Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to wonder why our fairly priced new-build house is not selling?

534 replies

Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 07:43

We have a 5 year old ‘new build’ is a very mumsnet ‘naice’ area in the catchment area for some of the best state schools in the UK. A big 4 bed with four bathrooms, decorated very neutral and fairly high end - it’s definitely a nicer than usual new build. Garden isn’t overlooked, triple driveway, neighbours are staggered so not cramped. Three large doubles and a single bedroom (that could get in a double at a push).

We had our house valued by 3 separate agents. All valued the house between £675-£700k. We listed at £675 as we’d like a fairly fast sale. That was 8 weeks ago. 4 weeks ago we reduced to £649k as we’d had 8 viewings and no offers, and we’ve since had a further 2 viewings but that’s it.

I’ve looked at houses for sale in the area and also houses that have recently sold. We aren’t priced above what seems average. We had our house for sale a couple of years ago very briefly and received an offer for £690k but we changed our minds and pulled out of the sale.

The estate agents have no feedback for us either. They say nobody looks around and criticises anything. The only after viewing feedback we’ve had is that a couple of viewers wanted something a bit bigger/a 5 bed.

Any ideas as to why the house isn’t selling?!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Mildorado · 07/04/2026 08:53

Why do you want to move?

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 07/04/2026 08:53

Iloveeverycat · 07/04/2026 08:37

I agree we managed no problem with one bathroom and downstairs toilet for 6 adults. No Idea why builders would put in 4. Even 2 beds have to have a downstairs toilet now when built.

Show quote history

Well, so did we when I was a child, but I wouldn’t want to go back to that! But at least the loo was separate from the bathroom, as was usual then, when bathrooms only had a bath, no shower.

We did also have an outside loo, with resident spiders that means we never used it - it was originally meant for the skivvy and/or gardener when the house was built, pre WW2.

The ILs’ Edwardian house had much the same facilities.

Binus · 07/04/2026 08:53

Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:51

Unfortunately the are we want to buy in hasn’t been affected by the economy at all - houses are priced at an all time high and lots sell before they’ve even hit the market! Hence the reason we don’t want to drop the price of ours any further.

What timeframe are you talking about? There can't be much data on sales since the Iran war started, if any.

Original poster
Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:53

likelysuspect · 07/04/2026 08:52

Have they all got windows or are they internal?

Show quote history

All have windows. Apart from the downstairs loo.

OP posts:
Mildorado · 07/04/2026 08:52

Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 07:46

I don’t really want to post my house, unfortunately!

Show quote history

Understandable, but it could be something people on here could spot and give advice on, but that's your call.
On that basis, the only thing is the price and current uncertainty in the financial situation.

cramptramp · 07/04/2026 08:52

No one on here can help unless we can see the house listing. I understand you not wanting to out yourself by posting though.

likelysuspect · 07/04/2026 08:52

Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:47

There’s a family bathroom with a seperate bath and shower, two en-suites (one with a bath and shower, one with just a shower), and a downstairs loo.

Show quote history

Have they all got windows or are they internal?

campista · 07/04/2026 08:51

OP, We are cash buyers and are watching the market. We have seen houses come down by as much as £150000. It's a very strange time.
If you don't need to sell, don't.

Original poster
Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:51

Unfortunately the are we want to buy in hasn’t been affected by the economy at all - houses are priced at an all time high and lots sell before they’ve even hit the market! Hence the reason we don’t want to drop the price of ours any further.

OP posts:
PartQualifiedAcca · 07/04/2026 08:50

CarlaLemarchant · 07/04/2026 08:49

And yet for the price, two of your viewers want more space, or an extra bedroom.

Lower the price, be prepared to wait or take it off and try again next year.

Show quote history

two of our viewers didn’t like the pictures in the living room and one wanted the bungalow to have an upstairs
Most viewers are bloody idiots, ignore their comments.

PartQualifiedAcca · 07/04/2026 08:49

blankittyblank · 07/04/2026 08:48

That’s actually not recommended advice. Having two agents at once makes you look desperate to sell snd more likely to generate lower offers/flakey buyers as a result. I avoid houses that are on the market with more than one agent for this reason.

Show quote history

They are desperate to sell. They’ve dropped 10% off the asking price.
Sometimes it’s not you it’s them. You’ve just gotta sit tight and wait it out.

CarlaLemarchant · 07/04/2026 08:49

Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:44

The house is 1700sq ft plus a double seperate garage.

