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Original poster

Why won't my house sell

999 replies

StopSearching · 05/03/2021 13:57

My house has been on the market for nearly two years. Recently we took it off and remarketed with new agents. No viewings. We've been so patient for two years but it's getting me down now.

I just want to move on. Nothing wrong with where we live, it's a lovely little town but we have plans and this is all that stopping us. I've stopped looking for houses to buy as they are sold before we even get viewings.

Anyone else having similar problems? It's so frustrating.

OP posts:
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46
thriftyhen · 05/03/2021 18:58

I think you can "dress" your house as much as you like, but if the price isn't right, it isn't going to sell.

cretelover · 05/03/2021 18:58

The decor is OK, but the things which would put me off are the main bedroom on a different floor ( no bathroom on that floor if I've read it right), conservatory leading straight into house ( possibly cold), kitchen is tiny sorry. Not much you can do about those. Lovely views though.

Ellmau · 05/03/2021 18:59

The study is too small to be a bedroom, and the loft bedroom looks a bit the worse for wear, plus no loo up there and the stairs looks a bit precarious.

Would be concerned bout the fields being built on in the future. But you should put one of the gorgeous sunset pictures in the particulars!

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Dopeyduck · 05/03/2021 19:01

Positives -
Space seems good
Views from the back are lovely
You can move straight in and take your time doing any work but it needs a refresh so opportunity to put your own stamp on it.

Negatives -

The zoomed out photos of the estate is not attractive. Get rid of that pronto.
The garden looks small and the concrete circle in the middle is not attractive as a family garden.
The decor is dated and it needs some TLC and new kitchen etc - I don’t know if this is reflected in the price but it needs to be.

I can’t comment on the price as I don’t know the area.

MerryDecembermas · 05/03/2021 19:02

OP bought for 250k... do you really need 100k profit? New builds always have a premium. Once they're second hand they lose the premium.

The other houses linked on the thread are much more realistically priced which is why they sold. In the end it's a balance between holding out for more cash or just getting on with your life.

Thewinterofdiscontent · 05/03/2021 19:03

It’s just tired. Anyone looking it needs to redecorate and recapped completely plus sort the garden . That’s before walls get knocked through .

Even you need to do that stuff yourself or reduce the price. Personally I’d do it up for £10K and add it into the asking price.

MerryDecembermas · 05/03/2021 19:04

Just doing the sums.. did you buy around 2007/2008 OP? At the height of the property bubble that burst? If so you may never get back what you paid.

huuuuunnnndderrricks · 05/03/2021 19:04

I think I'd rather spend £10k on it and not take £30 k off the asking price . You could really jazz it up and make it look a lot better . It is indeed very tired !

CandidaAlbicans2 · 05/03/2021 19:06

Oh gawd I hadn't even realised there was no bathroom picture. It's only been with new agents a few weeks, the old agents had the bathroom pictures on there

It sounds like you’ve taken your eye off the ball with both the property (it needs some TLC) and the agents. I can see why as it gets demoralising trying to sell a property, but you must check listings yourself for errors (the agents have made a few and the listing has been up for weeks!), and also give the agents a kick up the arse if needed. I have no time for crap EAs who don’t do a decent job of marketing, they simply don’t deserve the commission, and I don’t hesitate in getting rid of the wasters and hiring better ones.

Incidentally, the photo you posted of the garden, complete with patio furniture and view, taken from the conservatory is far better than the ones on the listing. It's the sort of picture the EA should've taken if s/he were worth their salt!

wewereliars · 05/03/2021 19:09

When my house sold the EA instructed a professional photographer, and the photos were amazing. They know how to best use light, angles and perspective. Really worth it. Bear that in mind if you are going to jazz the place up, which will be a bit pointless if the EA is going to do crap photos. That sunset photo you posted is far better than the EA ones, you could throw that in at the end

