Please judge this house!?

[cookielove]

Hello, my mum is trying to sell her house please give honest feedback on the house and the photos.

What can we do to sell this house???

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133383485?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Can you market it as a potential equestrian property?

i know the estate agent will want to get people through the door to love it but old listings show it has an oil burner and septic tank which is going to put someone off

i know nothing about these but the word septic doesn’t sound des res at all. Is this something that can be fixed with investment? Can you provide costs to modernise it so buyers know what’s possible ?

I think it's absolutely lovely. It might not be to everyone's taste but that could easily be changed. It's very unlikely anyone is going to buy something that they wouldn't want to change in some way.

Just picking up on the bathroom situation. It says it has four bedrooms, one bathroom. Aren't there actually 2.5 bathrooms?

Its worth more than what it is on for.

No it's not or you'd not have a problem selling it.

@Jetlaggedgirl basically no, it won’t be connected to the local sewer network because it’s rural. You theoretically could pay to connect it but wouldn’t be worth it! I think the majority of people looking for a rural home are fine with septic tanks! Same with the oil, won’t be connected to gas.

I agree. It's only worth what someone is prepared to pay.
The decor and furnishings wouldn't bother me as it can be redecorated and the furnishings wouldn't be there on moving in day.
However, I would have to rip the kitchen and bathroom out, as the kitchen looks dated and the black shower unit isn't buttering my crumpet.
The garage bedroom would be returned to a garage.
The railway track I could live with.

Yes this.

What can we do to sell this house???

There is a price at which all houses will sell and that is generally lower than the price it is marketed at. This is not a flippant comment. If the vendors are in no rush to purchase a 5% drop will be earned back within a year with the money on deposit.

If someone is seriously interested, they won't be put off by the he minute details others have mentioned. It weeds out the time-wasting flakes.
It's probably the location and the price.

Can we guess how much your mother bought it for?

I’m going to guess early 90s. So, £125k?

Well, downstairs rooms technically are second "receptions' or living rooms. It's not really about whether you have a bed in them or how you use the room.
You may need a new agent, they vary greatly in quality.

Garden appears very open, unkempt and looks hard work....is there any boundary fencing? Also what is that ground level concrete thing near to the tree stump?
Kitchen is lovely but small for property.
Title over both cottages is off putting.
Needs more internal photos too; downstairs loo and utility.
I don't like the broken front driveway.
Also flat roofs would be a no no for me.

Hi thanks for your feedback

I am confused by everyone saying this house is a 3 bed, there is a bedroom downstairs. This was my family home and we grew up in it as a family. I live in a town house and my children are on a different floor to me. This is not a new concept to have bedrooms on different levels.

We are going to get the photos redone, and maybe change agents!

We have a 4 bedroom house with 3 reception rooms. We could put a bed in one of our reception rooms and call it a 5 bed, but most people would still consider it a 4 bed 🤷🏻‍♀️. The downstairs bedroom would be, to me, an extra reception room in a 3 bed house.
The PPs are right. If it was worth more than it’s up for sale for, it would have sold. A house is only worth what people are willing to pay, regardless of duvet covers.

I guess the sort of buyer you need is someone with an elderly parent(s) to care for, hence the downstairs bedroom. Can’t see any other buyer that would consider having a downstairs bedroom as a plus.

If you're getting the photos redone, aside from actually having at least one of every room, it would be useful to label them to match the floorplan. e.g. bedroom 1, bedroom 2, etc.

It’s dated.

I feel the pain. I live in a two bedroom house. We have one of the downstairs rooms as a bedroom, but the fact is it is still really a 2 bed house and the valuation is impacted accordingly.

It isn't the same as a town house, because it isnt a town house.

Maybe get some new Spring-garden photos taken?

Not knowing the prices in the area but it does seem very high for semi-detached.
The garden is spacious but not very tidy/patio area/eating area people spending this much would expect.
Inside is just redecorating/modernising but I do agree with most that the pictures are a bit confusing.
If I clicked on a house that price where I live in a popular tourist area I would want detached with polished gardens, a wow kitchen and all the interior up to date with log burner/feature fireplace.

Initial thoughts, without reading anyone else

Have number 4 as the first photo. Don't use number 3 at all. (2 is filler, come later.) 6 is better than 5.

That study photo with the massive shelving unit - take it out.

Don't bother with the boundaries photo. That's what the extra maps are for.

I love it and thought ‘yes I would buy it’ then I looked at street view and saw that a rail track runs right by it so that put me off, sorry

Yes I was thinking that, looks a bit Autumnal as if it's been on the market a while.
Otherwise it's a lovely house !

The blurb mentions a summer house and garage. If either of those are well maintained add some photos and get rid of the one of the tatty garden shed and climbing frame(?).

Could you hire a pressure washer to smarten up the patio/shed/garden path?

Admittedly it is in Hemel but this is what's available for a similar price:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134260304#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or this:

It has been on for a while.

It was first listed July 2022 for £925,000
Then re-listed in March for £900,000
Then reduced to £875,000

You can’t say that it’s worth more than it’s listed for, because any property is only worth what someone will pay for it.

Downstairs bedroom
Proximity to train line
Poor photos