House & Granny / Nanny Annexe

[MarmoraLady]

9 years ago we were looking for a house with a granny annexe so that we could look after two frail parents and our two teenage boys in one place. After a year's search across all of London we found a large Victorian detached property in East Dulwich that we converted to create a 5 bed, 2 bath house with a separate (own front door) 2 bed garden flat with kitchen, living room and bathroom.

Now with boys in their twenties and parents passed away we're looking to sell but cannot find an agent that specialises in this sort of property. Most insist on marketing it as a 5 bed house and hide in the "blurb" the extra space and flexibility the additional garden flat offers. We had thought there would be a natural market for such properties given that each generation must find the "sandwich" issues of looking after children and frail parents made easier if all share the same property whilst retaining individual privacy.

So QUESTION: Does anyone know of agents / websites that specialise in this sort of property or do you have any other suggestions as to where / how we might market this house that is now too large for the two of us?

[TunipTheVegemal]

I can't help you but I know exactly what you mean - we're looking for somewhere with an annexe or the potential to create one (in the north, sorry!) for exactly the reason you describe and it is really weird how little emphasis the agents put on them. They do the same with holiday cottages (common round us) - an extra cottage which would seem to be a rather major thing given that it could be either a massive positive (source of income) or negative (making you liable for council tax) gets tucked away in the blurb as an afterthought .

I'm racking my brains to remember where I saw it, probably the Saturday or Sunday Times, but I read an article last week about the rise of intergenerational living and if you could track the article down it might have had info about agents that specialise in this.

[guineapiglet]

Hi - we are trying to sell our house at the moment (in the north!!!!) which does have separate space in a very large, windowed basement, at present used as study/gym, and the other larger room used as a sittingroom/music room for the children - there is access to a loo, and also a 'store room' which could easily be converted into bathroom/kichenette, its enormous. My point is that the EA has not made this into a strong enough sales point, we think it is a fabulous piece of space, but the details of the property do not seem to reflect its potential, despite us asking them to stress this as a selling point. ( they were very reluctant to put in that it was on three floors as well). Would love to hear if you have any luck tracking down agents who specialise in this, as would like to contact them ourselves!!!

[An0therName]

I wonder if a private sale might be the answer - using say one of the oneline agents to get on rightmove, and then doing whatever advertising/networking you thought was appropiate - certainly my parents who has a downstairs shower and bedroom sold their house privately to some friends who wanted it as an elderly father was moving in -

[hanahsaunt]

This is what we would like to buy! (Nosy - just where in the north are you guineapiglet?)

[Rhubarbgarden]

I'm actually surprised the agents aren't willing to market it as having a separate annex. Many of the houses we have looked at are advertised as having a separate annex and this is usually mentioned pretty high up in the blurb, suggesting they regard it as a strong selling point. Hamptons and Savills spring to mind as agents we've looked at a lot of these sort of properties with.

[guineapiglet]

This is all good advice - our 'annexe' is actually integral into the house - and is part of the house in that the boiler etc is located down there, however it is 'separate' living space and is self contained - maybe the agents see this as some kind of negative factor?? It is all a conundrum.

Just for info we are in SK10 near Macclesfield if you are interested!!!

[Beanbagz]

Have you thought about asking the estate agent to market it as a Nanny annexe rather than a Granny annexe? It might be that in London it would entice a few more people.

I don't think you'll find an estate agent that specifically deals with property that has annexes but remember you are the client so if you want to emphasise it in the house details, then instruct them accordingly.

Another idea would be to do a bit of replumbing/rewiring so that it could be completely self contained. That way any prospective purchasers could rent it out. It might make it more sellable.

[hanahsaunt]

That's a shame guineapig - we're in York so too far. Bacl to the hunt!

[guineapiglet]

Second EA has gone for the marketing of the space route, and shamelessly floggin the space etc on details etc. It shows that EAs have their own style and list of aspects which they feel are saleable - complete contrast to the first. JFI have gone with both - at no extra cost. Lets hope it does the trick!!!
Wonderful 4 double bed house with 'teenage/granny/nanny space' and the 'possibility of independent living' now an option!
Any takers? Lovely area, 50 mins from Manchester etc etc!!!

[veryluckycat]

hi there, october 2017, I am in Brockley SE4 in London in a conservation area.
I have a Victorian 5 double bedrooms all fully refurbished and remodelled by my architect and have also built a high end contemporary 2 double bedrooms house on the side of it in the last year ..... I was on the internet trying to find an estate agent specialising in such set up when I saw this post...So, spreading the word here , ANYONE INTERESTED?
The new build would make a very luxuriously large granny or nanny annex! but also a fantastic purchase opportunity for self employed people for instance since it is a totally separate dwelling..

[Alwayscheerful]

When have a family home with a separate annexe, we had no problems raising a standard mortgage 7 years ago. Lenders have now tightened up lending on properties with annexes/cottages/ more than one kitchen and are refusing to finance with standard mortgages. A friend recently purchased a house with a cottage, the estate agent recommended a solicitor who could split the deeds, the house was purchased with a normal mortgage and they used a standard mortgage to fund the house purchase. There have been articles in the newspapers in the last couple of years.

[Melrose01]

Interesting thread this as we are selling a lovely four bed bungalow with a roomy adjoining one bedroom Annexe located near Wisbech. The first agent we used was total rubbish and did not find us viewers and then when we changed agents we are getting people looking but none seem to want an Annexe. Our property is really beautiful and the Annexe is so very inviting and comfortable so hopefully someone who REALLY wants or needs an Annexe will come and look soon. As has been said already it is also of course a superb five bedroom property if you add the Annexe but where are all the people who truly want a great property with an Annexe in a lovely village setting?