Why is my in-laws' gorgeous house not selling?!

[irisetta]

What is wrong with this listing? Some back story - my in-laws have been desperate to sell up for a while to be nearer to us. They live near Portsmouth, we are in St Albans. They have a beautiful house! It's 5 minutes walk from the beach in Lee-on-Solent, it's right next to the High Street but super quiet. Huge back garden. Beautifully renovated home, when they bought it it hasn't been touched in at least 30 years. It looks immaculate. No it doesn't have the open plan kitchen diner, but what there is, is perfect.

For the first 7 months while they were listing the house, the estate agent was effing up the RightMove listing quite badly - they were only appearing for people looking for bungalows, when it is not a bungalow 🤦 I noticed this recently. 🙄 After pointing it out, it's since been amended to appear to anyone looking for a 3 bedroom detached property in Lee-on-Solent.

Anyway, now that it's appearing to everyone who might want it, AND they've reduced the price (too much, IMO), my mum-in-law is somehow still convinced that the lovely estate agent is now doing his level best for them - still no viewings after a couple of weeks. And they've only EVER had 3 viewings, ever since it was first listed those 7 months ago - none of which were even proceedable. Thoughts, lovely ladies of Mumsnet?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/173477669

I appreciate this is not a bungalow, but the downstairs bedroom is leading buyers down that path.

Its a bungalow!

I think there is a wide disconnect with what you see and your inlaws see, and what the rest of us see. Starting with calling it a "gorgeous house". The photos were not what I was expecting to see when I looked at the link to see this "gorgeous", "beautiful," "immaculate," "perfect" house.

Also, the estate agent, lacking in whatever they might be in terms of photos or promoting, does do this for a living and they listed it as a bungalow. This is why it hasn't sold in 7 months, you said in your OP, because this "gorgeous" house is not a bungalow!

Most of us, looking at the house from the front see a bungalow. The fact it is a dormer bungalow, or a bungalow with a loft conversion, or however you want to reframe it - it's still essentially a bungalow. But not a bungalow an older couple looking to a no-stairs life would be buying.

I think the best they can hope for is to put all the stuffed toys in a (big) box, take some new photos, and lower the price considerably.

Most people looking for a 3 bed don't want one of the bedrooms downstairs, so to most people looking for A3 bed then view it as a 2 bed with an extra living space. It does also need redecorating throughout and kitchen and bathroom need doing which will be expensive in the current economy. It seems it's a 2 bed project being priced and marketed as a 3 bed finished home

PIL are in Hillhead, deeply attached to their home and convinced it's worth a huge amount of money.
DH is the same with ours.
The reality is we all worked very hard 50 and 20 years ago and although it's new to us, it's already lived a life to someone else.

There's a lot of new builds out there and they have nice kitchens, good heating, great insulation. Bathrooms have moved on.

FIL expects top money for his period property but it has a sign warning you not to be too long in the shower. It has a lifetime of quirks and things we accept but that doesn't deserve to break the area ceiling price no matter how much DIY you've put in.

We will be having hard conversations if we need to sell. Why are your in-laws moving? It looks a perfect downsize property.

It will sell but the price is too high. It won’t appeal to people who want modern layouts. It will appeal to people who don’t see for example, a downstairs bedroom but a space they can use for whatever. and see beyond personal taste in paint colours and realise they aren’t buying the furniture.
They are selling their home. Not a showhome.

The price is the thing.

It’s a chalet bungalow, the decor isnt modern and the rooms are cluttered with crap photos. Anyone taking it on would have to totally refurbish.

It looks exactly like my parents house, even down to the blue 😂😂

They need to take it down for a few weeks and stage it for sale.

While I think many of the posts here are mean spirited, I think everyone is in agreement that this is a bungalow. Op saying it isn’t doesn’t mean it’s not. And given you want the house to sell, people’s opinions matter. The property was clearly built as a bungalow and a dormer was added at some point (clearly not recently).

I think it being a ‘gorgeous’ property is subjective and hopefully a buyer comes along who agrees with you.

@irisetta
No I'm not an estate agent, not even close, but I've lived here my whole life & know the area inside out.

Your pil's property is what we call here a dormer bungalow. There are quite a few of them around here & they are when a bungalow has been conveted to have rooms upstairs. They are not a house & wont be viewed by anyone who lives locally as a house as they are not.

The market for anyone who would buy a property like this is small - most buyers want a typical house with a traditional layout not a dormer.

This property is not value for money- you can get bigger, nicer & cheaper houses locally than this one by a long shot.

