How can I sell my house?

[challacombe]

I am very frustrated as I have a lovely large family home which I need to sell quickly due to my husbands business. It has everything going for it including 4 reception rooms and 4 bedrooms 2 of which are masters with lounges dressing rooms and with ensuites. The reason I mention this is that it would be suitable for so many potential owners as offers dual living so grannys, teenagers or business use would be great for someone. What I can't get my head around is that the agents just do not know how to market my house. As it is unique and doesn't hit the tick box way they work it is being disguarded. So many times I have had to return the details as being wrong and as for some of the photos...! We are close to the beach and being just one hour from London I decided today to phone agents closer to London who may have applicants wishing to move out slightly. Honestly you would think i had asked them to transport their applicants to the moon! The answer was that if they had anyone they would look on Rightmove. My argument is how will they find me if they don't know Thorpe Bay exists? They won't and therefore they are not being offered a good all round service by agents or Rightmove. I just wondered if anyone has any has any suggestions how to get around this. I find that if something doesn't fit a tick box then it stands no chance. How would someone know to look in an area if they don't know that area exists?

Can I make a suggestion (not sure if someone's already picked up on this) but what is a 'pre dining room' on the floor plan? Also, I'd also rename the upstairs lounge on the floor plan as another dression room.

I'd also agree that the lack of pictures of bathrooms would put me off.

The pictures that are like artists impressions suggest to me that it's a building site to knock down and build a lair on. But what you have is a very nice home, so I'd drop those pictures.

Oh my God I'm sure posting on here is now regretted! I live in Shoebury which is near Thorpe Bay. It is a wonderful area and houses are expensive. I'm looking to find something larger so may well take a look.
Interesting what is said about Billericay. I lived there for many years in Great Burstead and commuted along with my husband. It would take me a good half hour to get to the station by bus or car and then the trains could come in full. Some would stop at quite a number of stations too so it could easily take much longer than an hour. Also I believe that line is more expensive. We moved to Shoebury as we got much more for our money plus there is more to offer in this area including the lovely beach. It is ideal for my horse mad daughter too as plenty of places for her to ride. I am so surprised by some of the personal coments which have been made and frankly will make me think about posting. I think it is in insult to peoples intelligence to suggest a sofa or ornament will put them off buying. The floor plan also shows the amount of space available which is well above average especially for the price around here. The set up of the space has been set up for the family living there. What suits one wouldn't suit another. I was thinking how lovely to have such a large spare bedroom for when my step daughters visit. As teenagers they want their own space and don't wnat to be bothered by their younger sisters. People should be able to work out how they would choose to use the space. Someone suggested making the house a 6 bedroom house. This may be an idea as it would probably add thousands to its price. Cheaper to use initiative in my opinion. I would suggest that anyone that critical or easily put off would not be a serious buyer and therefore a time waster. There are very few properties in Thorpe Bay area offering the amount of space for this money. Keep your chin up your house looks lovely.

Kitchens nice but get rid of the big jug and bowl thing - too much light reflecting in photo. Photo has made kitchen look very small which it's not on the floor plan

Living room - reduce ornaments, either remove pictures or something more contemporary, perhaps add a rug as looks a bit stark.

I'm always a bit suspicious when there isn't photos of every room in the house.

I like quirky houses with unusual layouts. Your house is unusual. So much space! I can see past furniture, and to me your house has great potential. I dont think the photos are doing your house justice. You also need photos of bathrooms, as the lack of can make people think they are terrible. Can you change the estate agent?

The Zoopla photos are loads better, bin the others including the artists impressions.

Put dimensions on the floor plan. It would really annoy me not having these.

I can't believe you had to pay for a plan!

1.5% is standard using it, so I think you need to bargain more.

What's a pre-dining room?

Billericay is on a fast train line now - only about 40 mins to Liverpool Street with usually no more than 2/3 stops on the way. Great Burstead is a long way from the station though, isn't it? I'm in the northern part of Billericay

Also agree with everyone who's said that no bathroom photos is a worry - I would assume they are horrible and that's why photos weren't taken. I can't believe these agents are so lax.

Well I think it looks lovely! Sadly, about 400k over my budget.

