Help me sell my house

[StopSearching]

I've made a new thread so that I can post updates for those that are interested.

Previous thread here

Brief outline is my house needs improvement and re-marketing so I've been asking for advice and going to start implementing it.

@Mummyoflittledragon

The link above says the house is no longer on the market. Have you taken it off op?

Yes it's changed as it was definitely still available this afternoon. I wonder if OP is going to relist with a reduced price and new photos?

@Mummyoflittledragon

The link above says the house is no longer on the market. Have you taken it off op?

Imagine the conversation.

OP: Hi, we've decided to take the house off the market and make some changes to it before relisting.

EA: Are you joking, you've had 10,000 views in the last 24 hours alone!

Thanks for the new thread, OP, looking forward to seeing the changes!

Agree there's no point going mad. I've lost the link but from memory my priorities would be:

Change that green carpet. Sets the first impression for the house and follows you all the way to the top floor. Get rid!

Repaint as much as possible, white or similar - certainly not magnolia. Painted doors and architraves will make all the difference. Paint your kitchen tiles if possible. It's all time-consuming for you, but relatively inexpensive In exchange for a big impact.

No more drone photos! Include your bathroom pic.

Large mirror above fireplace! The random pictures add nothing.

Change bedspread in top floor bedroom, it looks very tired.

Good luck!

All the paint and carpet replacements in the world aren't going to change the fact that a house with a much better layout, newer and bigger kitchen, and bigger garden on the same street sold for £335k very recently.

It's just overpriced, OP. Especially considering the development.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/71884494#/

This is on the same street as OP's house. Sold STC at £335k (or possibly less, we don't know).

£350k for OP's house would be insane and viewers would see both in their searches - there's no wonder they're not biting.

I wonder if the estate agent thinks the details are being spammed or something so have taken it off.
That house on the same street has been linked to a few times. The owners must be wondering what is going on!

@therocinante

All the paint and carpet replacements in the world aren't going to change the fact that a house with a much better layout, newer and bigger kitchen, and bigger garden on the same street sold for £335k very recently.

It's just overpriced, OP. Especially considering the development.

Yeah if this is going for 335 then OP is looking at 310, maybe 320 if she does the house up to the nines.

When you compare OP's house and the other one, OP's is actually bigger, so in better condition could be more expensive. However, the other house has that fantastic kitchen which offsets its smaller size.

@SixesAndEights

When you compare OP's house and the other one, OP's is actually bigger, so in better condition could be more expensive. However, the other house has that fantastic kitchen which offsets its smaller size.

And the garden, which also looks like it would be less effected if a housing estate was built next to it.

I would drop the price rather than waste money on new carpets, new front door etc! We've been talking about moving and every time I see somewhere with new carpets I think what a waste, I'd have DH ripping that up and replacing it with wood!

Same as @CocoPark
Plus fix the stained living room ceiling, put some potted plants on the drive and get a better leader photo, making clear which is your house.
I don't think it's over-priced at all, seems to be in line with similar. Lovely part of England.

I am also now massively over invested in this thread/house. I had been following but now need to comment to ensure that I can keep up with the latest info, especially as @Bluntness100 has now said that there’s plans for hundreds of houses on those fields - is that right?!

this is the sort of thing they are proposing

@StopSearching

this is the sort of thing they are proposing

Did you not know about it in the first thread?

No, There's no actual time scale yet.

They are building something like that about two miles from me. Except bigger. I’m honestly surprised you didn’t know. We have been spammed ..postal info on consultation , plans, surveys, updates,local media etc. And continuously.

Must have been a shock when you found out on the thread yesterday. I’m really surprised they launched consultation in January and didn’t send info out to thr residents directly impacted and have not done so before.. We were hearing about it for about three years before the consultation even formally started. It takes a lot to get to that stage. The plans being developed, obtaining the land etc.

You’re directly impacted as well. That’s very shoddy of your local council, to launch consultation and not communicate with residents impacted that they’ve done it.

We've not had as much as a leaflet through. Tbh I'm not that bothered as we always knew it was a possibility. Developments are going up everywhere across the country and that's the risk you take if you buy on the edge of a development.

You know what, OP, I've just had a look at the details again and looked at the house on street view. The cul de sac looks really nice, and not as squashed up as the EA photos suggest. Your house looks quite nicely tucked away. It also helps that street view shows the space in front of the house, and is taken in full sunlight.

When you take new photos make sure that you take them when the sun is shining on each part of the house, so not at the same time of day.

@StopSearching

We've not had as much as a leaflet through. Tbh I'm not that bothered as we always knew it was a possibility. Developments are going up everywhere across the country and that's the risk you take if you buy on the edge of a development.

