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.

I wouldn't buy if it came up on searches

Me either 🤷🏻‍♀️. Just explaining why it may be better to sell quickly than wait until the work is in progress.

You are comparing your house to others that seem to be in a much better condition. Your house looks a little unloved and a few alarm bells around ceilings and mould would deter me from viewing in the first place. If I were you I would either drop the price or dedicate a good 10k to update and ensure that it doesn't look like a huge project.

@BungleandGeorge

It would come up on the searches but the reality of the noise, disruption and dust probably isn’t totally evident until it actually starts! (Unless you’ve had similar before). So more likely to sell

If they start building before we sell I think we would stay here until they finish and knock through the kitchen/dining area.

@Nancydrawn

PS: that is not a plug. I am not a home stager, nor have I ever been a home stager! The point is more that there are lots of these companies around, and they may be able to help. I don't think they're necessary for you, but if you're feeling overwhelmed, they might be worth looking into.

Thanks, might be a good idea if we get to that stage.

It’s not likely to be a stud wall, the utility hangs off the main house structure

If they start building before we sell I think we would stay here until they finish and knock through the kitchen/dining area.

Even though it could take years?

OP do you want to move? It's been 2 years already and you would be happy to wait a few more if the development started. Most people who have decided to list their house want to move as soon as possible, but you seem quite reluctant.

No, we want to move but if they start building before the house sells, posters are saying we won't be able to sell it so we might as well do the improvements.

Oh start a new one if you haven’t already, everyone’s bored shitless in lockdown,,and I’m sure lots of people can empathise with your position.

Is there a specific reason for moving or do you just not like the house as much now as you don't seem in a hurry.

Oh, I see from OP it is stopping you doing stuff in the future so that's why no particular hurry

@StopSearching

No, we want to move but if they start building before the house sells, posters are saying we won't be able to sell it so we might as well do the improvements.

Well you will be able to sell it but you’d take a hell of a hit on price. Once the estate is completed priced will start to increase again. Right now in the lead up to it, and when it’s being done is the worst time to sell.

New thread

I am slightly concerned for you about the electric lead so close to the cooker hob, its probably quite dangerous and could melt/fuse/set fire. (Unless its the cooker lead, but I don't think it can be as its just to a normal socket?)

I'll go through them a pic at a time...
1: The first photo needs to be a full screen shot of the front of the house. Needs to be SUPER clear which house the buyers are looking at. And I'd draw less focus to that field at the back. Buyers will immediately think its for re-development.
2: Scruffy hedges, scruffy field. Not clear which house it is.
3: Should have this pic first.
4: Or this one.
5: The garden needs the same staging as the house. At the moment it looks scruffy and unkempt. Get some pots with flowers. Fake if needs me. Have some garden furniture set out for staging photos. Borrow from friends and neighbours if required. Mow the grass, trim the hedge.
6: Empty, scruffy field. So what?
7- 12: All fine.
13: I'd get that brick wall plastered over. Make the utility more of a "room" than a "lean-to".
14-18: Fine also.
19-20: Just delete. That field isn't the selling point you/your agent thinks it is.

One other thought... It's expensively priced for what is a very average family home. It's crammed in with neighbours - its detached, but might as well not be, literally a shared driveway, and the back garden is pretty tiny and uninspired. No front garden.
Take it down to 290K and someone will have it for that. A house is only worth what someone will pay.

I wouldn't really want only one bathroom and 4 bedrooms, nor would I want a bedroom a set of stairs away as your seems to have.
From the front you look out to a large brick gable end.

Plenty of other choices in the area for buyers. We considered Tisbury once quite seriously, but we responded to treatment quickly. We stayed put for longer than intended (extra 3 years).

[quote Seychelles98]@StopSearching is your house ex council / local authority? That's the first thing that stands out to me from the front - cheap looking windows and doors, no 'curb appeal' (try putting some nice window boxes on the sills, hanging baskets and a nice quality colourful potted shrub / plant on either side of the front door). I think people aren't even considering it because of the outside. The houses are extremely close together as I didn't realise they were detached until I zoomed in! Obviously you can't do anything about that. You need to get house-hunters through the door first as that's the big step. Take down all those aerial pictures as it doesn't do the house any favours. Some will be put off seeing the current lovely field and think it may become the local Aldi / Lidl in a few years time.

It's much better on the inside but needs updating - there's no colour so looks a bit tired. You could paint a room or two with a more appealing colour at little cost. You can add a few nice cushions on the sofas and beds to make them more plush looking. There's no coving either in any of the rooms between walls and ceiling, that's another 'council' look that some mightn't like. You can install this quite cheaply and it really makes a big difference to a room. TBH though once potential buyers are inside the house they should be able to see past these things and visualise themselves decorating. The good thing is it's perfectly ready to move into and update as you go along.

Don't take this the wrong way but have you been happy in your home as it doesn't stand out with a happy house and lived in 'vibe'? I only ask as we saw a house when browsing in a nice area where the couple were going through a bitter divorce and the house reflected that vibe in every room - cold, bland, neglected and tired looking - it did eventually sell though...[/quote]
blimey Seychelles, where do you live if the council houses look like this? I'll get my name down on the list.

Don't think you get detached council houses anyways as that's a luxury !

@huuuuunnnndderrricks

My first thought was ex council too.

For those wondering, it's not ex council.

@StanfordPines

Another question

Please don’t say this is an electric oven plugged into the mains with a regular socket.

(Please start a new thread if you can bear it op)

it looks like a gas oven to me so it's probably the electric for the ignition.

@Lockdownbear the light coloured door and glass wooden frame door is the before and then the stone wall - look carefully at the front of the house, has been rendered and painted white. It brings the house up to date from a bit of a mismatch to a more modern neat tidy look, to my mind anyway