Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why would the estate agent even bother??

71 replies

Thundercloudsontheway · 01/03/2024 11:13

2 bedroom apartment for sale in Chapel Street, Thatcham, RG18 (rightmove.co.uk)

AIBU to think that at some point a property can be so bad that by putting pictures on it you can actually hinder a sale rather than help it?

If this is a rental property, then surely you would be better swallowing the cost of a couple of months worth of mortgage payments once the tenant has moved out to get the place cleared out, as it must cost less than what you would loose on the offer price.

And if it is private owned, then you would think the estate agent would have a word - Especially as this is on for the average cost of a two bed in the area that is fit to move into with no more than a lick of paint

Check out this 2 bedroom apartment for sale on Rightmove

2 bedroom apartment for sale in Chapel Street, Thatcham, RG18 for £180,000. Marketed by Purplebricks, covering Reading

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145289033#/?channel=RES_BUY

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
AhBiscuits · 02/03/2024 11:47

I want to know how they cook in the kitchen, literally zero worktop space.

AhBiscuits · 02/03/2024 11:45

GoingDownLikeBHS · 01/03/2024 16:51

I particularly like the way they've added one of those 360 degree things so you can get the full effect, see whats on the carpet for example ....! Its not ok, its fucking appalling.

But they put on classic FM to add a touch of class.

Why would the estate agent even bother??
drumbeats · 02/03/2024 11:41

Wondergym · 01/03/2024 11:33

Looks fine - can't see any signs of damp, mould or structural issues. Just mess

Seriously, are people so used to Insta perfect house pictures they can't see past mess and an unmade bed these days?

I actually prefer these sorts of properties that have not been 'presented'.

My new build house looked picture perfect when I bought it - days after moving in it became apparent the developer has been painting over the various leaks to get the house sold.

Yikes if this is 'not presented'

How do people live like this. I don't even think my dc student flats were this bad. In fact I know they weren't

Why would the estate agent even bother??
SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 02/03/2024 11:37

I worked for an estate agent back in the last century before tinternet.
Trust me there were far worse houses than this. And they sold.

Tortoise2go · 02/03/2024 10:10

The 3D tour isn't really selling it at all.
Neither is the outdoor bin shots.

Fizbosshoes · 02/03/2024 10:00

It looks like a flat above a shop as well which might be priced differently to a purpose built block

zingally · 02/03/2024 09:57

Dymaxion · 01/03/2024 19:15

Agree.

But it's cheaper because it's leasehold, with only 60 years left on the lease, and there's quite an expensive yearly ground rent to pay.

Fizbosshoes · 01/03/2024 17:44

Most people tidy up for a house sale, but I wouldn't expect tennants to. You are buying the (hopefully) empty property, not all the crap in it!

I've seen people list their home before on MN and people saying they'd have to refurb a (slightly dated but functional and useable looking) kitchen before they moved in! Some buyers are looking for a project anyway.

And the house that went viral recently for very OTT decor looked clean and tidy under all the frills and fancy furnishings....but people still ridiculed it! 🙄

zingally · 01/03/2024 17:25

There's nothing really wrong with it. The kitchen could do with modernising, and more immediately it probably needs a new oven. But the rest is just the general living of the current occupiers.

I bet it's rented currently, by someone who is over-stretched and not keen to move. Perhaps can't afford somewhere bigger, based on the fold-up bed in the living room.

I know Thatcham well - I used to work there. It's a popular area. Someone will snap it up, no problem.

Thefirstonewastaken · 01/03/2024 17:20

Literally nothing wrong with it, ugly building but it’s just a lived in flat. I’ve bought much much worse many times😂😂😂

SomersetTart · 01/03/2024 17:13

It does say for refurbishment though. Some people want a do-er upper.

Presumably all the tenant/owner's crap will be gone and then it's a shell to do up.

I've bought worse.

