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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

House not selling (with listing)

319 replies

Housesale2 · 13/04/2026 16:33

Any thoughts welcome - awkward lay out? Decor? Anything else?

To pre-empt a couple of questions; it was originally listed at £400,000, and there is parking for two cars (one on the gravel, one on the right)

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171873854#/?channel=RES_BUY

OP posts:
Northernladdette · 15/04/2026 08:18

MaggiesShadow · 14/04/2026 19:32

The front could do with a bit of life/tidying up. I wouldn't look at that and think it has parking for two cars, tbh.

The inside is fine. Lovely kitchen but when I see a dining table shoved against the wall I immediately think no room/cramped. The bedrooms are ok if a little messy but to me the main problems are the conservatory(?)/room off the kitchen and general clutter around the place. I would turn the gym/office room into one or the other. I'd move the traces of the animals outside and either turn that off-kitchen room into a dining area or even a little den/reading room.

It's nice. But I'm not sure its £400k nice. But I don't know the area.

It’s been reduced 😉

Carpedimum · 14/04/2026 23:07

Forgive me, I’ve not rtft, so someone might have already said this… there’s a sign that identifies the football team that someone in your home likes, this will put some people off because they are daft. My estate agent friend has had to advise clients many times to remove football related stuff, apparently even the most perfect home for someone will not be entertained if associated with the ‘wrong’ team.

MarjoriePan · 14/04/2026 22:45

The kitchen looks great and decent sized house.
I think the exterior picture might put people off as house looks a bit exposed on corner with no fencing at front (that was my first thought). I don't know if there's anything you can do with that or perhaps a different angled picture. I'd also be inclined to move the satellite dish from front and centre of house but that might be a faff.
In the room with the animal cage, maybe there's a different angled pic that doesn't show that. Also, the garden could be clear of items against the wall outside, to show those glass doors at end of room in best light.

Good luck, hope you get more viewings and a sale soon enough.

swanburger · 14/04/2026 22:20

I would put a low fence around the front garden, tidy it up and mow the back garden, putting out the furniture as others have said. I would also put the dining table in the snug and re-name it dining and get rid of the boxes in the office.

catlover123456789 · 14/04/2026 21:30

The windows look very old, but the epc rating is pretty good so perhaps not?

Lauz841 · 14/04/2026 21:01

Bumcake · 13/04/2026 22:51

There is a downstairs toilet on the floor plan, it’s just not photographed for some reason.

So there is, sorry I missed that! 🙈

clary · 14/04/2026 21:00

Yeh @Housesale2 now you have come back, can you clarify – are you having:

  • no viewings
  • viewings but not offers
  • viewings and offers but too low
? this would tell us a lot. So if you are having lots of viewings and no offers, that suggests the listing appeals but either there is an issue no apparent in the listing (very noisy road, nearby eyesore of some kind) or it is too £££.

I do think that some of the things pps are saying are not really practical – repainting the kitchen for example). But I also think despite what some pps say, possible buyers do look at how busy the rooms are. A lot of things in the rooms says "no storage, small rooms". And also people really do struggle to visualise the house without your things. For sure you live there but I would move some of the things that really might put ppl off, even only for the pix (tho I do take the PP who is an EA point that buyers don't like to see something different when they view! Could you get some storage, can the pet hutch be in the garden in the daytime?

LynneCH · 14/04/2026 20:51

For me, and this is mo only, i think the living room could be redone, i dont like the fire or how the curtains hang. Could u not use curtains to the floor? The fire might be what buyers like but not for me.
would a smaller dining table work better in the space rather then pushed up against the wall?
could the pets be put out of view?
defo mow the lawn and put some bedding plants, add some color.
the bedrooms look small, the boxes on show, could they not be put in the loft etc? Looks like ur packing and waiting to go, or parcels waiting to be opened.
i love the bay windows, could they be painted maybe as others av commented on the color?

good luck over all but in this climate and market prices how they are, try and sit it out

Sheepsmellnice · 14/04/2026 20:49

I think the interior is nice not cluttered and tasteful decor. I agree with some of the others I would remove the animal cage not everyone loves small furries and I think the gardens let it down. Especially the front it hasn't got kerb appeal I would remove the stones and generally tidy up. Put an attractive planter there put some.nice plants in the iron basket on the.wall. Also clean the tarmac. The back just needs a tidy up uncover the garden furniture put a couple of planters with spring plants. To make it look more inviting.

Stanthedog15 · 14/04/2026 20:39

Hi lovely. Your kitchen is beautiful light spacious good colour's your room is also a good size as are the bedrooms and bathroom. You have no pics of a rear Garden?? But the most off putting for me was your front of your home. Gravel looks messy and green stuff climbing looks terrible. So buy a couple of beautiful pots . Pop at the side of the front door. Tidy the gravel put some edging around so it stays tidy. Clean the path door and remember have as few people in the home as possible if your handling views. If the company who is selling as if they can do one day views where people book to view say Saturday and all have 1 hour. Make sure windows are open fresh air is a great smell. Good luck

YourShyLion · 14/04/2026 20:14

Get your pictures retaken unless the rooms really are that small.
Get a quote to remove that fireplace which is only going to be appealing to a tiny number of people, if any

The blue paint everywhere is very oppressive. It probably darkens rooms and makes them feel smaller
The garden needs smartened up.

