My DM selling her house - should anything be happening yet?

[SpidersAreShitheads]

My DM is selling her house and for various reasons is desperate to get things moving. Unfortunately for her, she also can't afford to take a massive drop in price - although there is a little bit of wiggle room.

Her property went on the market a couple of weeks ago - so obviously it's still incredibly early days.

However, I would have thought that there would have been more interest when the property first goes on the market, dropping off the longer it stays available?

She's not had a single viewing yet.

Two people expressed an interest - one person was a builder and I think the estate agent tipped him off before it went on the market, but he found somewhere else to buy the day before he'd asked to come round. The second viewing was cancelled as the woman drove around the area and didn't like the hilly roads on the way to the local shops.

Some of the photos were a bit crap, and there was virtually no description by the estate agent. He's been around today and taken better photos, and uploaded a description which explains that the upstairs floor could potentially be self-contained accommodation.

The problem is that her property is a bit weird in terms of layout - there's an absolutely huge second bedroom which takes up almost the whole of the converted loft space, and it's lovely. But the third "bedroom" is a tiny, tiny room which also houses the boiler. If I were looking for a three-bedroom house for me and my DC, the configuration wouldn't work - and I suspect that might be the same for a lot of buyers.

It's a nice property but I am a bit concerned there has been absolutely no interest. The photos weren't amazing before, but they were passable. Certainly not enough to make people skip past.

I'm a home owner but not sold on the open market before - do things normally take a while to get moving - or is this a concerning sign? I know it's only been two weeks....but no interest in even looking?

Does anyone have any killer tips to get people in to look at the property?

One of the reasons she's so desperate is that she needs something very specific in the next house she buys which is quite rare - and there's one on the market now which fits the bill. If she doesn't get her house under offer soon, this other property will inevitably be bought by someone else, and I don't know how easily we'll find what she needs again....

and good luck!

So much effort involved
And I doubt it will reap what you put in

If I were you, I would sell to the developer
Yes you’ll take a hit but Unless willing to utterly dedicate yourself to a complete overhaul - this will stagnate on the market for…. Well indefinitely

If you can split the large loft room into two decent size bedrooms and still market it as a 3 bed that also has a study/guest room that's probably the best plan that will give you the best shot at getting the price DM needs.

However just because she needs a certain price, doesn't mean that it's worth that much to a buyer. If the price is too high, it's too high.

Can they pay someone to come in and spruce the garden up a bit?

Why do they have so many fridges? How much food can two people eat?

On the matter of the storage unit, is there any chance of persuading them to actually get rid of some of this stuff? They have so so much of it, far more than one couple need, it's not going to help their finances and allow them to buy this new place if they're spending money on storing things they don't actually need. Eg multiple fridges, (likely outdated) reference books, huge amounts of craft items.

Pictures are terrible , they look like a hospital with all the equipment . Take it out if each pic and get them done again! Also remove that kitchen block thing from that phone or altogether . Makes it looks very cluttered and small.

The house will appeal to someone. Likely someone with some money to really radicalise it. You look past the clutter and the dated ness of it. Yes it's untidy but I can see what the rooms are. I really don't think going to weeks of effort to declutter will make a difference - particularly as that will be a massive job! I think the estate agent needs to be more clever with his photo! Personally I think it's over priced.

One of the biggest issues is this is being marketed as a three bedroom house and yet only one room appears to being used as a bedroom. It isn't easy to tell from the photos which room is being used as the bedroom, I am guessing the downstairs one ?

Looking at the floorplan, you could make changes quite easily to improve the layout but these will cost money, which people will factor in when offering. So for instance it would be easy to improve the upstairs to provide two decent bedrooms. Downstairs is trickier if you want to keep a third bedroom.

The other thing to do is look at what else is available in that price bracket in the area, just from a quick look there are a lot of newbuilds with 3 and even 4 bedrooms. Is the area of Gloucester where your Mum lives particularly sought after ?

If you want to sell the property, as it is, you need to change agent and
reduce the price.
Ensure the new agent has sold other properties like yours. In some areas they do specialise.
Buyers, in the main, have no imagination they want a house which is ready to move into. Or they need a big price reduction.
Your agent has not given you good advice, Sometimes they tell you what you want to hear just to secure your property.
Good luck.

Sack the agent!

You’ve had good advice but this should never have gone to market like this!!

Can you have the estate agent add the total square footage of the footprint to the layout? It help work out prove price per square foot. We did this on a house we sold a couple of years ago as it had been largely extended in comparison to its neighbours.

Also you could fit a single bed in the third bedroom, it would just be a bedroom for sleeping in rather than playing. Totally acceptable for a nursery. People have rather grandiose ideas on room sizes.

