houses in our road that had sold and have come back on. The guy who lives in one told me his buyers want to stay in rented for a little while.

I don't think it's the wall colours on their own (I don't mean to sound so critical I'm sorry) it's more the colours with the different colour rugs and lots of bits everywhere-kind of bohemian. Which if it's only that kind of viewer that's looking then great, but I just think it's an idea to appeal to a wider market. I certainly don't mean take every part of you out of it. I think the stairway part looks lovely.

I'm not helping am I Sorry!

merlinthehappypig

Actually I think the flat looks fine. The colours are no problem and that's only a lick of paint anyway. It wouldn't put me off.

Other than that I can't help sorry.

clutton_2

i think its a bit cluttered in the lounge - and the patterned carpets dont help. the room sizes are quite decent but somehow the photo of the lounge makes it look really tiny. why have a photo of the stairs and not the bathroom or kitchen ?

have you got a mate to be a mystery shopper for you to see if the EA is pushing your property forward ?

bandraoi

Take the clutter out of the lounge and bedroom, even if it's only for the photos.
Sitting room - The guitar, half the stuff on the shelves, the throw off the back of the couch, the side table. Try taking the photo from a few different angles and heights. The glare from the window is kind of annoying.

Bedroom - dress the bed with a nice duvet and nice pillowcases. Take the stuff off the mantle piece and the pictures and shoes out of the photo. Maybe clear some space off the shelves too. The rugs make it look busy, what's the floor like underneath? Again experiment with different heights and angles to take the shot.

In the second bedroom, maybe move the bed and a side table in there for the picture. Make it look like a bedroom. The yellow if bright and sunny but as a picture of four bare walls it looks over powering.

What's your kitchen like? Why is there no picture of it?

and this at the end of the right move add:
BOOK YOUR VIEWING TODAY!!!!

well I'm not sure about other people, but the excessive use of capitals and exclamation marks annoys me and sort of conveys an air of a desperate salesman.

BettiePage

It looks a bit studenty tbh.
Also, if you've had no viewings whatsoever it's quite likely to be the price putting people off from even setting foot over the threshold.
Looks like a decent size flat that could make a lovely home with a bit of work.

Edit: What have others in the street been selling for recently?

JoJoB

The kitchen is a kitchenette which doesn't look very inspiring so that's probably why they left out pics of it.

Thanks for the ideas - yes, i did think the lounge looked a bit cluttered and it is bigger than it looks on the pictures (it has 2 big sash windows rather than just the one you can see).

The street is only 5 houses so nothing sold recently apart from houses as far as I can see. Round the corner 2 bed flats are between 135-150, but maybe the EA has pitched ours a bit high

Will have a rethink on everything!

tomstickland

Colours and minor clutter don't bother me. Either your agent is rubbish, the price is too high or noone is looking for a 2 bed flat.

MadMonkey

We went on the market at the ned of July. When the EA came round to do the valuation they said we would be given weekly rightmove statistics and also appraised of the amount of interest they had had and how many people had requested details.

WE never had this at all !! No contact at all unless they had a viewing. Although they did ring quite often trying to make us see their financial bloke:mad:

We have just sacked them as we are sick of having to ring them to ask for viewer feedback.

The new ones have said they will ring us weekly which i am not convinced of:rotfl:

Why are all EA's such snakes ?