I'm not from that area but there's houses like that near me going for 100k less and that's the most I'd be prepared to pay for it if there were no other houses up for sale

TheHappyHippy · 14/04/2026 20:10

I don't think there's anything wrong with it. It's just that, like houses here in Cambridgeshire, which normally sell within a few weeks, are victims of the current world situation, so are houses in Swindon. Buyers are worried that they won't be able to afford the inevitable higher loan rates, so they are waiting. A lot of banks and mortgage companies have pulled their products. Blame Donald Trump, your house is fine.

Bumcake · 14/04/2026 20:07

Housesale2 · 14/04/2026 19:04

Thanks for all input - no offence taken to any! It is AIBU after all.

So will you take up any of the suggestions? Or answer any of the questions?

ClassicalQueen · 14/04/2026 20:03

The bedrooms look very tight, I wonder if you could move the furniture around to make them look bigger as they don’t look small, just crowded.

Wonkydonkey44 · 14/04/2026 20:03

Fireplace paint a warmer colour , rug on the floor make it feel warmer.
love your kitchen and bathroom , your spare room with the double bed looks weird, bed is too big for the room . Can you switch it for a small double or single .
Plants in pots out the front to improve the kerb appeal .
good luck

cmacboo · 14/04/2026 20:01

massive box of tissues by a computer desk always creepy.

Round sofa chair swamps back room.

Some photos could be a bit better.

Otherwise generally a great house, might be the price.

DrySherry · 14/04/2026 20:01

Its substantially overpriced at 375k. I would value it at about £320k.

EarthSight · 14/04/2026 19:39

This comes up so often that I started a thread on it here -

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/property/5406571-why-isnt-my-house-selling-is-this-you

In short - either your estate agent is crap and not getting back to people, or your house is too expensive for what the market is willing to pay for it in that exact location. Usually it's the latter, but no one wants to hear that.

Why isn't my house selling - is this you? | Mumsnet

There's yet another one that's trending at the moment - why isn't my house selling. If you're wondering this, your house isn’t selling because - a)...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/property/5406571-why-isnt-my-house-selling-is-this-you

MaggiesShadow · 14/04/2026 19:32

The front could do with a bit of life/tidying up. I wouldn't look at that and think it has parking for two cars, tbh.

The inside is fine. Lovely kitchen but when I see a dining table shoved against the wall I immediately think no room/cramped. The bedrooms are ok if a little messy but to me the main problems are the conservatory(?)/room off the kitchen and general clutter around the place. I would turn the gym/office room into one or the other. I'd move the traces of the animals outside and either turn that off-kitchen room into a dining area or even a little den/reading room.

It's nice. But I'm not sure its £400k nice. But I don't know the area.

Mumwithbaggage · 14/04/2026 19:19

I think I'd paint out the fireplace (probably white??), move the personal bits from the sitting room, find (borrow) a few throws/cushions to tie it together and take down the small pictures (they are all in a row) and use command strips to put up something bigger. And fresh flowers - white? Lose the footstool and have a rug and coffee table.

Can you store some kids' stuff in a friend's house for a while? It just makes it look as though there isn't enough storage.

The rabbit run will put many many people off I'm afraid. Don't know what you can do about that one.

Big bunch of white flowers or plant or something on the dining table - it doesn't look used.

In the office, hit the cardboard boxes, at least while photos are being taken!

I have no idea why agents take photos while it's wet outside! I'd ask for new photos without cardboard boxes and piles of children's books etc. And a different angle of the bedroom with the green furniture in it. Approve the photos before they go on the website.

Good luck - it's a nice house, just a very poor market so you need to do everything you can to make your house stand out!

witch000 · 14/04/2026 19:15

Have you tried another estate agent ?

pineapplecrushed · 14/04/2026 19:11

It's not an area I would live in, nor a style I would want. Having said that, there is nothing really wrong with it. Nothing else would put me off (paint is cheap and easy to change!). I don't really like those types of windows but if it was a house in an area I wanted it wouldn't be a deal breaker.

RosyDaysAhead · 14/04/2026 19:06

Honestly, I think it’s the area. I know Swindon and there aren’t many jobs enticing people to the area and many are moving out towards Bristol or Reading for work, since they closed the car manufacturing factories.

youre also a corner plot, again harder to sell. You need to make it something that people will love to get that kerb appeal. Agree with previous posters about clutter, and do something with the garden and get the photos retaken - cut the grass and uncover the spa? (Or what’s ever under the blue tarp) let people imagine living them, not thinking about having to cut the grass!

good luck

Housesale2 · 14/04/2026 19:04

Thanks for all input - no offence taken to any! It is AIBU after all.

OP posts:
Retailrookie · 14/04/2026 19:03

It looks great inside but from the outside the windows put me off. They look very old and due for replacement and a lot of people don't like the upheaval of having work done. When I see old window I wonder if the boiler/electrics also needs updating.