Much has been made of the field views, open countryside etc. In fact I would say it is the house’s main feature that makes you go ‘Ooh that’s nice!’. If it is going to be built over, the price needs to reflect that - it’s all very well saying you wouldn’t be bothered (really? You don’t mind that your beautiful view is about to be ruined?) but it will matter to potential viewers.

OP, if you're still looking for a ceiling light, I don't hate this one and it's dirt cheap: www.diy.com/departments/sphera-beige-2-lamp-ceiling-light/1702935_BQ.prd. Also comes in grey www.diy.com/departments/sphera-grey-2-lamp-ceiling-light/1702763_BQ.prd. And red, which I secretly really like, www.diy.com/departments/sphera-red-2-lamp-ceiling-light/1702764_BQ.prd

They're reasonable attractive, cheap, and inoffensive. Although I suppose it depends what you're looking for. Most of them, though, are appalling! Like a very bad, very shiny hotel lobby.

Much has been made of the field views, open countryside etc. In fact I would say it is the house’s main feature that makes you go ‘Ooh that’s nice!’. If it is going to be built over, the price needs to reflect that - it’s all very well saying you wouldn’t be bothered (really? You don’t mind that your beautiful view is about to be ruined?) but it will matter to potential viewers.

Yes it does seem rather over done. Of course no agent is going to say a master bedroom with views of a future housing development site. But it's decieving of the agent to make such a big deal of the views, when they know it's earmarked for development.

The other thread inspired me, I got the filler out yesterday and started prepping to sell.

I have to agree, the agents blurb focuses really heavily on the view. And you yourself were saying how fab it was and posting pics in the last thread as a huge benefit of the house.

It is what it is though, it looks like development is planned to start 2023, so the first houses going up then. Although you’ll see road and infrastructure starting before then.

Ours starts then too , it’s also in consultation now, and they are already putting the sewage, drainage etc in and are starting on the road next. When you put thousands of houses in, which is the ultimate plan, then they need to do a lot of infrastructure work to support it, before they actually start to build the houses.

It’s fine to mention the view, but anyone buying it will absolutely know that it’s going to be very short lived, so I’d ask the agent not to focus so heavily on it.

As for ceiling lights, you can get plenty for about twenty quid off of Amazon, I’d go for something a bit more modern,

www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_8&crid=D7C626UVFO50&sprefix=Ceiling+%2Caps%2C165&k=ceiling+lights&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@Myhousemyhome

Name changed. My house is on the market.

I agree with Bluntness that I would set a budget op. However, I would put cheap carpets down rather than clean your ones. And do any remedial work / painting. No changing doors, boilers etc. It costs around £50 to clean carpets so you’d be far better to change yours. It would obviously cost a lot more to carpet your house. But new carpets would add a lot more value. The most I would do to your kitchen is the worktops as they’re dark. You can get stick on fablon. I haven’t tried it though.

What the house really needs is soul. I get it’s so hard to start. It took a long time to get the stuff to stage my house. Before I started, I had a lot of vases but practically no nice ornaments, no pictures and two mirrors on the wall. Now there are pictures aplenty and mirrors everywhere. DBut everything I’ve bought to try to enhance the house will come with us.

So room by room.
Kitchen - herbs in pots - these are tea / coffee / sugar I bought from eBay then decided not to use - new. We already had a nice fruit bowl, new cooksmart tea / coffee / sugar and matching cake tins, chopping board next sale, new. Sofas and throws from next. Bought sofas 18 months ago to replace tired ones. Throws are 2 sided so I can just flip to the white side for viewings. Cushions from IKEA. Side table new, from Next - new. Wash stand used as a tv stand - have had for years. Picture Next sale - new. Kettle and toaster matching - have had some time. Treats tin from Laura Ashley - new.

Living room with coloured sofas - new
Sofas and foot stool Next sale velvet. Half price or less. Side table x 2 and small coffee table next - mostly sale, new. Dresser we’ve had for years. Black wedding chest we’ve had for years. Everything else is new. Tall Lamp - next sale. Ornaments on dresser - 2 x candles from a local shop, Laura Ashley peacock, next sale flowers in vase. On wedding chest - Cheetah (LA) - new and next catalogues, tray and tea service on coffee table we’ve had years.

Dining Table - we’ve had this for over a decade. Cutlery and crockery are our day to day sets. Vase and runner new, next sale. Sun Mirror - sorry can’t remember but bought recently. Console - wayfair. Tray - Laura Ashley and our own glassware - decanters and glasses.

White sofas - we’ve had these a few years and they’re from ScS. Mostly new cushions from next with the navy ones / navy throw from the range a couple of years ago. Mirror - brand alley a few years ago. On top of the stereo stack - Murano glass fish from eBay, lamp next sale, on mantel piece - vases we had for several years from IKEA, Laura Ashley mirror box and candle in glass from the range, sun mirror on stand from next sale.

