Why won't my house sell

[StopSearching]

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.

the not that

I checked, it's actually 35 years old. But yes, was a cheap build in those days.

And you can tell. You need to stop marketing it as something it's not.

@sunflowersandbuttercups

We put in new kitchen, new bathroom, new driveway (was just tarmac) and the garden room. Plus the general house price increase in the area. I think we will do all the repairs as even though they are minor they obviously come off as more serious in photos/video.

But why does that = 110k. That's a lot of money for a house that looks like it has some serious structural issues and a damp
problem.

I guess because it doesn't have serious structural issues or damp problems?

🤦🏼‍♀️

It doesn’t matter what the agent has said. The picture quality tells me all I need to know about how good they are.

Indeed. The odd first photo with no idea which house you're looking at. The fascination with drone shots, and then the shouty description. They're not even trying to show it off and interest potential buyers.

No cause they’d not entertain the video on rightmove if they actually wanted to sell it let’s be honest.

Someone viewing the house is likely to think there are damp and structural issues though - given the cracks, marks and damp marks.

I guess because it doesn't have serious structural issues or damp problems?

Have you had a survey regarding the damp? There's definitely problems regarding damp. You claim it's all historical and no longer a problem, but the virtual tour tells a very different story.

You know when you see threads about "cf offers" & some posters are offended by them. One reason why many buyers put in low offers is because of sellers like the OP.

I'm a homeowner but i've always been baffled by the dogmatic belief that a house must go up in value just because.

@MrBullinaChinaShop

If they’re all minor OP why have you lived with them for the past 2 years? Surely you can see that those things make for an undesirable house? I don’t actually agree that they’re minor. I think you’re looking at spending a significant amount to commandeer even close to your asking price. Did you put the green carpet in?

I think we all live with minor repairs. The house is sound. It's warm and cosy. We have done repairs but I guess we need to finish off with re-painting/plastering. The carpet was here when we bough it.

You aren't coming across as a motivated seller.

Whilst I appreciate you say it isn't mouldy, it isn't damp, there aren't cracks but in the video tour it looks like there are. So you need to get rid of the cracks, seal and paint over what appears to be mould and damp.

Or lower the price.

@Handsoffstrikesagain

stopsearching does that loft room have building regs?

Yes

I think we all live with minor repairs

Not if you're trying to sell and have had no interest in two years!

*I think we all live with minor repairs. "

Yes, we do for sure. BUT when we were selling our last house, we went round with the agent and got them to point out all those repairs we'd become blind to. And then we fixed them, before the photos.

Everything looks tired and dated.
There's a large damp patch on the living room ceiling.
All the woodwork needs stripping, which is a ball-ache of a job.
Some of the ceilings need skimming.
Everywhere needs decorating.
The kitchen is small.
The house looks squashed between its neighbours.
The drive is dirty.

How many people here have said it doesn’t appear cosy?

You keep ignoring about the price too.

And you’re asking why it isn’t selling, I think you know but don’t want to admit it.

I guess because it doesn't have serious structural issues or damp problems?

A huge number of people have assumed it had damp and structural issues from the walkthrough video.

It looks like it has damp and mould on the bathroom and shower room ceilings and severe damp or leaks on at least two other ceilings as well.

People will see that and be instantly put off.

And you’re asking why it isn’t selling, I think you know but don’t want to admit it.

Yep, I said similar earlier. I think the OP knows it's the price but is hoping to find a magical reason so there's somthing else to blame, rather than admit it's overpriced.

@Catastrophie

To add I don’t think the ‘decorative’ items are an issue here, plenty of empty houses sell. Damp, structural problems and lack of building regs/dodgy conversions are a problem.

There's no damp, no structural problems and no lack of building regs. It's sound. Just doesn't look pretty, I agree. But I will redecorate the ceilings.

I have not read the full thread so maybe others have said, but it is bleak and barren in front like a soul destroying wasteland of cement. The house itself looks fine but nothing entices you in. Could you line up some good quality pots with small trees in front of the house. Put something on either side of the front door?

There's no damp, no structural problems and no lack of building regs.

But that doesn't matter. If it looks like it needs work doing or is potentially dangerous on the photos, people aren't even going to bother viewing it.

I wouldn't go and view a house priced at 350k if it had damp patches on the ceilings and cracks and scuffs on the paintwork.

Yes, I would probably repaint but it gives the impression that the house is badly cared for and most people don't want to invest in something that looks like that.

But you can’t sell it as a 4 bedroom house, no matter what happens to the ceilings.

You DH isn’t even sure if a bed fits, let alone anything else!

@FuckingFabulous

First thing that strikes me is that It's in an area that looks like it's about to be developed. The write up puts far too much stock in a view that looks incredibly likely to be obscured within five years. It's detached from its neighbour by a space that's too narrow to ride a bicycle down, but priced as a detached property. Most people consider that they want to actually walk all the way around the outside of their detached property and have some decent distance from their neighbour. That's the appeal of a detached home. The houses are all very close together. All your rooms seem pretty small on the pictures- especially the kitchen. Pricing per square foot and talking about how cheap it is is off putting. Nobody wants to shell out more than a third of a million on a small, cheap house that's about to look out over a new housing development, and that's exactly how it comes across. The drone photos are unnecessary and sunsets are a universal daily experience across the world, so aren't a key selling point to most people. And personally, I find exclamation marks in a written sales pitch to come across as amateurish or unprofessional, which immediately makes me feel that they're trying to throw glitter on a shit investment.

I'm not trying to be nasty, I'm giving you my honest impression of the listing

I agree with everything you say. The thing is that where we live, to get a detached property like you describe would be +100k than we are asking, at least.

Not read the full thread, but just some thoughts...

• It looks like a small semi, between two much larger homes.
• It's effectively a 3-bed with small office (and no loft space)
• Decorating, damp etc are an issue.
• As a result, price is high.

But THIS is why I wouldn't buy it:
www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/thousands-more-homes-could-built-35231

800 homes going into that field you overlook. And that means the view (lovely though it is) will disappear and become worthless.

It’s not really a four bed and it doesn’t really have an en suite. Those are both estate agent fibs and it will piss buyers off.

The other houses you’ve linked to on here are another league above yours. You’re comparing apples and oranges there.