House still on market over 2 years later

Hi OP - The front of the house is really nice and has great kerbside appeal.

I think the photos are terrible, essentially there are three almost identical photos in a row of three different bedrooms, all at the same angle and all make the rooms look really small.

I would get rid of bedroom 5 being described as bedroom 5 and describe it as a home office/study on the floor plan then dress it as such as a lot of people WFH now days or may have kids at home studying.

The conservatory is huge but it’s so full of stuff it’s hard to imagine what to do with it as a buyer, it’s almost like a sitting room x home office x playroom at the minute and makes it difficult to think how to purpose it. The blinds look messy too especially from the outside picture. Your back garden needs rearranging/ tidying up as well.

I agree with a PP - I’d take it off the market. Massive declutter and stage/dress it differently then back on in spring. It’s already been on 2yrs you have nothing to lose. Get some good organisation/storage for all the rooms and rearrange them. It would put me off as I think a 4 or 5 bed should have a lot of storage and I’d be quite disappointed seeing the inside after the outside.

You could also store things in the garage if it helps?

The problem is your husband not the house. You need to get to the bottom of what's going on with him op.

As above. What feedback are the agents getting after viewings? Do you have a dog or do you/your husband work at home making or doing stuff rather than at a computer/phone?

We've been here 25years and this was a new build so no recent viewing experience. Somethings put me right off. Two places stick in my mind that way from aeons ago. Owner of one had Labradors; I don't think the smell of damp dog would have gone anytime soon. Another was a hairdresser working at home; smelled like a salon.

I'd start with another agent (or agents); sack the current lot and don't let them back.

Even if you go for sole agency in the end get a few firms round to give you a spread of ideas for presentation and opinions on price. Current agents are a big chain. Nothing wrong with that in principle but sometimes a local outfit can be better.

Tidy the bedrooms, conservatory and utility for sure. Deep clean of carpets and upholstery?

Insist on viewings being accompanied by the agent.

I agree the house seems lovely but I found it stressful even looking at the pictures.
It is very chaotic and distracting-I wouldn't "see" the house at all.

You need to go room by room and sort of set them up in a clean/clear way that lets other people see themselves there using the rooms.

I think a massive clear out and staging of the rooms will help a lot.

I would try a different estate agent! There’s no reason why that wouldn’t sell.

The photos are awful though. You don’t take photos of the house when it’s a mess!

(I know that’s no more than every day mess but you need to take photos with all the clutter removed, and keep it removed for viewings)

You definitely need to declutter! If anything just put everything away for the photos. And please smooth out the duvet covers! A messy bed like that would put me off right away.

Brilliant house, very badly presented.
It needs tidying/decluttering - throughout.

When I have staged a house to sell @lonelysadfedup I have literally steamed/ironed the bedding on the beds to ensure it is pristine.

All windows cleaned inside and out professionally.
All bulbs switched to as higher wattage as fittings allow.
All clutter removed to storage if necessary.
All furniture arranged to maximise space
No scuffs or picture marks on any walls or paintwork
Tidy the garden, put I some planted up pots at the front and rear.

The photos are terrible! The rooms have too many toys etc in it looks cluttered. May be putting some off from even visiting. Was that a professional photographer? If you are using a good agent they tend to use good photographers who should have suggested all of this. It costs more to use a good agent but you will easily get your money back in a quicker sale at a better price. Sorry those photos are soooo unprofessional half the beds aren't even properly made!

Clutter like that has never put me off. The seller takes it with them. I think the photos are bad, but I'm wondering why you've had lots of viewings and no sale? Have you said what the feedback was?
Also, it's a bit strange to move because your child wants to be nearer to friends? What's really going on?

If your marriage isn't working and you choose to separate he'll have to get the house sold anyway.

So he might as well try and get the best price now.