@HarebrightCedarmoon

Why is everyone commenting on the clutter? When we looked round our house there were something like four sofas in the living room, the kitchen was orange and purple, and damned right there was tons of clutter and not as organised as in the house pictured here - there was a family with three teenage girls in it. We weren't buying their furniture or objects, we were buying a house in need of decoration only (and most of it actually ok) with good sized rooms and a lovely garden in a great location. Now, this description doesn't apply to the house which is the subject of the thread, but I think people are a bit shallow/lacking imagination if they are put off by the contents of the house which they won't be buying. Sure - area, layout, size of rooms, overall state of repair, garden etc are all relevant. But I would never be put off by the bits and bobs people have in their house.

Lots of people are totally lacking in imagination though - I didn't properly get this until I went to look at houses with my MIL. She got hung up on so many things, couldn't see past stuff which was easy to change. One house had a kitchen (in an extension) which was open to another room. A classic kitchen diner space, but they were using it as a sitting area with sofas instead. There was another big lounge too. MIL repeatedly commented about how there was nowhere to sit and eat and that she couldn't possibly buy somewhere without space for a table. Another room was set up as an office but was very clearly a large bedroom. Couldn't see past that either. Commented on not liking their (freestanding) wardrobes. You get my drift.

Some people have no imagination at all, and given the place isn't getting viewers it's fair to say something needs to change

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/113113613#/?channel=RES_BUY

This is the sort of thing she is up against.

The layout won’t be an issue for a creative buyer. The downstairs is huge as is the upstairs, plenty of potential.

Can’t say anything that others haven’t already said - declutter and rearrange furniture.

I really don't think you can sell it as a 3 bed op. You couldn't use the smallest room as a bedroom.

I honestly think you need to drop it to £230k.

I think if you get viewings you could get £230k, but definitely not £295k.

The trouble is it says 'old people' with the mobility aids etc but it is more of a family home.
Move the mobility stuff as has been said. Really not sure the pic of hallway adds anything.
Move the island thing in the kitchen, just for pics at least. What is the dead space with a bin it it? Can't you move the table out to show dining space, if this is what it is?
The long living space would be better with that arm chair moved round to make it less corridor like.
Fewer pics of garden. There's one nice one but the others emphasise steepness rather than its good points.
Tidy up bedroom and put a decent duvet and some cushions on even if you just bring them from your house.

I don't know the area but seeing the comparable posted here it seems substantially overpriced. The layout and non-level garden makes it a very tricky house to sell.

An example of an old people's 'decluttered' house - medical equipment still in situ but blank canvas in garden and kitchen and beds in all the bedrooms -
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112266554

Can you instruct the other estate agents now so that they have photos and are ready to go immediately the other contract finishes?

I've only skim read as you've had tons of good advice already- is the house your mum wants to move to local? Can you approach the estate agent for that property once the 9 weeks is up, explain they want that specific house and ask them to market your mums? Not sure if that's a good idea I've never bought and sold at the same time but just a thought.

Declutter. Can you hire a storage unit. Everything on the tops to be stored...that includes the meerkats. Also the kitchen unit splitting the kitchen pop into storage...clear top of fridge, in fact every top. Good luck x

@SpidersAreShitheads which agents did you have round? I’ve actually dealt with one in Gloucester who I was impressed with.

@2Rebecca

Picture 15 is awful. It is centred on the house with umpteen vans and doesn't help sell the house at all. It's the shame they had both bathrooms converted in the same unconventional way. Having 1 a wet room would have been better. I would look at it and think I'd need to spend a lot of money on it and wonder about the family of 15 next door with all the vans.

This: would totally put me off as I'd not want to live opposite all those vans which potentially might block me in,.

Honestly, as a buyer I would struggle to see past all the 'stuff'. when I looked at the pics I was just drawn to the books etc and not to the size of the room, layout etc. I think if she is serious about moving she should get everything not essential to everyday life packed up and put into storage or stacked neatly in boxes in one of the rooms (preferably out of the way of the pictures) if she feels unable to foot a storage bill. Then get the pics retaken.

Even with the best estate agent and decluttering, that house will be a hard sell I'm afraid. That garden is a safety nightmare for anyone with young children, for instance. The bathrooms would need to be sorted, and what's with the study with the stairs in?

It's far too non-standard for the average buyer, I'm afraid. I wouldn't touch it. It's the sort of thing that might go at auction to a builder who would gut it and move some of the walls, maybe?

I'd also be tempted to take your own pics. That way you can do a room at a time and help your mum.
Bring a few nice props from your house and look at each image after you've taken it
Things you don't notice can really show up in a camera angle.
And then tell your mum's (useless) estate agent exactly what order they should appear in so it flows with the house