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On market for 10 days - viewers say house 'too small' - do we reduce price now??

65 replies

runningLou · 10/10/2013 13:31

We've had our house on the market since last Tues, and in that time had 4 viewings. 3 out of the 4 viewers have said the house is too small. It's a standard 3 bed terrace with kitchen extension, garden and garage. Same as most houses in the area. EA says 'too small' is code for they're expecting more for their money. I've had an exchange of e-mails with him this morning re: price reduction (5k).
Do we do it now or is it too soon?? I know I'm an impatient person!! We don't have a deadline to move other than by next Easter, but I know I'll get more stressed as time goes on, as well as the annoyance of having to keep the house 'viewing-ready' for months!!

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MrsFlorrick · 10/10/2013 13:37

It's only been on a week and you've had 4 viewings.

Perhaps those buyers need a reality check as to what their cash can buy them.

It's too soon to reduce. The agent is saying that because he wants a quick sale so he can get his fee.

If you sell for £10k less his fee is barely affected but it's a huge amount of money to you!!!

Sit tight for now. Don't panic.

Also time of year is a factor. You may find more interest after Xmas in January. I certainly wouldn't reduce price before end of Jan.

Unless of course you need to move immediately.

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Pinkje · 10/10/2013 13:38

I wouldn't yet - shows desperation - and it won't be too small for someone. If your estate agent has done their job correctly your price will be realistic.

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Aethelfleda · 10/10/2013 13:41

Sounds too soon to drop yet. Check what similar properties are a) on for now and b) what things actually sold for (rightmove/land registry figures). This will tell you if your ballpark value is about right.

When you do pricedrop (eg if you find a dream house and want to quicken things along) most EAs recommend you drop by 10-15 thousand so you move into the next "sale band" on rightmove. Dropping by too little does not bring more viewers in. So sit tight, patience! And say firmly to the EA you're sticking tight as you believe their initial appraisal was correct....

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SoupDragon · 10/10/2013 13:42

Can you do thing to make it look bigger? Less furniture/clutter/rearrange stuff etc.

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lljkk · 10/10/2013 13:46

OP: Linky linky, please? Wonder if a few visual adjustments would make it seem roomier. Your viewer sounds rather cheeky.

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NoComet · 10/10/2013 13:47

Can you declutter and put into storage any bits of furniture that make rooms look small.

All our bedrooms have things that make them look small.

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SpecialJK · 10/10/2013 13:54

Agree with Soupdragon. We moved quite a lot of stuff out for our viewings and had an open house over a weekend (so we didn't need the stuff!) moved as much child related stuff out as possible, even went to the bother of our neighbours taking our laundry bin for us over the weekend (I'm sure they loved that) so it was bare minimum furniture, pictures etc. The open house made it look really busy like there were lots of interest

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runningLou · 10/10/2013 13:57
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runningLou · 10/10/2013 14:01

Link posted above!
Thank you everyone you have calmed me down a little! I guess I was really excited to get viewings and was hoping they would lead to offers and have been disappointed with the feedback ... So frustrating to be told house is nicely presented but small. We have been very happy with it as first-time buyers / with a family.
Have decluttered as much as poss - house looks pretty much like it does in pics - though could obviously move furniture if needed / declutter still further!
The point about the EA's fee is a good one ... Will have to take his advice with a pinch of salt.

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OneStepCloser · 10/10/2013 14:04

I always find this odd, you have good photos and a floor plan, so what are buyers expecting? Hmm Nice house btw, I stand firm for a little bit.

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Fab41 · 10/10/2013 14:12

Too early to reduce, and it looks lovely. I wish houses were that price in the south east! Good luck with your sale.

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SoupDragon · 10/10/2013 14:20

I can't see anything major at all.

All I'd do, perhaps, is remove the unit in front of the fireplace and the one in the dining area where the fireplace would have been - but that's fairly petty TBH! Maybe move the slide from the lawn and make a seating area out there but again, it's petty.

I think they are saying "too small" because they've nothing else to say.

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cavell · 10/10/2013 14:26

A week isn't very long. Really.

Your house looks very nicely presented. I do agree, though, that it might be good to move the shelving unit in front of the fireplace. It looks a bit cluttered there. Is there a working fire behind it? That's something people seem to like.