Going through pics - many of them seem too close, and not showing the whole room, which makes people think they are small
1 - front is ok, but could do with one from a bit further back & maybe trim the tree
2 - living room is nice and clear, paint over the blue wall
3 - shocking! Clear it up then take from further back
4 - ok the kitchen needs updating but shows can fit a table in or add more units
5 - clear all the toys or at least move the sofa forward by a foot and get them all behind it
6 - too close, crumpled bed
7 - too close, close the shower screen
8 - ok
9 - not bad
10 - half this photo is a door! Does not add anything to the previous one
11 - too close
12 - too close
13 - too close again - or is this room really small?
14 - does not show the scope of the garden - you need from more than 1 angle

You need more & better pictures
Declutter
Change EA and let them show the property
Add room sizes to plan
It's very blue - did you get a job lot of paint! Blue can look cold especially in winter so a repaint would be good
No picture of the dining room or hall or bathroom with a bath
Add an overhead shot to show your garden is bigger than others

I might get a short term storage unit and move the unnecessary toys, clutter in there, and get some help staging the conservatory to make it look like a sanctuary with plants/sun. The back garden also could be decluttered to make it look better, and hiring a good photographer to take pictures could do wonders. it is a nice house that does not have its best face forward. Good luck OP!

I live in the South West where I live you'd be lucky to buy a 2 bed flat for £290k - I think I'm moving to Wakefield LOL!

Does he really not want to move?

BTW OP it is a lovely house itself, it just needs shown properly. It is obviously in need of a probable renovation of kitchen and bathrooms however, does your price reflect this? If the price is right it will sell.

Agreed. It's so blatantly obvious that you need photos with less clutter that him refusing is a bad sign.

As others have said, your estate agent and/or photographer really hate you. Those are truly off putting dreadful pictures and to be honest I'm baffled why you allowed photos to be taken with the house staged like that, and then why you've done nothing about it for two years. Sorry OP but that's the harsh truth. Who wants to see photos of rows and rows of cleaning products? What does it tell me about the space? Masses of toys everywhere, these should have been moved for the photos. Can't see the kitchen properly. The enormous structure in the garden is also off putting, can it be dismantled for a re-shoot if its yours? Needs neutral redecoration, possible updated fireplace which you could buy cheap on Gumtree or similar. Every scrap of clutter gone for new photos. Put your foot down OP, the house is never going to sell with that marketing.

People are coming to view but no offers. What is their feedback to the agent?

I do think your husband is reluctant to move. Take the property off the market. Talk to him about what is going on.

If you are both wanting to move, do some serious tidying and cleaning before getting photos redone - if there is stuff everywhere, it suggests the property has no storage/is too small.

Use the agent for viewings - it's their job to sell your property! And they'll get feedback.

Do you get feedback OP from the viewings via your EA?
My daughter had her house on the market for a while & it was full of stuff. Due to feedback they decorated the bedrooms & landing to neutral colours, replaced some skirting & did a big declutter. Also made sure that the house was empty during views which the EA did as being a professional knew exactly how to sell the house. Once they did everything suggested they sold quite quickly & are now in their lovely new home.
Can you arrange viewing for when your DH is out (does he wfh?) & could you get a friend or relative to help you declutter & charity shop/boot sale/FB etc what's not needed? If the item hasn't been played with/used in six months then let it go.

Picture 3 is hardly selling it, quite the opposite. It is also very cluttered making the rooms look smaller than they actually are. The garden with the pool too makes it feel small.

I would paint everything neutral, get fresh pictures and change your estate agent and insist they handle the viewings.

It looks a perfectly nice house, but I agree with what others have said. Photo 3, focusing on the washing machine, a load of clutter/rubbish shoved down the side, and a toilet with no storage, is a very bizarre choice.
Personally, I don't think it's nothing a 6 month lease on a storage unit and some new photos wouldn't fix.
Yes the bathrooms are a bit dated, but again, they look perfectly fine for now.

Glad someone said it! There's a bit of clutter that could do with being in a cupboard but I don't think it's really messy as someone else has suggested. Just looks lived in as opposed to a show home!

Doesn't sound like he wants to move tbh

A 5 bed for that price??? Is it a horrible area, or near a school or play park? Either of those are a hard no from me.

I don’t see anything up with the house. Clutter wouldn’t put me off a house I liked as I’d presume you’d be taking it with you.

I’ve made different suggestions to my husband such as listing it as a 4 bed rather than a five with the bedrooms not been big. I’ve suggested decluttering to see if that helps. I’ve suggested going with a different estate agent and lowering the price. Then today I’ve tried to talk to him about it. Mentioned lowering the price and he just dismissed it
This makes me think he doesn't really want to move.