Seeing as it's not been on long, I don't think you'll have too much trouble selling it, it looks Ike a great family home.

Many thanks for the positive comments. The pre-dining room is named by the the agent doing the plan and I hadn't noticed until it had been up and registered. Going to do more photos and plans for a re-launch.
All 3 bathrooms are fine actually but the agent said it is the house people would want to see. Your points are taken and I will put bathrooms up. The photos really do not do justice to the house ( although being my house I would say that - wouldn't I) but it is true. The house (excluding garage) is over 2150 sq ft and is on a large plot. The double garage is at the end of a large drive parking area and not part of the house as many are. This eats into the house space. I am pleased that people will see through the basic way we live and our personal things although take on board the comments. I think the description, photos and the plans have let me down badly. I understand what the agent says about having to see this house as it is true but I need to get people here to want to see it! 2150 sq ft gives people a heck of a lot of space to play with. There is nothing in this house that has to be changed other than for taste reasons. I believe that would happen with any property from 100,000 to a million as people like to make it their own. This place gives plenty of opportunity to do just that. OK I have taken on board everything negative and some quite rude personal comments too. The negative is always stronger than the positive I know that. This place has many many positive things going for it and I feel sure the next owner will enjoy making the house Their own home.

If looking to buy a house I actually look way beyond current furniture and certainly wouldn't be at all interested in ornaments! However, what you have is an unusual house which isn't going to suit very many buyers. There's a lot of rather oddly configured space which adds up to quite a large house without a lot of obvious purpose for some of the space.

I'm sure you'll find a buyer. But they won't necessarily come along as quickly as for a more conventional property.

Yes Great Burstead is a couple of miles from Billericay station. We looked at Billericay before moving to Shoebury but couldn't find anything within walking distance of the station at anywhere near a reasonable price. We are now a five minute walk from the station where were there is no problem ever getting a seat and in Fenchurch street within 55 minutes. Not bad for the size and price of the house we bought plus as I said we live in a lovely area. Hannah just keep going. Your house is lovely and having looked at whats available for the price in the area have no doubt that your house is good value. It is huge for the money and as you said others can put their own stamp and use the space their own way. Some of the comments you have taken with a smile are out of order and others are nit picking. People like to do that and they like to find fault. I'm sure there are many people who would love to own your house and would know exactly how they would use the space. I would love to have a larger house especially in a cul de sac where the children would be safer. I might just take a look. Keep your chin up and don't worry about things you can't do anything about. Putting walls up to make 6 bedrooms is for the next owner perhaps and not for you to sell! Of course it doesn't look like a flipping care home! If it were I would put my name down now!

Good luck with the new photos OP. If you can get a set of photos that show all the stong points of the house and don't leave you thinking that people need to see the house to understand what it has to offer then you should get more interest.

It's very often the case that the photos make a property look better than it actually is (wide angled lenses making things look much bigger etc) so you really shouldn't have to accept agents photos which you don't think show its true potential.

Op good luck with selling.

Just imagine trying to sell this house

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2509608/The-post-war-semi-nook-cranny-crammed-knick-knacks.html

Agree with others about the descriptions and floor plans - I look at floor plans before everything else. I like simple plans with measurements on, that's it! Of course buyers can see past yadda yadda - but these days they dont have to, the next house will have it done for them and its easier to see yourself in it.

You do have quite an awkward layout, it looks like room after room of lounges... could you try to create more purpose to each room perhaps? Its a family home, perfect for teens etc, so could you show maybe a study, a games room, a dining room, a living room. Get sofas out of rooms that wouldn't need one to fit these descriptions?

One other thing, round your house would be marketed as a 6 bed, and the description would explain the layout of through-bedrooms or bedroom suites to suit a multitude of buyers.

Good luck with your sale :)

Again thank you for your comments. I am sitting with my husband at the moment going through them all. We are making notes of areas we are able to do something about.

Just to let you know that I have changed my user name. The name I used previously was connected to my house. I felt it best to now change it.

Thank you again for all your comments. I will keep you informed of any progress.

OP I can't add anything more to the house critique but have had to sell in similar circumstances and just wanted to wish you luck.