TooManyAdverts · 05/03/2021 19:12

I'd let people view it irrespective of whether they've sold their house or not. I've sold two houses, both times as a result of falling in love with a house I loved. One house sold on the day it went on the market and one sold within a week so don't worry about time wasters.
Also, even if you do get viewers who later find out they can't sell, at least you'll get some useful feedback. Good luck!!

wewereliars · 05/03/2021 19:14

I think the viewer restrictions are because of Covid

LordOfTheOnionRings · 05/03/2021 19:16

Where your cooker hood

Nancydrawn · 05/03/2021 19:18

OP, just want to echo that your own photos are so lovely! The one with the patio with the fire pit on it makes perfect sense. Include that one! (Yes, it will put off allergy sufferers, but anyone with an allergy will already be put off, and it's just so pretty and quiet and still.) Rather than the aerial shots, which will make people think 'muddy field ripe for development', do a sunset photo and the fire pit photo, which will make them think, 'this is where I will sit with my glass of wine and watch the sunset while my children make me dinner and tidy the house.' Sell the dream!

LoveYourUsername · 05/03/2021 19:19

I think you need to be realistic over the price.

The house looks tired. It even looks a little grubby in places. The shower room, the loft room, etc where paint is peeling and there are stains.

But the biggest issue is the aspect.

From the photos it appears that the lounge looks out onto the side of the house opposite. So basically a brick wall.

And the entrance to your drive looks tight.

I'd not view on those points alone. Sorry!

Maybe you need to consider that and price it accordingly.

Other houses on your road have a more open aspect and aren't crammed into a corner.

Original poster
StopSearching · 05/03/2021 19:24

DH is currently lying on the floor of the 4th bedroom/study to see if he could fit a bed in there Grin

OP posts:
billybear · 05/03/2021 19:28

agree too many field photos im thinking smelly much streading when the washings on the line,get better photos of your garden.

redcandlelight · 05/03/2021 19:29

is there a war to put a wc & sink on the top floor to make it a proper ensuite?

other than that, as everyone says fix what needs fixing, possibly have a plain carpet fitted throughout.
greenery by the front door.
bed in 4th bedroom for fotos. (an airbed made up on top of boxes for hight would do)

Belladonna12 · 05/03/2021 19:32

I would be put off by all the concrete outside and lack of grass. I know there's a field behind you that many people would think that might get built on. I think you should brighten up the back garden with flowers etc.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 05/03/2021 19:32

I think you need a price reduction on account 9f the random shower but no toilet

I agree!

I don't know about anyone else, but I tend to go for a wee before I go into the shower. In this house, you would go downstairs into the full-size bathroom (which contains a shower), have a wee then go back upstairs and have a shower in the cupboard...

Doris86 · 05/03/2021 19:35

I’ll say it again - PRICE TOO HIGH

Regularsizedrudy · 05/03/2021 19:37

I can’t believe it’s been on for TWO YEARS and you haven’t lowered the price?? It’s unloved, the kitchen is small, the street is all crammed in and it’s on a field that’s just asking for development. I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.

ChameleonClara · 05/03/2021 19:39

@Doris86

I’ll say it again - PRICE TOO HIGH
Yes quite!
sunflowersandbuttercups · 05/03/2021 19:40

We've lived here about 13 years and paid 240 for it.

Okay, so what makes it worth 110k more than what you paid for it?

Terminallysleepdeprived · 05/03/2021 19:41

My grandparents used to live in Sherbourne so I agree with you that it is a very fair price for a 4 bed house there.

However...

  1. the pictures are awful.
  2. it's actually a 3 bed with a study as far as the pictures show show yes it is overpriced. You need to show that as a bedroom
  3. you have probably taken the deck utter too far
  4. the back garden needs a good spruce up, cut the grass, take care round the path etc
  5. it has zero curb appeal. Get some nice pots out the front, a hanging basket maybe
  6. I am not sure if it is the way the pictures are done or not but the bedrooms seem very cramped, can you reposition things so they appear bigger?

Over all it is a nice house, there is just nothing "wow" about it.

Sherbourne is also a very expensive area so it is possible given the current climate that your target market simply can't afford it.