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.

You need to act very quickly as there is a huge development planned and you will soon be in the middle of it with similar or lower priced brand new houses.
My parents live near you and they are worried.
Take the advice here and knock off a large amount as well, otherwise you will never sell.

I haven’t read all the threads but when I first read all the descriptions of the house it sounded brilliant countryside near to shops etc but looking st the pictures it is a different picture. It is like someone has tried to put too many rooms in one space. Downstairs is fine for me. Like the layout but correct me if I am wrong but has one of the rooms have a large patch of damp on the ceiling like a leak from above? This needs sorting out and repainted.

For a family home and def three floors you need a second toilet. Also the bathroom and en-suite are very cramped looking,

Also not much privacy front or back really .

Looking at your pics, the inside doesn't look too bad ( the camera lense makes it look bigger but it's obviously small inside) but outside all the houses look so squashed together. It is technically detached but no real space between you and the neighbours. Plus all that land at back is off putting due to future developments.
It's a bit claustrophobic/ crowded for some people, myself included.

[quote StopSearching]The house is about 20 years old. The land behind is a working farm (they grow crops, rape and flax) and whilst they are no current plans to build, there's nothing to say that wouldn't happen in the future.

The new builds for our town are mostly going up on the north and we are in the south. Even if it was developed, I think the price reflects that.

This similar house is 0.11 miles away www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/87810211#/[/quote]
Sorry op but this house is a. It more spacious and the garden looks bigger

It is exceptionally plain.

You need to stage it with better furniture and get better pictures.

Think show home.

Get rid of photo 6. Acres of mud a few feet from the house really isn't a selling point, and it's not an attractive view.

I would not buy as arable means tractors, harvesters, crop spraying, pesticides, muck spreading, dust and noise during harvest and it's so close to the house. I know you cant change that, but dont emphasise it either. I have an parable field at the bottom of my garden but it's a bigger garden backing on to the field headland so not a nuisance, and theres a wood behind that so it's a nice view.

Farmland is a workplace, and I would be put off by your location, as would most people who understand the countryside and might be looking for semi-rural. Anyone who doesnt like the countryside will also be put off.

In all honesty, and I’m trying to not be rude about it, you seem a little deluded about what your house actually is.

You keep posting links to ‘similar’ properties that are several rungs up from yours.

Your house is a perfectly ordinary, slightly run down family home with a badly done loft conversion (sorry). You can’t compare it to a detached four bed with a beautiful kitchen, or a converted school, or a large bungalow.

It’s quite simply not worth what you are asking for it.

Face facts - if there was any chance of it selling for that much, it would have done in the past 2 years.

Lower the price. Cut your losses and get on with your lives elsewhere.

The kitchen and bedrooms are tiny and that would put me off right away. A lot of people will skip past right away as there are too many outside shots initially, you need to get right to the house. I think it’s overpriced personally and wouldn’t pay £350k for it. I’m in a different area but paid £225k 3 years ago for a house which is fairly similar but with a bigger kitchen.

How old is the boiler? Do you still have an immersion heater? That would put me off too.

I think you've taken all your comments so well! Good luck with the changes

I don't understand this current fad for aerial pictures, unless you're selling a property with a minimum acre of land all it does is show just how close the neighbours are.

@Piglet92

I think every Estate Agent bought a drone and now they feel they have to use it.

I’m curious though, how did you not know the fields were planned for housing development? Were you not communicated with? There is some similar major housing development planned a couple of miles away from me, and I was positively spammed from as soon as they got the idea. And I’m not even impacted as such other than it’s in my town. You’re going to be majorly impacted by it, but didn’t know.

You also don’t seem to have reacted when told. I’d be all “how the fuck didn’t I know that” and off investigating it, because you’re trying to use those fields as a selling point. When actually it’s a major downside, as anyone who did buy it is going to be looking at a building site then a load of new builds.

No ensuite in a house of that size will put a lot of people off, although I'm not bothered about that personally, I would be put off by no loo on the same floor as the master bedroom.

If you think the price is fair, are you comparing to similar houses with better bathroom arrangements?

Some thoughts from my side....

I personally dont like being so close to the neighbours, it feels very cramped and claustrophobic....unfortunately theres not much you can do about the design and construction.

Inside, it looks very small and dark....I think you need some help with staging and trying to showcase it a bit better as the furnishings are very bland. On the plus side, its neat and clean which is a big plus.

Kitchen looks tiny which would put a lot of people off. Again, you cant change size so need to make it look quirky and wonderful.

The link to the house nearby unfortunately highlights all these things - its main advantages are that its light and bright, decorated with some colour and flair and gives the impression of far more space and light.