H/S/L
Large mirror on stairs new - can’t remember where, pictures on the landing area - new Laura Ashley and next, office area murano glass eBay vase, LA sale lamp, office furniture we reclaimed from a place dh used to work, mirror Next sale.

Bedroom with ensuite / blue covers - bought new bed covers
LA sale all new, next sale lamp new, vase new from the range, swans murano glass eBay, next sale mirror above bed - eBay, lamp next sale. Ensuite - vase I bought years ago, new towels Sainsburys. Furniture in bedroom we have had for over 10 years, lighting also had some time.

Bathroom - new towels Tesco and Next bath mat, LA mirror pot, new soap dispenser Next. Swan loo brushes from eBay. Yes, I have loo brushes. This is why I name changed

Bedroom with white duvet cover - new bed cover
Lighting have had some time, bed side lamps ditto. Furniture we have had some time. Next duvet cover new. Cushions were bought for downstairs but repurposed, next (18 months ago) and 2 large I bought some time ago. Vases I had already. On chest drawers - Next swan new, LA mirror pots new. Painting BandQ (Dd chose that), above bed pictures next sale, new. Ensuite - already had glass jars tooth brush holders etc, bought soap dispenser new from next and fake flowers the range, new towels.

Pink bedroom - Catherine lansfield bedding new
Dds furniture relatively new. Wayfair dressing table, bensons for beds wardrobe and chest drawers, wowcher bed, brand alley bedding but can get from wayfair etc also, next cushions, next gold shelving unit with dd’s bits and bobs, sofa bed from Made with next cushions, next curtains and matching lampshade. All bought 12/ 18 months ago.

Blue bedroom - angel strawberry bedding and curtains - new.
Bedding bought at next. Tie backs already had. Furniture existing. Lighting existing. Cushion next. Ornaments existing. Lamp existing. Vase M&S. Mirror Next sale.

I obviously added flowers. And I’m aware the outside could have done with a bit of tlc. But that’s my house. It’s a lot of work to get it to this standard and tbh my house looked a lot more like yours before I started. I had it decorated recently as well. This all to our taste. But still relatively neutral.

I’m not saying my house is perfect and I appreciate I was able to spend a fair amount of money. If I add it up, I’m probably talking about But if you can find things you love and can afford them, your house will look loved back. I just had a quick spend on everything I bought new to dress the house and I spent just over 4.4k but I can take all of that with me bar a curtain track and as most of that was sale so I got a lot for my money. That doesn’t include anything for dd’s room (which would have been around 2k) but does include the new bedding as well as including the downstairs sofas, cushions side tables, pictures, mirrors, ornaments, lamps (Mood lighting) and bits for the kitchen etc. The fresh flowers cost another £30. Then the decorating was on top plus we paid someone to put up

Sorry. I thought I’d linked. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/103637132#/ I also forgot to add on the cost of the curtains in the 2 living room areas. So that’s an extra £240 - next chinoiserie.

I appreciate my house was completely updated a decade ago and in a different price bracket. And I’m not saying you need to add as much stuff as me. But I’m trying say spend on stuff for you that you love, make your house look like a home and you will start to get viewings... and decent pics without so much made of a soon to be developed field.

Don't delay too long getting your house back on the market. We are coming up to peak time for selling houses and with the stamp duty extension the market is reported to be picking up.

I would recommend allowing viewings from people, who aren’t on the market and aren’t stc. When you get viewings, you can then get feedback. We have had viewings and an offer on ours. But the people wanted us out by the end of March so we refused to even negotiate on price and we haven’t found anywhere to move to.

If you’re not good at colour matching, go for a couple of colours. Start with neutrals. Then add a colour or two if you wish. If you have uniform colours throughout, you can put a vase in a bedroom or the kitchen so to speak. If you buy some neutral / white accessories, they go everywhere. The red in your house is very outdated.

I like the lampshades upthread as they’re nice and neutral. But tbh that isn’t where I’d be spending my cash. Dunelm mill and Next have lots of accessories, cushions, duvet covers. Next sale is slim pickings now. But I pop things in my basket and regularly go back to it, especially early in the morning and at night and sometimes I come up lucky as they suddenly come in stock.

My take per room.

Kitchen - this is all unmatching. I’d change the kettle and toaster - just search for sets eg ao.com/l/kettle_and_toaster_sets/1/55-106-100/, you can even get tea coffee sugar to match. Add couple of herbs, put them in pots for your window sill www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-Of-3-Ceramic-Tea-Coffee-Sugar-Canisters-Jars-Geo-Embossed-Storage-Jars-Pots/124571532916?hash=item1d010abe74:g:cr8AAOSwPPZgJvr1 = my pots and buy wooden chopping board. Get rid tea towels, pictures, keep cactus and pestle / mortar put on your counter top. Add a picture - these are nice, go with the herbs and with the counter tops. www2.next.co.uk/style/st544125/939526#939526