House still on market over 2 years later

[lonelysadfedup]

Hi our house has been up for sale for 2 years and 3 months. We had lots of viewings, no offers. My husband then reduced the price this year, more viewings and still no offers.
My name isn’t on the mortgage and deeds due to my bad credit rating.

mortgage in principle ran out ages ago so we don’t know how much my husband would be able to get a mortgage for and how much a month it would be. We have equity in this house. 22 year mortgage with 14 years left.

I’ve made different suggestions to my husband such as listing it as a 4 bed rather than a five with the bedrooms not been big. I’ve suggested decluttering to see if that helps. I’ve suggested going with a different estate agent and lowering the price. Then today I’ve tried to talk to him about it. Mentioned lowering the price and he just dismissed it.

im fed up of it all now and it’s not fair on our children. I’m now at a lost as what to do

People are coming to view but no offers. What is their feedback to the agent?

I do think your husband is reluctant to move. Take the property off the market. Talk to him about what is going on.

If you are both wanting to move, do some serious tidying and cleaning before getting photos redone - if there is stuff everywhere, it suggests the property has no storage/is too small.

Use the agent for viewings - it's their job to sell your property! And they'll get feedback.

As others have said, your estate agent and/or photographer really hate you. Those are truly off putting dreadful pictures and to be honest I'm baffled why you allowed photos to be taken with the house staged like that, and then why you've done nothing about it for two years. Sorry OP but that's the harsh truth. Who wants to see photos of rows and rows of cleaning products? What does it tell me about the space? Masses of toys everywhere, these should have been moved for the photos. Can't see the kitchen properly. The enormous structure in the garden is also off putting, can it be dismantled for a re-shoot if its yours? Needs neutral redecoration, possible updated fireplace which you could buy cheap on Gumtree or similar. Every scrap of clutter gone for new photos. Put your foot down OP, the house is never going to sell with that marketing.

Agreed. It's so blatantly obvious that you need photos with less clutter that him refusing is a bad sign.

BTW OP it is a lovely house itself, it just needs shown properly. It is obviously in need of a probable renovation of kitchen and bathrooms however, does your price reflect this? If the price is right it will sell.

Does he really not want to move?

I live in the South West where I live you'd be lucky to buy a 2 bed flat for £290k - I think I'm moving to Wakefield LOL!

I might get a short term storage unit and move the unnecessary toys, clutter in there, and get some help staging the conservatory to make it look like a sanctuary with plants/sun. The back garden also could be decluttered to make it look better, and hiring a good photographer to take pictures could do wonders. it is a nice house that does not have its best face forward. Good luck OP!

Going through pics - many of them seem too close, and not showing the whole room, which makes people think they are small
1 - front is ok, but could do with one from a bit further back & maybe trim the tree
2 - living room is nice and clear, paint over the blue wall
3 - shocking! Clear it up then take from further back
4 - ok the kitchen needs updating but shows can fit a table in or add more units
5 - clear all the toys or at least move the sofa forward by a foot and get them all behind it
6 - too close, crumpled bed
7 - too close, close the shower screen
8 - ok
9 - not bad
10 - half this photo is a door! Does not add anything to the previous one
11 - too close
12 - too close
13 - too close again - or is this room really small?
14 - does not show the scope of the garden - you need from more than 1 angle

You need more & better pictures
Declutter
Change EA and let them show the property
Add room sizes to plan
It's very blue - did you get a job lot of paint! Blue can look cold especially in winter so a repaint would be good
No picture of the dining room or hall or bathroom with a bath
Add an overhead shot to show your garden is bigger than others

If your marriage isn't working and you choose to separate he'll have to get the house sold anyway.

So he might as well try and get the best price now.

Clutter like that has never put me off. The seller takes it with them. I think the photos are bad, but I'm wondering why you've had lots of viewings and no sale? Have you said what the feedback was?
Also, it's a bit strange to move because your child wants to be nearer to friends? What's really going on?

The photos are terrible! The rooms have too many toys etc in it looks cluttered. May be putting some off from even visiting. Was that a professional photographer? If you are using a good agent they tend to use good photographers who should have suggested all of this. It costs more to use a good agent but you will easily get your money back in a quicker sale at a better price. Sorry those photos are soooo unprofessional half the beds aren't even properly made!

Brilliant house, very badly presented.
It needs tidying/decluttering - throughout.

When I have staged a house to sell @lonelysadfedup I have literally steamed/ironed the bedding on the beds to ensure it is pristine.

