Selling our house

I agree three weeks is very early and 20 viewings is loads! Do you have fresh flowers around for viewings? Good luck!

I think lots of Cornish cottages have steep and narrow lanes leading to them and a Cornish cottage is also likely to be quirky.
Most viewers also look at the asking price before viewing and, if interested, will make an offer.
Three weeks is not long-give it at least a couple of months before worrying too much.

A good estate agent should sound out prospective purchasers soon after they have visited and discuss the feedback with you.

If by "quirky" you mean the layout of the house is unusual, that is something which, in the property programmes, seems to put some people off. If the garden is somewhat "natural" and looks like it will be difficult to tame, it may deter some people.

But I think the average time for getting an offer to purchase is around 3 months - and can be considerably longer - so perhaps there's no need to be concerned at this early stage.

I think a quirky Cornish cottage will sell more quickly when the sun is shining - as it was today.

Nowhere looks so attractive in the rain and, judging by yesterday's horizontal deluge in Devon, even a Cornish cottage may not look very appealing.

Good luck, it is early days and I'm sure you will soon find a buyer but, if not, it could be that you may need to ask for OIRO

It really is very early days. I've got a flat up for sale since November last year! I think that the market has slowed right down (maybe due to the "B" word) and we just have to be patient. Good luck with it. You only need one person to fall in love with it!

Thank you all for your ideas. We had two valuations which were the same so we don't think we are asking too much and no-one has complained about the price. We have had good feedback from the agents and to be honest only one viewer has said he would have offered but for the access. Some said the sitting room was too small (it is a 200 year old cottage) and a couple said the garden was too sloping. They are all
things we can't do anything about. Maybe we are just being impatient.

Three weeks is nothing, many of your viewers may just have been having a nose around. Keep in touch with the Agent and ask for feedback, check you have the price right, quirky will be of interest to somebody but not necessarily very quickly. Good luck.

You have done very well to have 20 viewings in only three weeks. My house has been on the market for months and I've had less viewings than you. I did have a buyer but they dropped out. Here in London prices are dropping and chains are collapsing. It's a very difficult market - I didn't think it would be so difficult to downsize.

I agree with all the above 3 weeks is such a short time but 20 viewings does seem alot,make sure the Agent is qualifying the viewers correctly and not allowing people who cannot proceed to an offer without selling their present home or are cash buyers.
Insist on feedback after every viewing for the pros and cons,make your agent work for their commission some are very lazy when it comes to feedback.

After only three weeks I wouldn't be at all concerned. As others have said, keep in touch with the estate agent and ask him/her to take feedback from all viewers. I agree with Nanos' last point about ensuring that viewers are serious buyers - it seems strange to me, but I do know that people, known to agents as 'carpet treaders' often find looking at houses is a suitable leisure activity.

Hello Rubysong,
I agree with Charleygirl and listen carefully to the feedback from the estate agent. Also what about any outstanding work needing done? Does the cottage require rewiring?
Are the electrics including fuse box up to 2018 standard?
If you have logburners or open fires when was the chimney or chimneys last swept? Are the down pipes and guttering in good repair? Buyers quickly see beyond quirky and begin being practical on the drive home! My tips are rather dull I know, but having recently bought and sold, it proved to be a pain for us organising and doing these larger jobs, but well worth it in the end. Before accepting viewers, the agents should also tell you if the viewers are serious buyers who have sold their own property or have even put their own home on the market.
I wish you the best of luck!

Anything "quirky" has a limited market - I think you just have to bide your time, after satisfying yourselves that the price is pitched right.

If it was mentioned in the brochure that there was a steep and narrow lane I would not view it. As others have said, maybe some were put off when they saw what had to be negotiated to get to the house. Three weeks is early though. Maybe have another look at the description so that only people who are interested will view. Listen to the feedback from the estate agent.

You mention that the cottage is quirky, although you don’t say why. Do you think the unusual features could be a problem?
As others have said some people are just nosy, you could ask the agent only to show to people with their house on the market, or cash buyers.
I’m afraid the lane would put me off as well, but that’s not helpful, sorry.
It’s early days. Home. uk are a web site which have a section indicating how long different properties take to sell in your area.
Having sold recently after many time wasters, I feel your pain.

Things are quiet at the moment. It sounds in some ways suitable for a retired couple but then you have the difficult access. But you only need one person to fall in love with it and it will be sold.

You can hire people who 'dress' your house for sale. Depending on the asking price that might be worth a try. Sounds lovely to me!

'The steep and narrow lane' caught my attention also.
Lots of viewers - presumeably the lane is not mentioned in the brochure and so viewers are only aware when they visit.

3 weeks certainly isn't long. My DS waited a year for an offer on their property.

As FarNorth says "steep and narrow lane" would put me off I'm sorry to say.
Early days yet though.

'Down a steep and narrow lane' could put some people off, especially older ones.
Are the advantages for younger buyers made clear in the description, so that they may not mind about the access?
3 weeks is very early to start worrying, though.

Don’t forget also that it’s unlikely that buyers will be able to make an offer until they are sure that their sale/mortgage is organised, so maybe give them a bit more time.
20 views is good, might be better now the weather has picked up.

It's early days yet. March and September used to be the big months for selling. March was awful so maybe April will be your month! Good luck.

I agree, sounds like it's overpriced, I'm afraid, for current market conditions. It sounds lovely, by the way! Can you provide a link to the ad?

PS
3 weeks is very early to start worrying, I’m sure it will sell, very soon.

Hate to say it, but it sounds as though it’s down to the price, or the access.

What feedback have you had from the Agents?

Rubysong, you have probably done all the things that should make your house sell. Maybe the viewers are just wanting a day out and a nosy around a lovely country cottage. Sorry I can't offer any solutions, except patience