The Challenge
A Grade II-listed character home in the sought-after village of Sonning had been on the market for nearly six months with another agent. Originally listed at £600,000, it attracted a low level of enquiries with no offers over £450,000. The vendor was frustrated by the lack of traction, and following a recommendation from their solicitors, they contacted Haslams for a fresh strategy.
Our Solution
The property had excellent character and space, but needed careful positioning to find the right buyer. We listed the property on 17 December 2025 – a period typically quieter due to the Christmas shutdown, with the following strategic changes:
- Guide price of £450,000 to create initial traction
- High-quality marketing focusing on key USPs such as its heritage character, village environment and flexible accommodation
- Actively promoted it to our database of active buyers, as well as our website, Rightmove, Zoopla, Facebook & Instagram, and digital screens in our prominent central Reading office
Despite holiday season challenges, we maximised early interest via our existing database. These initial efforts generated sufficient interest within a week of coming to market.
The Results
Within just 20 days on the market with us (9 physical working days), we conducted 13 viewings, which generated 4 interested parties, and through expert negotiation, we reached a final sale price of £515,000 on 6 January 2026 – £65,000 more than the highest offer received via the previous agent.
Our strategy created a competitive bidding environment and a strong market response, demonstrating that right-sized pricing, active marketing, and accurate positioning can transform buyer engagement, even in traditionally slow calendar periods.
Conclusion
This sale highlights how strategic pricing, an experienced agency and dynamic marketing can reinvigorate a listing and deliver a strong result for clients, even where previous attempts have stalled. Our approach turned a stale listing into a competitive sale well above previously received offers, demonstrating our market expertise and ability to unlock value for vendors.