All windows cleaned inside and out professionally.
All bulbs switched to as higher wattage as fittings allow.
All clutter removed to storage if necessary.
All furniture arranged to maximise space
No scuffs or picture marks on any walls or paintwork
Tidy the garden, put I some planted up pots at the front and rear.

You definitely need to declutter! If anything just put everything away for the photos. And please smooth out the duvet covers! A messy bed like that would put me off right away.

I would try a different estate agent! There’s no reason why that wouldn’t sell.

The photos are awful though. You don’t take photos of the house when it’s a mess!

(I know that’s no more than every day mess but you need to take photos with all the clutter removed, and keep it removed for viewings)

I agree the house seems lovely but I found it stressful even looking at the pictures.
It is very chaotic and distracting-I wouldn't "see" the house at all.

You need to go room by room and sort of set them up in a clean/clear way that lets other people see themselves there using the rooms.

I think a massive clear out and staging of the rooms will help a lot.

As above. What feedback are the agents getting after viewings? Do you have a dog or do you/your husband work at home making or doing stuff rather than at a computer/phone?

We've been here 25years and this was a new build so no recent viewing experience. Somethings put me right off. Two places stick in my mind that way from aeons ago. Owner of one had Labradors; I don't think the smell of damp dog would have gone anytime soon. Another was a hairdresser working at home; smelled like a salon.

I'd start with another agent (or agents); sack the current lot and don't let them back.

Even if you go for sole agency in the end get a few firms round to give you a spread of ideas for presentation and opinions on price. Current agents are a big chain. Nothing wrong with that in principle but sometimes a local outfit can be better.

Tidy the bedrooms, conservatory and utility for sure. Deep clean of carpets and upholstery?

Insist on viewings being accompanied by the agent.

The problem is your husband not the house. You need to get to the bottom of what's going on with him op.

Hi OP - The front of the house is really nice and has great kerbside appeal.

I think the photos are terrible, essentially there are three almost identical photos in a row of three different bedrooms, all at the same angle and all make the rooms look really small.

I would get rid of bedroom 5 being described as bedroom 5 and describe it as a home office/study on the floor plan then dress it as such as a lot of people WFH now days or may have kids at home studying.

The conservatory is huge but it’s so full of stuff it’s hard to imagine what to do with it as a buyer, it’s almost like a sitting room x home office x playroom at the minute and makes it difficult to think how to purpose it. The blinds look messy too especially from the outside picture. Your back garden needs rearranging/ tidying up as well.

I agree with a PP - I’d take it off the market. Massive declutter and stage/dress it differently then back on in spring. It’s already been on 2yrs you have nothing to lose. Get some good organisation/storage for all the rooms and rearrange them. It would put me off as I think a 4 or 5 bed should have a lot of storage and I’d be quite disappointed seeing the inside after the outside.

You could also store things in the garage if it helps?

Why? You're not buying the bed or cover?
I always find this so strange.

This sums up the photo issue well.

Then when you get viewers through the door the house still needs to be showroom condition. No junk, no clutter, everything away (put in garage or car) you need to show a blank canvas as you can get.

Open windows, fresh air, clean and tidy beds, plump cushions. You are selling a lifestyle not a starter home.

OMG

You need to remove almost everything from the rooms other than furniture.

The loo and utility area are a nightmare- take all the cleaning stuff out.

Put them in cupboards or the garage.

Buy some nice plants, flowers.

Tidy the gaming room.

Make the beds

Tidy the kids' rooms.

Declutter the toys and tidy the garden toys.
Get rid of the utility mess.
Fresh lick of paint.
New plain bed linen and some nice scatters/throws with a pop of colour.
Change EA and let them do the viewings.
Change the husband too - he seems more of a problem 🤔😁

The house kind of looks unloved in its present state.

I don't think you're reasons for moving are very strong actually. How far are you thinking of moving? I would just focus on making this house nicer. It's got good bones, but looks v dated and not staged at all for the photos.

I think they are referring to the curtains in the bedroom with blue curtains. They look like they have come unhooked part way along.

Cannot see a photo of the dining room.

Photos really need improving after the house has had a bit of a declutter.

Do you have a family member or friend who can help you as your husband is not cooperative. Can the children get involved, or are they too little.

Can you tell your husband you are taking over the selling of your house.

There are some dreadful photographs.

3 is a photo of your laundry detergent preferences.

4 focussed on the blank wall
5 should have moved the toys out of shot
6 focuses on an old grubby quilt
10 focuses on a door
12 is of your storage boxes not the room
I could go on.

Estate agents are meant to use wide angle lenses that help create a sense of space. And they should convey the room, not a wall or your stuff.