Thanks so much for your good wishes.
Last night I felt very fed up to be honest but today I concluded there is a reason we have lived in this house for so long. It is a lovely house with many many positives. I am more determined that the house should be sold to someone who likes it as much as we do and is going to be happy here as much as we have. It isn't just walls and bricks - it is our home and it is lovely!

Good luck, Hanna. I doubt most of us would want to hear frank views on our house! I think it's a lovely big house, although I do agree that the 3D plan is a bit much; it gives me a bit of headache to look at it. I think there are some really constructive comments on this thread.

I would comment though that furniture that looks a bit dated can ring alarm bells for me as a buyer (about to start looking again after just three years off). If a house is at the top of my budget, and given the stamp duty bracket, you're going to have people who can't go over £500,000 looking at your house, I need to work out how much I'll need to spend on it. Obviously decor can wait till the money is there, and furniture moves with the owner, but it can be a sign of a house that might also need rewiring, or new heating, or a new roof, or another of the things that long-term or elderly owners may not have done. If I loved the house enough I might still go and see it, but I'd have to really, really like it, rather than think I'd give it a look on the off chance.

Thanks for your comment which I take on board especially the stamp duty which is a pain the way it works. Many of the posts have been constructive but some have made assumptions too based on personal taste and the style of my furniture. Let me just say that everything in my house is up to date in terms of wiring heating roof etc. The house isn't actually that old! My furniture needs to be replaced which it will be as and when we move. It has lived through my children and nieces and nephews and my dog. I decided to leave the change of furniture until we move as my dog being 13 is too old to be retrained so to hold on as long as possible was my thinking. Not that I want anything to happen to my dog of course! Just being realistic and practical. My sofas are about 12 years old that is all! I was forced to buy for comfort rather than fashion at the time due to a disability. As for my dining room - I love the regency style but will change when we move. I appreciate people only have photos to go by but perhaps assumptions shouldn't be made on people's tastes of furnishings. It is a shame that decisions are made on this and therefore agree that floor plans are the way forward. The agents will be called first thing in the morning!

I agree hanna. There must be a lot of people who have missed out on lovely property. It is horrible that to sell a property you have to let someone in your door via photos which we all know sometimes don't do favours. I have albums full of me which no one will ever see! lol Seriously if people can look bad in photos then so can a property! Isn't this where the agent should earn their huge fee? They should be telling people about the property and why they think it should be seen or match the buyers spec. This was your initial question wasn't it? How to sell your house as you didn't feel the agents were working for you? You have been brave to give the details of your house but i'm sure you wouldn't have opened yourself up to this had you been aware of the response. I can understand why you feel attacked. You are also right that people don't know what goes on in peoples lives which might mean they have to live in a certain way. There have been some judgemental posts on here and I for one will always be aware now what I post. I think your house is lovely. I know the area and there are many much smaller houses for sale at higher prices. The space available is wonderful and I can think of many ways to use it. Keep your chin up.

I liked the artists impression because you can see how the rooms fit together, where they are in relation to each other. That can be hard to figure out sometimes.

It's a big house, just needs a bit of a de-clutter, and to be made more neutral, replace a few of the more dated items. Everybody who's lived in one spot for thirty years is going to have a few dated bits that they don't SEE any more. your dressing rooms are bigger than my children's bedrooms!

btw, I'm not English and I don't live in the uk and I've heard of Thorpe Bay and I've been to ToTS

yes, the zoopla one shows that the sitting room looks out on to the garden

Anne Maurice the house doctor (going backa few years here) used to get people to either rent or borrow furniture for photos. Decide on the purpose of the room, borrow some plain modern furniture to show what it could be used for then shuffle your furniture out of shot. Always thought that was a nifty trick. It costs you very little a removes the thorny issue of personal taste from the equation. (Admittedly this is easier typed than done but may be an option)

I hope you get the result you want op

I'm sorry I upset you, but I was just trying to explain the thought processes that people might have when looking online. Some people won't have the 'vision' to look behind decor that doesn't suit them but others just can't afford to, or will worry about the possible implications.

I have, as a buyer, more than once queried an unexpectedly low price or long time on the market before a viewing and been told that the decor is putting buyers off.

I don't actually think your house looks that dated - the kitchen is modern for example, which is telling - but others on this thread have done.