The location is OK, not amazing & again its not that unusual being so close to the sea in this area.

If your pil are serious about selling they need to be realistic. I doubt in the current market it will go for over £500k but I would start by reducing it immediately to £525 as that might start to get viewings but it's not guaranteed.

The harsh reality is right now that you can get much more house for your money in the local area than this & I struggle to see who the target market is for the property regardless of the estate agents description.

You can take or leave my advice but I live here & know the property market & this wont sell for anything near what its up for.

Bathrooms and kitchen are awfully dated. That’s minimum £40-50k right there. Wicker furniture really dates a property too - although of course it won’t be there once they sell, it may be off putting. Overall it seems overpriced for a 3 bed house - I’d expect to pay this closer to London. But I must say the garden is beyond beautiful!!

The target market is probably someone with teens.

Agree it’s a chalet bungalow and actually would appeal to older couples who might want single floor living with room upstairs for family to stay!

it’s an interesting area my nanny lives close by in Alverstoke and while I love visiting as it brings back childhood memories I find the whole area still quite naval and utilitarian feeling. Gosport as the nearest town is a bit shabby and tired. It’s not typically what you expect in Hampshire put it that way!

I actually think the price is fair but if you feel it isn’t being shown at its best take it off get a better EA and put back on. But a chalet bungalow on the Solent isn’t as desirable as a beautiful cottage on the Cornish coast- sorry!

I have no idea on the price but I would get rid of the flag for a start.

Put half the furniture in storage. You only need one table and chairs and it needs to not have a sofa behind it.

Get rid of the treadmill too.

Personally I love the kitchen colour but I think it is a bit Marmite.

The room with all the books makes it look cluttered and as if it has no space.

I have to burst your bubble but it is 100% a bungalow with a loft conversion, I wouldn’t consider buying it as a family home for that reason. It also needs redecoration and new kitchen and bathroom. You’re too personally invested, you need to look at it through the eyes of a potential buyer.

Views of what? There is literally not one photo which suggests there’s anything worth looking at out the window. Normally a decent view would be highlighted in the photos.

But other than that I agree with everyone else who said it’s massively overpriced and needs a shit ton of money thrown at it to modernise it.

I think it will appeal to an older couple who have hobbies and need space. But not four bedrooms upstairs. Who like gardening and being by the sea. It will appeal to the younger version of your in laws.

Why is it not selling?

Because that house, in short, is a dormer bungalow with a very dated interior.

You will not sell that in the 3 bed detached house category, as it's way overpriced.

Also, on the point of it being a bungalow and not a house, the upstairs rooms have such restricted headroom because it’s not hip-to-gable that it will put people off, very little functional space.

Oh, I've found the "missing" bedroom on the ground floor. It's the one with the lolly-pink feature wall, taken from a different angle.

That "third bedroom" could be set up more like an office, or more like a bedroom, and minus the clutter and soft toys. As it is, it's a bit of a hodgepodge.

So many soft toys in this house!

Too expensive and most people would consider that house needing a lot of renovation it’s pretty dated. They need to drop the price thats all they can do

is it No 13 as that I think is what is marked on the Google Earth view and it’s a semi detached
I was wondering if the garden is overlooked which I suspect it is. Also wouldn’t want the separate sun room. Just a maintenance and cleaning issue
why no more views of the garden and can you get a modern car in the garage?
the decor wouldn’t put me off

Astro turf, dated bathroom, dated kitchen, overpriced.
re photos there is a lot of dark furniture that distracts/dominates.
A dated bungalow.

• paint scheme is terrible (garish feature walls) and dated (most people cannot visualise an alternative)
• it’s cluttered and full of not nice pine pine furniture
• what is that monstrous turquoise (?) awning in the conservatory (?) ?

Can they afford to repaint (neutral lighter colours) and maybe put half the stuff into storage?

It’s a lovely house but I’m not sure who it’s aimed at. It’s a bit pricey for a first time buyer or a holiday home. It’s not that spacious for a large family and a bit big/pricey for retirement folk.

They need to find someone who really wants to move to that area and has the funds to do so.

Definitely get rid of all those throws and quilts too

Needs rephotographing post removal of stuff

First impression - hate the oversized porch so I wouldn’t even look at the details because the exterior does not appeal. Some planting would help soften and increase appeal.
Inside looks incredibly dated and costly to redecorate. Kitchen and bathrooms need updating and the conservatory with the green material hanging down looks terrible and the room looks cluttered.
The bonus is the garden is gorgeous.
Reducing the price to reflect the work needed may help it to sell.