BeachBeerBbq · 01/03/2024 17:01

When my landlord was selling I told them to use old pica because no way in hell are they putting up my personal belongings

BeachBeerBbq · 01/03/2024 17:00

It's not that agent doesn't care. They can't go and clean people's flat. I agree with some pps. Landlord probably isn't the greatest and tenants are therefore not giving a shit. Saw similar pics few times before. Even worse.
Good warning to potential buyer that tenamt might not want to leave before completion or that the seller might be twat

104angels · 01/03/2024 16:54

The most surprising thing is how many cleaning products there are in the bathroom.

GoingDownLikeBHS · 01/03/2024 16:51

I particularly like the way they've added one of those 360 degree things so you can get the full effect, see whats on the carpet for example ....! Its not ok, its fucking appalling.

apossumatthewindow · 01/03/2024 16:12

Classic fm on the tv really adds class

Soreteatowel · 01/03/2024 15:08

19lottie82 · 01/03/2024 14:54

To the people saying it wouldn’t put you off, that’s fair enough, but would you be willing to bid the same as a property that was freshly decorated and in walk in condition? I doubt it.

landlords just want to have their cake and eat it ie market it while a tenant is in place but this also would put off a lot of buyers.

I cannot see them being out of pocket by waiting until the property is empty, giving it a deep clean and a coat of paint. You’re going to get a few grand more for certain.

Very few places are freshly decorated and walk in condition. Once the pictures and furniture and that chopping board over the burnt bit of kitchen worktop have been removed there's always some work that needs doing. Unless a place is genuinely fully refurbished, it is often better to go in knowing that work needs doing.

SoupDragon · 01/03/2024 15:04

To the people saying it wouldn’t put you off, that’s fair enough, but would you be willing to bid the same as a property that was freshly decorated and in walk in condition? I doubt it.

of course not, but I would assume that a property requiring decoration is priced accordingly. You'd be paying more for "freshly decorated and in walk in condition".

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/03/2024 14:58

Wondergym · 01/03/2024 11:33

Looks fine - can't see any signs of damp, mould or structural issues. Just mess

Seriously, are people so used to Insta perfect house pictures they can't see past mess and an unmade bed these days?

I actually prefer these sorts of properties that have not been 'presented'.

My new build house looked picture perfect when I bought it - days after moving in it became apparent the developer has been painting over the various leaks to get the house sold.

Agreed! And “refurbishment” seems to have been downgraded to mean “needs redecoration”. Not “plaster is coming off, there’s no kitchen or bathroom, and the bedroom ceiling has come down”.

Kitchen’s not bad. Needs new oven and cooker hood. Complete replacement is an aesthetic choice not a necessity.

I have seen one house advertised without a single indoor picture. On can only imagine!

19lottie82 · 01/03/2024 14:54

To the people saying it wouldn’t put you off, that’s fair enough, but would you be willing to bid the same as a property that was freshly decorated and in walk in condition? I doubt it.

landlords just want to have their cake and eat it ie market it while a tenant is in place but this also would put off a lot of buyers.

I cannot see them being out of pocket by waiting until the property is empty, giving it a deep clean and a coat of paint. You’re going to get a few grand more for certain.

BobbyBiscuits · 01/03/2024 14:53

@Octavia64 That is fine. Lol. You would factor in how much work you need but the fundamentals are there. My house looked like it had been burnt from the inside, everything was black and there was no plumbing or bathrooms and an abandoned grandfather clock factory in half my living room.
If you want something perfect maybe an issue, but for me you need to allow for making it better than it was.

Nightblindness · 01/03/2024 14:49

Jeez it's not that bad. I'm property searching right now and have seen properties listed for sale with photos showing there is literally a hole where the ceiling/ roof should be, no kitchen apart from a tap in the wall, and massive damp patches on the walls. I think I'd rather see it for how it is in the photos than turn up and see it all in the flesh.

CousinGreg55 · 01/03/2024 14:49

WalterFence · 01/03/2024 12:57

My only concern would be whether there was going to be an issue getting vacant possession.

I agree. The mess wouldnt but me off but this would.

Swipe left for the next trending thread