My partner's parents have been trying to sell their West Midlands bungalow through a local estate agent since last year. So far the few interested viewers have been attracted by its location (rural bur near Birmingham) and its 'pretty' garden.
Unfortunately they can't seem to attract the potential buyers with horticultural interests.
They've put some details on their own website with lots of pics of the garden:
http://www.lynsgarden.co.uk/
and persuaded the estate agent to rejig the description, but still zero interest.
Any suggestions on how they could boost the interest of potential gardening buyers, and perhaps increase the traffic to their website?
I'm at at a bit of a loss, so any suggestions welcome so they can complete their move and come and live next door!
Wow - what a lovely place.
It's about 5 minutes from where I live - so I know the area very well.
Have you thought about trying the 'families with children route'?
I know that lots of people are keen to live in Romsley due to the quality of the local, village school.
Do you know (or can you find out) if the school has a weekly newsletter with small ads (my son's school does).
A small add in there will go to parents, who may be looking to move, or, could be passed to friends who are looking to move into the catchment area.
On a similar theme, my wife is a branch co-ordinator for the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), who print a quarterly newsletter. You could perhaps consider a small ad in there. I don't remember seeing one for a house in the past, but there's always a first time.
If you're interested, please PM me and I can give you the contact details of the editor.
Another option is to go with multiple estate agents, which I think will mean larger fees when it sells.
Also, isn't there a 'Worcestershire' glossy magazine with country living it in? Just Googled...
http://worcestershire.greatbritishlife.co.uk/
Perhaps an ad in there?
Alternatively, thinking about the gardening angle, do the local garden centres have any notice boards that you can use? There's Barnett Hill, Clent Nurseries & Webbs of Wychbold in West Hagley. I'm trying to remember if they've got notice boards...
As you're probably aware, there is also a Saddlery shop and a Farm Supplies shop in Romsley - they might take ads. for the attention of locals.
Best of luck, hope it goes well.
Have a look at smallholder magazine.
The house selling bit on the web site is rubbish, and I have no idea how good the mag is, but it is your target audience, so worth considering.
Hi PG
Lovely place, cant add much to help except that i recently looked and bought a house entirely on its garden.
When i searched estate agents websites i searched for the word garden first, just make sure that when you search at your estate agents under garden that this house comes up.
Dont know about the costs involved but what about an ad in the back of gardeners world, and the other gardening magazines. I always browse the ads at the back and dream the dream.
Also is there a local horticultural society/ fushia/chrysanthemum with news letters near by who might be willing to carry an ad in thier newsletters.
Also try quirky ads such as beautiful garden needs a loving gardener .
We are out there I have a one bed council terrace with a 100ft garden which makes me happy but i have to say that it was on the market for a while becuase some people are overfaced by all the space (weird but true)
One other thing would it be possible to have an open garden day for charity that would bring in local gardeners and then distribute the house leaflet to those people who showed an interest?
Im always looking for a nosy around andtea and cake and to buy a plant , and my circle of freinds are all gardeners so word of mouth might help in this way to.
Maybe even a slide show to the local hort soc about a lifetimes gardening.
good luck with the sale.
x sunloving