House not selling? Any thoughts?

[cheekymonk]

Please be gentle but would appreciate some feedback. Due to move into rented home on Sat, current house is on market and has been for 4 weeks. It's first time selling and we chose cheapest estate agents. We do all viewings, there have been about 12. One 2nd viewing last week. EA has dropped price already by 2.5k when we hadn't fully agreed to it. So we are questioning whether to go with another EA. Also need to add to the mix we have rubbish carpets and paintwork is very amateur but we can't afford to and are reluctant to spend more money in it. Is it early days or should we get it on market with someone else quickly,? Dh new employer is paying rent whilst we have duplicate costs. Thank you

[justabigdisco]

Your EA dropped the price without you agreeing to it?? You need a new EA!

[cheekymonk]

We had discussed it but didn't think it was finalised

[evelynj]

New EA & if you think it's shabby, you should paint-it's not hard & can't go wrong with white or cream-the one coats are worth paying more for-you may likely have to do 2 coats tho.

[cheekymonk]

We have reprinted all magnolia and neutral now was quite bold before! It took us a lot of time and money to get the house livable as it was such state when we bought it... I have been surprised by how immaculate people expect a house to be

[cheekymonk]

Station Road, Portsmouth
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46615478.html

[cheekymonk]

Bring brave!!!

[lucidlady]

I think you have a lot of "stuff" and so it looks really quite small and cluttered. Any way you can put things into storage for a few weeks?

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Any chance of a clicky link please? My phone doesn't do cut & paste .

[Hairylegs47]

It's a bit cluttered downstairs. The childrens toys and books. It makes folk think you've no storage - even if you haven't, you don't want to be pointing it out to them. Either, on viewings, take the kids' stuff to a neighbours or get a shed and chuck it in there.
Maybes a couple of posters on the bare walls?
If the EA has dropped the price already AND you didn't approve, then get another EA, they aren't doing the job you are paying them for.
It's a nice house BTW

[MothershipG]

click here

[Hassled]

Agree it looks quite busy - and so child-centred that a young childless couple or a single buyer say, might not be able to see past that. That pink pushchair in the 2nd picture is not good - makes me think you have no storage (you may have no storage, but don't draw attention to the fact). Take the stairgates off for the photos, shift the stuff above the loo temporarily.

How does the price compare to similar recent local sales?

[cheekymonk]

Thank you, really constructive comments. We have deck uttered a bit since. Pram has gone and boxes being packed all the time. 3 houses have sold in road all for 145k mark but all better condition than ours I think. thanks again x

[Hassled]

Can you get the EAs to put new photos up?

It doesn't look shabby or badly painted, btw. Looks fine decor wise.

[cheekymonk]

Thank you hairy legs x

[Tabby1963]

Hi OP, firstly the living room. The carpet looks mucky, can you get or borrow a large rug that will cover right across both couches? You have two couches and the one by the tv makes it look really cramped. Can you have that one removed and replaced with a single seater that compliments the other couch? It can be facing the tv and make the room more spacious.

Dining room. Store away the toys and the hoover! Thin the books on the shelf and display them attractively (they are higgledy piggeldy at the mo). Move the table to the middle and dress it attractively. A vase of summer blooms would be nice too.

Kitchen. Looks ok but don't personally like pink walls. Make sure it is pristine clean for viewings.

Your bedroom. Headboard looks stained. Cover it with fabric and use a staple gun to fix at the back (I've done this, its easy). I would advise that you invest in matching duvet set and curtains to tie everything together. A nice vase of coordinating flowers on the dressing table.

Kids room. Ok, although very blue.

Bathroom. You have two pics. Number 12 is better, less cluttered.

The outside front of the house looks good and clean. There is no pic of the hall. Make sure that is clear of clutter completely. The back garden: the garden table could have chairs around it and be dressed with jug and glasses.

If you can make these changes and get new better photos taken you may get more interest. When doing viewings, talk up all the positives of the area (convenient for schools, public transport, shops, libraries, good parking, other amenities).

Hope this helps, OP. Good luck.

[cheekymonk]

They did come round for 2nd attempt at photos and sort of mixed old and new yes agree could be worth new ones again... will remove Gate too- dd is 3!

[cheekymonk]

Thanks tabby for the time you have put into your reply. I only have a few days so will try the advice. Am worried how house will fare vacant possession too? Carpets fully exposed then!

[samsam123]

whats under the carpets no chance of nice floorboards i suppose

[Bange]

remove all the toys and get new photos done.

tiny thing, but the tea towels hanging off the oven handle don't look great.

[Bange]

AGree that the 2nd bedroom is VERY blue. Even painting one wall white would make it less blue.

[RogueV]

I like your house.

Reminds me of the one I grew up in

[cheekymonk]

2nd bedroom no longer blue but this thread has really spurred me on, will get cracking! Thank you
As got floorboards not sure. Guy before us did crap laminate floor job in bedroom which doesn't help!

[atticusclaw]

Is there any way you can leave some furniture in it when you go? In a way you have the ideal opportunity. I would be inclined to pack up your personal stuff leaving out only things that are for staging. Stage the house. Take new photos, then remove the furniture (assuming you can't leave it there because you need it)

I agree second sofa in the living room needs to go, kitchen clutter needs to go, the dining room looks like you have nowhere for toys, the pink plastic needs to go, the blue bedroom with stickers on the walls needs some attention.

[Bragadocia]

I think it looks nice and would view if it met my current needs. It's telling that you have had a dozen viewings, so that says to me that the photos aren't the problem - it's that the house doesn't meet the expectations that the photos or something in the details suggest.

It's true that it doesn't look shabby in the details. So, people might be viewing expecting a house in a different decorative order IYSWIM, thinking they might not need to do anything, and then realise when they get there that they need to consider making changes they may not have intended.

[RogueV]

What about some window sill flower boxes to brighten up the front too?