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Original poster

This is bad isn't it? - House Selling

347 replies

rickandmorts · 28/06/2019 10:57

My mum has had her house on the market since February and is struggling to sell as it's a really unusual home and perhaps not everyone's cup of tea. It is one of 3 houses of the same style on drive and yesterday her NDN said they were also putting their house on the market Shock. It's very similar to my mum's house (same architect designed it). The EA tried to put a positive spin on it and say if people were coming to see NDN it might attract more attention for my mum's but in reality, you'd think they were both selling for some reason wouldn't you? Either something up with the house or something happening in the local area? My poor mum is so stressed about it all and we just want it sold Sad.

OP posts:
justasking111 · 28/06/2019 12:42

We had a quirky house with two acres in the country, went on market for 700k, 18 months later sold for 500k. I would put it on the market for 400k to be honest.

Bluntness100 · 28/06/2019 12:43

That's lovely. Your mum has done the decor very well. It suits perfectly the style of the house. I'll be honest and say I don't particularly like it from the outside, but inside it's fabulous and really makes the most of it's setting.

Original poster
rickandmorts · 28/06/2019 12:44

Thank you give! No option to rent it and rent somewhere else and she has the next place lined up to move to which is non negotiable for various reasons.

I know exactly where that house is Biscuit and it's on a busy road near a junior school which is hell at pick up and drop off! DM's is a lot more peaceful and private. People who have grown up around here don't even know the woods where it is.

OP posts:
Original poster
rickandmorts · 28/06/2019 12:45

And I'm not sure what agent NDN has gone with but that's an interesting idea Sunni

DM is doing viewings as she knows house inside out and could answer more questions than EA.

OP posts:
DuMondeB · 28/06/2019 12:46

This look is so in at the moment - Instagram is teeming with cheeseplants/macrame/wicker.

I’m tempted to suggest pushing the retro look even further, but maybe the kinds of people currently into that look are more Berlin than Huddersfield?

I think it’s a great house, and beyond your mum asking the agent to describe it as ‘unusual’ rather than ‘unique’ I don’t think the neighbour selling will make much difference - who knows, maybe theirs will sell first and the new buyers mates will come for a house warming, see your mums and spark a bidding war?

Maybe look into some additional ways to get the word out, local paper, online forums for lovers of modern architecture.

You might get a buyer who isn’t actively looking/is more open regarding location via avenues like that?

Breathlessness · 28/06/2019 12:46

I don’t know about the price but if that’s the problem you’d think she’d have had some lower offers. That house has is going to appeal to a much smaller pool of buyers than your standard 3 bed detached. You need people who love the style and can live in that area. I’d definitely look at listing it on niche design sites as people have already suggested.

Fleurchamp · 28/06/2019 12:46

I haven't RTFT but have you tried a specialist agent like The Modern House?
There are houses like that near me and they all tend to be sold through them, attracts buyers who want that style of property.

TurnAroundWhenPossible · 28/06/2019 12:47

I'm sure it will sell to the right buyer eventually. Where we live now had been on the market for over a year (it too is a unique property). We put in an offer 10% lower than the asking price and the seller accepted as they were getting a bit desperate by that time. No doubt when we come to sell we'll face the same difficulties but we love it here.

Oracle72 · 28/06/2019 12:48

Love it!!! Gorgeous. It will definitely sell. What a setting too.

Tuktuktaker · 28/06/2019 12:48

I think it's lovely - the only reason I wouldn't buy it is because I'm a city person, not a countryside one, and the location would rapidly drive me to despair, but objectively, if I wanted to live in the middle of nature, I would love it. I also think, from quickly googling, it is priced way too high for the local area. Did your mother pay an equivalently high over the market price when she bought it originally, may I ask? Has she got a lot of wriggle room on the price?

Original poster
rickandmorts · 28/06/2019 12:51

Thank you for additional feedback. I can't remember how much she bought it for, I was 11! But she has spent a lot on it and built the room downstairs (that was front garden before) and extended the balcony. The costs for this were high though as it needed a huge amount of underpinning.

And yes wriggle room on the price!! Which she's told EA to tell viewers!!

OP posts:
Pinkfinkle · 28/06/2019 12:52

It would have sold if it were down south. I think it’s overpriced for the area.

shockthemonkey · 28/06/2019 12:52

It's a beautiful house in a beautiful part of the country.

