Sometimes the lift, the neighbours or the atmosphere decide. Vukašin Šoć of City Expert on why buyers walk away.
Price is often the first thing a buyer sees, but rarely the last thing they decide on. An apartment can be correctly priced, well located and the right size, and still not sell for months, because a buyer imagines a future life in the space. Vukašin Šoć of City Expert describes such situations from the market.
The price is realistic, but the buyer has to renovate
Buyers are often unaware of how much work in an apartment can cost. Only when they really like the property do they talk to an architect and contractors, and realise they need another 20 or 30 thousand euros, often more.
Think from the buyer’s side as well: besides whether the price per square metre is right, how much will it cost the buyer to make the apartment the way they want to live in it? Our agents will tell you the right asking price.
A hidden flaw
Ground-floor apartments can have problems with the building’s installations: when a stack blocks, lower apartments are hit first, and backflow can come up through kitchen or bathroom drains. A smell or stains on a wall create doubt at once.
Buyers do not like the current occupants
An owner who will not let the buyer ask questions, talks all the time or gets into a conflict during the viewing can make a buyer leave. “People do not want to feel they inherit the energy of those who lived there before.” Sometimes one odd detail is enough, such as unusual decoration. When selling, let the property be the main character: fewer personal things, more light and space.
Neighbours, the cellar, the lift
- Noise from next door, poor sound insulation or open conflicts among neighbours can be enough for a buyer to give up.
- A cellar that “belongs to the apartment” without clear documents raises a big question mark.
- A lift that is too small for a pram, or out of order on the day of the viewing, matters a lot to someone buying on the tenth floor.
How to prepare an apartment for sale
If a property does not sell, lowering the price is not always the answer. Check what the buyer sees: hidden problems, needed repairs, the cellar, the lift, noise, and the experience of the viewing itself. Where possible, have the apartment free of tenants and pets during the sale. The aim of a viewing is that buyers can imagine their own life there.
Frequently asked questions
Why does an apartment not sell at a realistic price?
Price is not the only factor: condition, extra investment, the building, lift, cellar, noise and neighbours all count.
Which hidden defects slow a sale?
Damp, installation problems, damaged parquet, traces of earlier leaks.
How much does renovation affect a buyer?
Buyers add the cost of works to the price; the total may exceed their budget.
How should an apartment be prepared for photos and viewings?
Tidy, clean and well lit, without excess personal items.
Is it all right for tenants to live in an apartment for sale?
When possible, it is better without tenants, so the buyer can look around freely; an experienced agent can advise you.
