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.

It's old fashioned inside - bedrooms, downstairs, bathroom, kitchen, all of it. Nothing is new or remotely new. Therefore, it's not going to sell at a higher end because people will know how much they will have to change when they move on. Absolutely lower the price.

For me, I'd view the kitchen as needing to be redone/possible renovation, so I'd be taking the cost of that into consideration when thinking about the price

The thing is, the price reflects all of those things. This property, whilst lovely, is 100k more www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/100479122#/

It's a 'true' 4 bed. But also, it's been on since November and isn't under offer yet - which in what was (in November) a fast paced market is an indicator that it's over priced.

Honestly, knock the wall down between dining space and living room, the living room is to small, depending if its a supporting wall, if it's a hollow wall it should come down, smaller dining table would be better. Living room needs brightening up, it's drab due to the wood furniture, it may be harsh but you've a house to sell. Greys with bright cushions and rugs are the thing. Kitchen, brighten up, get tiles painted to white, maybe new fronts for the kitchen or have them wrapped in white, it's amazing how a bright kitchen has an appeal on people, yours doesn't it looks dated. Get rid of some of the furniture in the rooms, you don't need all that, keep the nice stuff chuck the rest! Keep bedding neutral, its distracting for people viewing home. The garden is small but it could work to make it look bigger, the shed is to big for the garden, maybe a smaller one perhaps?

I think:

1. Too much stuff makes it look like you have storage issues, clear it out, hire storage if need be
2. Photos aren’t that great
3. The ceilings make it look like you have water damage

@JensonsAcolyte

I can’t see an en-suite on the floor plan, this makes it look like you have a cupboard and then a shower next to it.

That X is the shower

@LoveYourUsername

Tricky!

I don't understand people saying they won't buy because hey don't like the kitchen units. These can be changed as can the decor.

What you ought to look at are the location and the layout in the house.

Other things are cosmetic.

I don't like the bedroom on the 2nd floor. A shower without a loo is well is a bit useless as en suite.

The kitchen is small.

But outside you could do more to make it look inviting.

I agree with you, in theory, but like it or not lots of people DO discount houses on those grounds.

No budget to make cosmetic changes (maxed out budget buying the house)
No time to make cosmetic changes (busy jobs, small children, caring commitments etc)
Intimidated by the thought of it (disruption, worries about spiralling costs, worries about being about make design decisions, worries about sourcing reliable tradespeople that won’t rip them off)

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78059094#/

This new build is 260k.

I agree with @Handsoffstrikesagain, that list is great! OP you say the house is 20 years old and it looks it, I totally agree with not spending much money on it and of course you cant do much about layout or size of rooms so 'staging' is really your only option.

I would follow the list suggested and add in some spring flowers in each room, some pots outside - I hate to agree with Kirsty Alsop but you need to show a 'lifestyle' (even if its not your lifestyle ).

Then look into and new agent and photos.

I can smell the slurry off that field from here

Have a look at 'living rooms' on pinterest, there's a real mix of design styles at all prices. Pick something to emulate and get shopping. You don't have to spend loads, the supermarkets sell up to date household stuff to add some flair. Upthread someone suggested painting it all sail white, don't do that, it's already all white, you need add interest.

You'll note that very few photos on pinterest have massive tvs in the corner.

Is that shed really a home office or is it a shed?

Agree with what a lot of others have said. The estate agent is obviously very pleased with their drone, but the first picture should be of the front of the house. The front looks very plain and boring, a couple of pots or hanging baskets would brighten it up considerably. And maybe pressure wash the parking spaces?

The fields - being so flat - are clearly ripe for development and although it's lovely that you back onto them now, it's not really a future selling point.

The kitchen is tiny and the picture of the weird add-on bit with the washing machine and microwave just emphasises that there isn't the space for those appliances in the kitchen.

The rest of the house is very bland and very plain, no pictures, everything painted white/cream. And those swirly ceilings which are a pet hate of mine....

No picture of the bathroom? What are you trying to hide? Maybe nothing, but the lack of the picture makes people question what horrors might be lurking...

If you look at a new build showhouse, I'd aim for some of their decor elements.

It's definitely not a house for a young family with the main bedroom on the upper floor. However it could be ideal for a family with teens. I'd be looking at converting the garage into something like a games room. That study room bedroom is tiny and to be honest it really makes it a 3 bed with a tiny box room and should be priced accordingly.

Also why aren't there pictures of any of the bathrooms? Bathrooms and kitchens are the first things that get me to arrange a viewing, if I don't like them it doesn't happen. If they're not included, I assume they're horrendous and don't bother

@StopSearching

Lack of toilet on the top floor is an absolute deal breaker for me. It also needs painting etc but that wouldn't put me off (I would simply put in a lower offer reflecting what I think it's worth, but I would need to know the toilet was feasible!)

Are you tucked away in the far left hand corner of the cul de sac? Past the one on street view showing the Connells sign?

If so, it's the access that's off putting. It looks very cramped.

As other posters have said - maybe the land behind will be developed and it's putting people off?
Knock £25,000 off it might sell its a lot for a house of that size

Picture 2 shows that your house is smaller than it’s neighbours. Get rid of this pic.

6 not needed

7 get rid of the mismatched chair and put the matching one in It’s place

19 20 not needed

Can’t comment on price as I don’t know the area

Did you agent make you take the curtains down to further emphasise the view. It just makes the room look cold and unloved.

The bedroom storage is very dated and as much as a pp said these can be changed whereas I can see past things like that and think how I would change them many other people can't. If I was faced with a house that needed the updating yours does (despite being tidy and neutral) and one that didn't I would probably go with the other.

It's a 'true' 4 bed. But also, it's been on since November and isn't under offer yet - which in what was (in November) a fast paced market is an indicator that it's over priced.

Yes I thought similar, no point in benchmarking against other overpriced properties.

It looks really bland - sorry. I can see there's lots of space but people lack the imagination really and personally having bought a house I thought just needed a bit of paint once and realised I was wrong, I would now avoid anything with dated decor.

The kitchen looks very small for the size of the house.

Garden is also quite small.

If I was browsing online I might not even click onto it to look as when all the first photos are of the outside of the house, I tend to assume it's because there's nothing amazing to see indoors.

I think at a lower price it would appeal more to someone willing to do the work and update it.

I live quite close to you, though don't know this estate really. I would say if you aren't getting viewings, it could be the main photo. Your house looks really boxed in by the others and it's not flattering. A photo that shows a nicer view of your house itself would be better. It really highlights how crammed in you are to your neighbours.

@sorryiasked

Honestly? It looks unloved, there are no personal items, not even a coat on the hooks etc. The aerial shots, whilst great to have, are not what I want when looking for a house - they're just confusing, I want to know which house is for sale with a nice front on view. And the photos are pretty awful. I would "stage" the rooms and get the photos retaken.

We don't use those coathooks, we put out coats on the hooks in the garage, of which there is no photo. I think everyone is right about dressing the rooms better. I am a very de-cluttered person so don't have nic naks or photos out, etc. I like clear surfaces.

When I am looking to buy I don't care about their furniture, colour and throws. I'm looking at floor plans and practicality so maybe that's the problem.

This 4 bed is on the same street as you and has been sold subject to contract with a guide price of £335,000. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/71884494#/

Layout looks more spacious.