I think you are really brave putting the link on. Fair play to you! It’s great you’ve had some honest feedback. I note from your comments you don’t like throws cushions etc ... - how about some house plants? Unfortunately some viewers will need a bit of help in ‘creating that homely feeling’. I think to start with a few pots at the front would look nice. A couple of tall plants would look good either side of the bay. I’d also make sure the garden was as tidy as it can be on a viewing day. Grass cut (hard over winter I know) and hedges trimmed. Get the details correct regarding en suite. Should you then get viewings, get some nice smelling air freshener. (I’m not suggesting your house smells!) but a nice subtle smell can make a house feel warmer.
Only other comment would be curtains in all bedrooms. They look a ‘bit cold’.
Good luck op. I hope you find the perfect buyer soon.

You've had great advice on here, and well done for having thick skin!

For me, the kitchen is too small and I'd expect an en-suite for that price. We're in a similarly priced area to you, and I'd expect to pay between 280k-320k for a house like that. Having not seen it in real life, it's hard to be more specific.

If the house is 35 years old there may be asbestos in the Artex ceilings as it was used until the mid 80s.

I wouldn’t knock through any walls unless an agent thinks it’s worth it. Not everyone does want open plan and people who do may want to put in a new kitchen. I quite like the kitchen units you have but it is small.
Is there room to put the microwave in the kitchen if you put the toaster and kettle beside each other?

If there’s no room to have a loo and sink in with the en-suite shower, I agree that it might be better to have them instead of the shower.

I don’t know how many people bother to look at the video tour unless they really like the photos. Which comes back to it being mostly about the price. But if they have looked at it and seen the damaged ceilings most people will be put off unless looking for a real project. I am not fussy and my own house is far from perfect but even if not selling I would really want that living room ceiling fixed.

OP. Half that stuff you wrote at 1am on why you love the house should be in the description. You 'sold' me the amenities really well.

Damp marks put people off because they don't know what's caused them.
Leave the view as a surprise bonus feature rather than making a selling feature out of it.
A bit of kerb appeal would help, so some pot plants at the front.

I am constantly amazed at how many people can't see through furniture and lack of cushions. But apparently they can't, so I guess you have to pander to it to an extent.

(I dread to think what people would say about our lovely cluttered house with a 90s kitchen, pink bathroom, and a fully fitted workshop where there should be a study/snug. Luckily we're not selling!)

The thing that struck me instantly was that I had to wait until the seventh photo to actually see inside the house. I think your photos need an overhaul

Price has to be an issue. A house isn't for sale for two years otherwise

Do you not get viewings? Your EA should be giving you feedback from every single viewing which leads me on to suggesting trying a new agent. After two years they've probably lost all interest

Your house will be at the bottom of searches as it's been on two years. I would get a new agent, new photos, adjust the price and come back on then you'll be first in the searches and maybe stage the house a little

I think OP has already put it on with a new agent? But they’re not very good.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/81463471

Op I'm not sure why you're posting links to huge 3 expensive bed houses using them to justify your price - they are vastly different to your house. The house that I have posted a link to above is also in a different league to your house and considerably cheaper. I think I would understand you sticking to the price if that is what you paid for it to begin with, but you didn't. The house is not worth 350k when you will need at least 50k to make it an attractive and habitable place to live. People do not want to pay premium for what essentially looks a bit like an aging student house. I honestly would drop your price to about 280k and see what happens.

As others have said, once those new builds and built behind you, you will have a LOT of competition which will be priced significantly lower than you.

So much of what sells a house is the ‘feel’. People get that feel pretty quickly, so you need to work to make good impressions from the minute they first see the house. Immaculate drive, plants, freshly painted door. Inviting uncluttered hallway etc. I too think you are very brave to put the link in here, and have taken the suggestions and feedback really well. I’m sure you will sell when you’ve done a few tweaks.

@Summertime246

It really is a shame that the field behind you is being built on in the near future. There's nothing you can do about that though.

OP, I'm not really sure what you were hoping to achieve from this thread. You've been told by hundreds of people your house is way over priced and in poor condition/in need of a complete renovation and you just don't seem to be listening. I appreciate you put in a new kitchen and bathroom but to be honest, whilst the bathroom is ok, the kitchen looks like you went for the cheapest option available. I cannot see 110k worth of improvements.

I don't know much about prices in your area. I love in a rural location myself and an area which is popular for holiday homes/retirement etc. I would not entertain the thought of buying your house for any more than 250k and the only reason it's that high is because of the location.

Of it's been two years, there's clearly a problem with the price. I'm afraid you're not being realistic.

I agree. I understand it must be hard to accept it's overpriced, but after 2 years and with a huge housing development imminent, I think if you want to sell now is the time to drop the price to 300k and move on. Unfortunately there's no magic simple solution to help it sell, no lick of paint or throws will convince a buyer to pay significantly more than it's worth.