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HaveToWearHeels · 10/10/2013 14:30

Too soon to reduce I would say. You have a very pretty house (I have the same colours in my lounge, great taste) which is, as you say, a standard 3 bed house, I don't understand what people are expecting. I would however say your hallway is much bigger than I would have expected on a terraced house.

I think the "too small" excuse is being used because they can't think of anything imaginative to say. They are not interested and it gets the agent off the phone without having to elaborate.

One last thing, do you have a nice fireplace in your lounge ? If you do I think you should move the storage unit in front of it, so you can show it off ?

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Tiredemma · 10/10/2013 14:30

Too small???

its a three bed terrace. what are they expecting? Narnia through the bathroom door?

I would sit tight. These people that are saying 'too small' will be viewing other properties also. They will be back

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HaveToWearHeels · 10/10/2013 14:31

cross post with SoupDragon

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runningLou · 10/10/2013 14:32

No, there's no fire - the unit's actually covering up the board which in turn covers up the ugly hole left when the plumber removed the old back boiler that was in the chimney breast when we bought the house, in order to install our new boiler in airing cupboard upstairs!!
Maybe we should look at putting something else in that space though ... Poor DS, this whole house-selling thing has really set off his toddler OCD and if we have to lose more toy storage he may crack!! Really useful advice though thank you!

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DidIMissSomething · 10/10/2013 14:33

Looks great - really nicely presented. I used to work as an estate agent and this sort of thing was my speciality!
If I was being hyper critical I'd consider:
The arrangement of the baby room - is there any way you can rearrange the furniture so the window area is clear of overlap i.e so curtains open freely and don't overlap furniture - can the tall unit near the window be swapped with whatever's behind the door?
Also the lounge - the storage area in the fireplace brings that wall in making the room look narrower and the footstool adds a bit of clutter. tbh I think it looks fine - I was looking with a critical eye to come up with those - I must admit I'm astonished that you can keep it so neat and clutter free with a family living there!

A trick I've used before is getting out the best toiletries and having those in the bathroom, having nice flowers in for viewings etc. The idea is to make the house seem more aspirational - the old if I buy this house I too will have beautiful things, be super tidy etc. I know it sounds like codswallop but it does seem to work!

I really wouldn't reduce just yet - if you've had 4 viewings in a week it shows that you are pitched about right. It takes on average 10 viewings to get an offer so no need to panic yet - good luck

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LeMousquetaireAnonyme · 10/10/2013 14:34

I think the problem is that it is described as a 3 bedrooms. There is no way that a proper bed fit in the 3rd upstairs room or if it does just fit you do have to put one in there to show that it is not just a tiny office or nursery.

And yes remove the shelving next to the dinner table. Other than that it is a very nice house.

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runningLou · 10/10/2013 14:35

Tiredemma if we had Narnia through the bathroom door there's no way I would be selling ;)

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Lottie4 · 10/10/2013 14:37

Have a look on sites like Zoopla, Rightmove and the Land Registry and get a feel for what the same style properties have been selling for in your area over the last year, that may help.

Think it would be worth hanging on a bit longer before you reduce as anyone who is seriously interested would make you an offer. Most people see the estate agents particulars with room sizes on before they view, so they the viewers had a pretty good idea of what they woul dbe looking at in the first place.

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runningLou · 10/10/2013 14:38

I have had massive dilemmas about how to present DS's bedroom / boxroom. A single bed does fit in there as the room is 6'5 by 7'2, but I don't want to put him in a single bed (he's 2), so it would be majorly disruptive. I will consider it though ... I know it must be a concern for people when they see it set up as a nursery and can't visualise a singel in there.

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HaveToWearHeels · 10/10/2013 14:43

I think looking at the room sizes on the plan shows that a single bed would fit (that is of course if you know the size of a single bed Grin). I hate floor plans that don't show room sizes.

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runningLou · 10/10/2013 14:47

Ok, enough people have mentioned the fireplace that I am seriously thinking of giving my Dad (the DIYer of the family - DH is useless!) a call and getting it sorted!!

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DidIMissSomething · 10/10/2013 14:48

Don't worry about the nursery room - I expect an awful lot of people looking will want a home with a view to starting a family or they'll need a third to use as a study - houses that age nearly always have a small third bedroom so it should be as expected

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