You say you want a buyer who "really gets" the house, and I am sure you will find one.

Anyone who fails to "get" it won't buy, that's for sure.

Best of luck OP!

PotteringAlong · 28/06/2019 12:53

It’s lovely. But it’s £500,000 for a 3 bed house in Huddersfield. And therefore you’re looking for a very very niche market of buyer.

sheshootssheimplores · 28/06/2019 12:55

I think it’s beautiful too.

Original poster
rickandmorts · 28/06/2019 12:56

Yes very niche!! Can I just say thanks for all your comments you've been really helpful (apart from the person it said it looked like a student flat Grin). Just letting you know when I've shown my mum the feedback I will ask for it to be pulled because it's not a hard house to find and you don't know who's out there do you.

OP posts:
LikeARedBalloon · 28/06/2019 12:56

As a fellow 1960's flat roofed house owner I would definately be making a point of mentioning the roof in the listing....When it was redone, how (rubber, fibreglass etc) and also maybe mention building insurance costs?? Our building insurance is slightly higher but only a few pounds a month which I was surprised about. Our flat roof was leaking when we bought it and has been redone and this is something I would also check in the future with another flat roofed property. If it wasn't mentioned in the listing I'd assume there was a reason for this.

Original poster
rickandmorts · 28/06/2019 12:56

*who said

OP posts:
GuernseyDonkey1 · 28/06/2019 12:57

I love that house! I feel like I have seen it somewhere before?! Was it featured on a Property programme?

exWifebeginsat40 · 28/06/2019 12:57

it’s beautiful, but...

the description is confusing. it says the property is over three levels, but then goes on to describe only 2 - lower ground garden room, and ground floor which seems to have living area and all bedrooms/bathrooms? where is the other floor?!

there is also a lot in the description about how the lower-ground floor garden room retains original 60s features, but I can’t see any photos of it. i’d also like to see the garage/utility area.

and bathrooms! show me bathrooms! is there just one (and i would lose the green chair in that photo) or does the master bedroom have an en-suite? also no pics of separate WC.

the flow of the house is slightly confusing - i can’t tell which is a bedroom, or a study, or even how many bedrooms there are. i presume there are nooks in the main living area for extra armchairs, etc - but i can’t get my head around the layout of the living area. are all the bedrooms on this same floor?

those are just my observations, though. it’s a stunning house, and it reminds me of Cameron’s place in Ferris Beuller’s Day Off.

if i were near me, i’d buy that in a heartbeat. does the new flat roof really have a lifetime guarantee? because i would make that the first thing noted on Rightmove, and the first thing the agent says during viewings!

Headstand · 28/06/2019 12:57

No advice but that is gorgeous! It's my dream house, such a shame I live no where near!

Losingthechubrub · 28/06/2019 12:57

Found the Guardian article and comments are mixed, which is to be expected on such a distinctive house. I love it, it's light, beautiful and way out of my price range (also the wrong side of the Pennines for me).

www.theguardian.com/money/gallery/2019/mar/01/midcentury-modern-homes-for-sale-in-pictures

TheHopefulTraveller · 28/06/2019 12:59

Actually, I wonder if the NDN's house being on the market might help. It seems to me that it's hard for people to gauge whether they're getting their money's worth with such an unusual house, as there are no reasonable comparisons to be made with what else is on the market. Assuming the prices are comparable (or if the houses are different that the prices can be pegged reasonably against each other), I think that could be helpful. It wouldn't detract from the uniqueness, as the development of 3 houses they're both part of is still a unique and distinct architectural pocket compared to anything else in the area.

NavyBerry · 28/06/2019 12:59

We are buying a house in the street where there are 3 more for sale. Maybe we should dig into it and we are being silly. Nothing crossed my mind really. We just chose the best one

furryleopard · 28/06/2019 13:01

I saw this one fall victim in the paper to the typical Hudds response of 'its rubbish' I thought it was great. We're looking but unfortunately we're looking in the Colne Valley and only have £180k!

Are you with the right agents? I don't know that end of town really but is it worth a double check who everyone else sells with in that price range? And is there an agent who deals in individual properties?

I think one of the issues is you can get a much bigger house/more bedrooms etc... for a lot less in just as nice (nicer!) locations in Hudds. So you're really wanting someone who just loves that property and those folk must be far between.