Time to switch agents?

mon1o

Hi there! Our 2 bed mid townhouse has been on the market since july last year and we have had 3 viewings. The ea said the market was worsening and to hang fire and reduce the price. We started asking £105,000 dropped to £99,950 and then again to £98,000. We cant afford to drop anymore as we wont be able to buy the house we want to buy. The ea keeps telling us to hold on and wait for the spring. I have told them im not happy that we have only had 3 viewings since july and i dont feel they have done enough to market our house. Im seriously considering changing agents but unsure whether i would need a HIP if i did? 2 bed houses like ours in the area are on the market for £100k-£120k so im unhappy that we have been pushed by our agent to drop to £98k as obviously we cant now go back up and ask £105k. Or can we?

Any advice appreciated,
Monica xx

Ps: here is the link! http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-15777850.rsp?pa_n=4&tr_t=buy

danivtec

If you change agents you won't need an HIP as it was marketed before the mandatory requirement to have an HIP?

Speak to a c ouple of local agents and get them to come around.

ragdoll

The first thing I would say is that the photos on rightmove need to be done again, they are very dark, but from what you can see it seems a nice property. How many valuations did you have when you put the property on the market and how did they compare with the price you actually put it on for? What feedback did you get from the 3 viewings you had?

I don't know anything about the area that you live in, but having done a quick rightmove search with your postcode + half a mile up to £100,000 it brings up 60 properties and without the sale agreed filter 51. So only 9 properties currently sale agreed. It appears that there are quite a few 2 & 3 bed properties on the market some more and some less, so I wouldn't say you are on too cheaply.

Why don't you have the agent back out to take new photos, and give them a couple of weeks to see what happens and then if you change agents as long as it is continuely marketed you don't need a hip.

Out of interest what more would you have liked the agent to do, as you need to make sure when you choose the next agent that you tell them what you require of them.

donkeyman18

2 bed houses like ours in the area are on the market for £100k-£120k

...and how many have sold at that price?
Your house isn't selling because it is overpriced. It's that simple.

Trollfever

has been on the market since july last year and we have had 3 viewings.

Overpriced.

clutton_2

grim photos - why is there no picture of the kitchen - it says its modern, it sounds large enough ? - why wont EAs put lights on in the house when they take photos ??? i would change agents immediatley if it was me and reduce the price.

Debt_Free_Chick

Easter - supposed to be "boom time" for house-hunting - is only a month away. I would certainly hold out until then, but get the Agent to do a makeover of RM and the Sale Particulars. Get them to do it now, but take no action until the week in which Good Friday falls (w/c 17 March).

Taking photos today would be great - at least, here in East Sussex. Beautifully sunny but without the blinding sun that you get later in the year

Debt_Free_Chick

Agree with Ragdoll.

For the purpose of photos on RM .....

Pots of flowering plants at the front of the house.
Vase of flowers on the front windowsill
Picture of garden out back - no washing, toys or dustbin. Remove them just while they take the photos, but consider having them out of the way for viewings too.
Remove toys from living room - plants & flowers for viewings & photos
Photo of kitchen is a must.
Photo of bathroom is preferred
Can you use the cellar? If so, dress it like a room - what about a kids' a playroom? Sounds far better than "Storage Cellar"

Dress it up more ... your agents should be able to help with this.

If they won't "play ball" then change agents - but be quick, to get the property remarketed for Easter.

HTH