tips on selling

Author
Discussion

sawman

Original Poster:

4,915 posts

229 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
I currently have a one bed flat on the market in Ipswich, we have owned it for 13 years - we bought it to keep a foothold in the UK market whilst overseas, but in order to buy a reasonable place having been back in the UK for a bit, we could do with selling to release the capital.

the flat was a new build at the time, and at an early part of the Ipswich dock development, the flat is currently tenanted til June and has been in all the time we have owned it.

We have been on the market, using the same agents who have looked after our letting, since the autumn, and have had a few viewings but no real interest. we have dropped the price in 3 stages from £125k to £112 (there is an exact same unit in the block but on ground floor for £119, and a different design one be higher up for 129k)

one perceived issue with our place is that it does not have a designated parking space (the details of the other two in the block do not specify a parking space - when built most of the 1 beds did not get a parking spot) but this has not stopped it renting - the mainline station and bust stop are 5 mins walk.

whats the general concensus on using the same agent for selling as you are letting a property with? I am wondering if another agent might be more motivated to get a sale?
Any other comments regards getting this place sold would be helpful.

heres the ad: (note to mods please chop the link if its against the rules)
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

dmsims

6,452 posts

266 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
Photos are awful

Bad flash, poor exposure, out of focus

Why draw attention to the lack of parking?

blurb says: "excellent walking distance" ????

It just looks amateurish with absolutely minimal effort

(and the algae needs cleaning off the balcony)

worsy

5,776 posts

174 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
Looks like the photos were taken on a phone camera.

33q

1,550 posts

122 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
Dreadful photos and the spelling of separate is wrong.....bin the agent.

If I was looking to buy something like this I would immediately move onto the next advert.

sawman

Original Poster:

4,915 posts

229 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
yes, I would agree the photos are a bit iffy - I think they had them on file from previous rental ad.

it's only when I just re read, that I notice the there is no parking line! Doh!

I have not been into the flat in 6 years.

I think I need to have a chat with the agents regarding photos and text, I have been wondering about moving to someone else, but was a bit concerned about key access etc, obviously the current agents have a set including the electronic fob for main door access, as they are the letting agents. As letting agents they are able to advise tenant regards viewings etc. How much more complicated is it going to be with another agent (or should I even be worrying?)

Edited by sawman on Monday 2nd May 11:34

elanfan

5,516 posts

226 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
Have you thought of offering it to the tenants? Surely the rent they pay they could afford the mortgage and they won't have all the hassle of finding somewhere else to live/moving costs etc

sawman

Original Poster:

4,915 posts

229 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
elanfan said:
Have you thought of offering it to the tenants? Surely the rent they pay they could afford the mortgage and they won't have all the hassle of finding somewhere else to live/moving costs etc
As far as I can see, the current tenant, is only wanting to be there til' the end of their current contract, we have been renting it as a furnished place, and so has been attractive to fixed contract workers.

One thing I had wondered abut was mentioning, in the particulars, the likelihood that the flat would be sold with all furnishing included - so ideal for an investor to continue renting out.



bristolbaron

4,756 posts

211 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
Horrendous advert!

Photos are junk, description is junk and for me the terrible use of the ampersand is particularly upsetting. Bin them off and get someone in who wants to sell the place.

adsk

85 posts

158 months

Monday 2nd May 2016
quotequote all
Your biggest problem is your asking price. 111 Stoke Quay, a 2 bedroom flat, sold for £112k in January. I know it's not what you want to hear but you need to drop your asking price and your expectations for the price you will achieve even lower.

Edited by adsk on Monday 2nd May 23:34

The Moose

22,821 posts

208 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
May I ask how much you achieve for it from a rental perspective?

sawman

Original Poster:

4,915 posts

229 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2016
quotequote all
The Moose said:
May I ask how much you achieve for it from a rental perspective?
gross is £580 pcm

The Moose

22,821 posts

208 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
sawman said:
The Moose said:
May I ask how much you achieve for it from a rental perspective?
gross is £580 pcm
Add in something for the BTLers - over 6% ROI.

bayleaf

285 posts

98 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
The Moose said:
May I ask how much you achieve for it from a rental perspective?
'What does it let for?'

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
bayleaf said:
'What does it let for?'
He just asked that, and got an answer. Even better, he didn't need to end his question with a preposition!

Winning all round.

bayleaf

285 posts

98 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
Whoosh

Kermit power

28,634 posts

212 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
Another vote for dreadful advert!!

I've never seen a property advert which didn't have the room sizes either in the text or on the plan. I doubt I'd even bother asking to view it on those grounds alone, as I'd automatically assume this meant every room was tiny.

Also, "the property sits just the other side of the marina to our office". WTF?!?!? Why would anyone care how close it is to the estate agent's office???

Why are they specifying that the property doesn't have parking? If it's a major issue, surely a potential buyer would ask fairly early on, and if it's not, why would your agent start creating that seed of doubt in their minds?

I can only see three possibilities here....

1. The agent is creaming you for rental fees, and therefore doesn't want the place to sell.

2. The agent has bunged his mistress in there, and therefore doesn't want the place to sell.

3. David Brent is filming "After The Office", and you're an unwitting prop in his new, even more realistic career.

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
bayleaf said:
Whoosh
Quite aware of what you were up to.

Just explaining that his prolixity is excusable given it's allowed him to avoid ending on a preposition. Not forbidden in English as it is in, say, Spanish - but bloody ugly nonetheless.

Woosh, indeed.

smile

Joey Ramone

2,150 posts

124 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
Kermit power said:
Another vote for dreadful advert!!

I've never seen a property advert which didn't have the room sizes either in the text or on the plan. I doubt I'd even bother asking to view it on those grounds alone, as I'd automatically assume this meant every room was tiny.
The room sizes are on the advert. Clear as day.

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
Joey Ramone said:
The room sizes are on the advert. Clear as day.
In bold, no less.

rofl

bayleaf

285 posts

98 months

Wednesday 4th May 2016
quotequote all
iphonedyou said:
bayleaf said:
Whoosh
Quite aware of what you were up to.

Just explaining that his prolixity is excusable given it's allowed him to avoid ending on a preposition. Not forbidden in English as it is in, say, Spanish - but bloody ugly nonetheless.

Woosh, indeed.

smile
You sound as pompous as him now.