Show quote history

And yet for the price, two of your viewers want more space, or an extra bedroom.

Lower the price, be prepared to wait or take it off and try again next year.

Original poster
Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:49

Spaghettea · 07/04/2026 08:46

Does the new landscaped garden have plastic "grass"? That would put a lot of people off.

Tbh four bathrooms sounds amazing for am active family with IBS and a child with SEN.

No it doesn’t.

OP posts:
DrMorbius · 07/04/2026 08:49

There's an old saying in Sales that "something is only worth, what someone is willing pay for it".
IMHO This is especially true in house selling. There are various factors, markets go up and down, the timing can be a buyers or sellers market, some areas are better than others, decor may be good or terrible. These (and more) contribute to the right price. You don't have the right price. It always price Op. I guarantee that some of your viewers will have liked you house and maybe even considered it. But the price was too high.

BIossomtoes · 07/04/2026 08:48

Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:47

There’s a family bathroom with a seperate bath and shower, two en-suites (one with a bath and shower, one with just a shower), and a downstairs loo.

Show quote history

I know. It was a response to all the posters who said it wasn’t necessary. 🤷‍♀️

blankittyblank · 07/04/2026 08:48

Newbutoldfather · 07/04/2026 08:22

Always use at least two agents to get them to compete, even if it costs a bit more.

Houses are quite random goods. Some can sit on the market for ages and then attract attention.

I think there is a lot of uncertainties in the market at this time, so it may be slow, but there are always buyers wanting a house to live in long term who don’t care about the market, so persevere.

That’s actually not recommended advice. Having two agents at once makes you look desperate to sell snd more likely to generate lower offers/flakey buyers as a result. I avoid houses that are on the market with more than one agent for this reason.

Original poster
Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:47

BIossomtoes · 07/04/2026 08:40

Most people wouldn’t entertain a house without a downstairs loo. Who wants to have schlep upstairs numerous times a day?

There’s a family bathroom with a seperate bath and shower, two en-suites (one with a bath and shower, one with just a shower), and a downstairs loo.

OP posts:
TeacheeTeacherson · 07/04/2026 08:46

What is the parking situation? That might be a factor. We had a bit of trouble selling our old house as parking was at the back of the house (on a drive) and everybody on the street came and went through the back doors. If there’s an unusual parking situation or difficulty parking that could be it.

ThatWaryLimePeer · 07/04/2026 08:46

Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:44

The house is 1700sq ft plus a double seperate garage.

Show quote history

That’s a good size house.
What area are you in and are there many new builds in that area?

Spaghettea · 07/04/2026 08:46

Does the new landscaped garden have plastic "grass"? That would put a lot of people off.

Tbh four bathrooms sounds amazing for am active family with IBS and a child with SEN.

Catza · 07/04/2026 08:46

I was buying a new build last year. For various reasons it took too long to get the sale going so I pulled out three months ago. I can now see the very same plot for sale and the asking price is 20% less than what it was when I put an offer in.
I put an offer on another property in February and got my mortgage approved a week before the war started. Had I not locked in the rate, I would probably not be able to afford this property right now.
So I agree with others, it is always the price.

EdithBond · 07/04/2026 08:45

BIossomtoes · 07/04/2026 08:40

Most people wouldn’t entertain a house without a downstairs loo. Who wants to have schlep upstairs numerous times a day?

Understand what you mean about buyers.

But I’ve never had a downstairs toilet. Stairs are good exercise.

Original poster
Housesellinghelp · 07/04/2026 08:44

CarlaLemarchant · 07/04/2026 08:31

I’m always put off new builds because of lack of storage and often small gardens. A four bed new build can often have the space of a less new 3 bed.

The feedback suggests that one of your viewers thinks they can maybe stretch to a 5 bed for a similar price or that it is not big enough for the price.

Show quote history

The house is 1700sq ft plus a double seperate garage.

OP posts:
keepswimming38 · 07/04/2026 08:44

The market is sluggish, mortgage rates have rocketed, plus if I was spending that money it wouldn’t be on a new build as I’ve heard too many horror stories.

isthesolution · 07/04/2026 08:44

Oh also - on the school catchment. We also live in an area where there is supposedly one of the best state schools in the country. People used to move house to live within a mile of it. House prices were kept really high because of this. But falling birth rates mean that this year the distance was over 3 miles which means that you can give in a much cheaper area and still be within the ‘catchment’

Swipe left for the next trending thread