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Original poster

Here's my house. How can I make it more viewer-friendly!

97 replies

HouseyMouse · 28/07/2011 10:48

Apologies, I'm very new to Mumsnet so I'm not sure if this is the done thing, but here is my house which I've just put on the market.

The kitchen's dated, but we can't afford to update it as we've just replaced the windows (no money left!).

What could we do to make it more viewer-friendly?

Thanks.
P.S. I'm not at all proud of it, so any "Yuck" and "That's awful!" replies are most welcome! :)

OP posts:
FiniteIncantatem · 28/07/2011 14:02

i agree with putting some kind of picture above the bed, it would bring a little more life and colour into the room- maybe even move the picture from over the fireplace to the bedroom, if the colours are right?

PhyllisDiller · 28/07/2011 15:11

Nice house! I?d look!

The new kitchen picture looks much better.

I wouldn?t show the piano in the dining room though, take another picture from the same angle as in the first picture but loose the table cloth and move the table so that it is central and in line with the window. Stick a vase of flowers on the table. (and move whatever that white thing is to the left of the window sil).

They have taken very odd picture of the bathroom!

Lastly, any chance you could trim the bush to the left of the house at the front? If you?ve put flowers out they won?t show from that distance, could you them to take a close up and a further away one?

Original poster
HouseyMouse · 28/07/2011 16:23

Thanks all. I'll have a look at pics for the bedroom and brightening it up.

I can't put a mirror over the fire as there's one on the opposite wall in the dining room (there's a wall with an arch) so they will reflect off each other! I'll look for a better picture though.

Good point about the furniture against the wall in the living room. I wrongly took the estate agent's advice on that.

Thanks for the tips on the dining room. I'll lose the cloth etc.

The tree at the front is actually not near the door, but it looks as though it is from the pic. I'll trim it anyway though.

Thanks again, everyone! :)

OP posts:
Eglu · 28/07/2011 16:29

Your kitchen looks much bigger in the second picture.

I actually like your bedroom, I think it looks peaceful.

RickGhastley · 28/07/2011 16:42

I don't think you'll have any problems selling housey, your house looks great. I am jealous of your lovely garden!

TheHumanCatapult · 28/07/2011 16:49

the bit at the front wity the car on is it ours as is not clearly defined in he picture .

midnightexpress · 28/07/2011 16:53

I think the 2nd garden picture is better - the original one had the tree in the way - it's a lovely big garden. Kitchen pic also much better. I wouldn't bother doing anything with the tiles - if a buyer is going to replace the kitchen, they'd probably rip them out anyway.

Is the bathroom pic on Rightmove of an en suite shower room? It looks tiny, and is a rubbish picture, but I assumed from the bedroom pic that there was an en suite.

I think the bedroom is fine, but if you wanted to add some colour, perhaps just a different duvet cover or a picture would be easier than redecorating the whole room? If you start painting, you'd probably have to redo the whole thing (woodwork etc).

I agree get rid of the tablecloth in the dining room.

midnightexpress · 28/07/2011 16:55

Oh, and btw, I'd probably ask for the post with the 2nd link to be deleted at some point as it has your address on it. Smile

Original poster
HouseyMouse · 28/07/2011 16:59

Thanks all!

Yes, the other kitchen pic's better, isn't it?

Yes, the bit with the car on it is ours. You can fit 5/6 cars on the driveway (we hid our campervan while the photos were taken as it's still a bit muddy since Glastonbury. We're a bit slack at washing it!).

Yes, the bathroom pic is the en suite. Daft, isn't it? I don't know why they used it. The bathroom's bigger and would be better (although according to the inaccurate floor plan, it's smaller!) for a photo.

I'll get rid of the table cloth. :)

OP posts:
Original poster
HouseyMouse · 28/07/2011 17:01

Oh, thank you! Is it against the Mumsnet rules to publish your address, or is it generally just a daft thing to do?! Sorry, new to the site. Thanks.

OP posts:
midnightexpress · 28/07/2011 17:02

No, not a rule, just more of a privacy thing, if you're bothered by that sort of thing. Though if you're moving house anyway, I don't suppose it matters too much Grin.

bibbitybobbityhat · 28/07/2011 17:07

Have a plant or large vase of flowers on dining table, or large ceramic dish, or iron table cloth, or take table cloth off. I'd also stick a couple of plants on the kitchen window sill, maybe herb plants?

You need a much more close up shot of the front of the house. Do you need to show the two additional parking spaces? You've already got two garages.

Straighten the duvet in the girls bedroom, and the rug on the floor.

Bathroom picture (of the shower rail) just odd - you need to show some of the floor.

Greenshadow · 28/07/2011 17:09

I think it's lovely.
Personally I like the crowded shelves in the living room - assuming they are staying with the house that is. How I think a family house should look.
Kitchen doesn't look dated to me, only the tiles.

Am sure it'll sell quickly.

ellmum · 28/07/2011 17:09

I think it's lovely too. It looks very clean and light. I agree that the only picture that lets it down a bit is the external front one. It just looks overwhelmingly concrete! Whereas all the other photos are much more appealing. But I know that parking and outside space are important. Could you maybe have a more close up of just the house and a separate photo of the off street parking? I really do think it's lovely though and I hope you sell it v quickly.

Laquitar · 28/07/2011 17:38

Nice house!

I would only perhaps paint the tiles in the kitchen.

The rest are just tiny details, a fruit bowl on the dining table, a cushion on the big bed or a side table lamp.

Why your dd's bed is not the other way, the hight head piece on the other side and the low one by the bookcase (silly detail, sorry)

You can always move that miror around in each room for the photos Grin

Fab house and fab garden, i really like it.

BalloonSlayer · 28/07/2011 17:49

Lovely house!

My only advice would be to get a photo of the exterior from another angle, so that you see the front door first instead of two garages. It may be difficult to get an attractive view of your entrance due to your very large bush Hmm but I'd think it's worth a try.

TheGashlycrumbTinies · 28/07/2011 17:50

The housing market in Chelt. seems to be moving fairly quickly at the moment. We sold within 4 days back in March, and completed in 6 weeks, so good luck.

The photos are a great improvement :)

Bunbaker · 28/07/2011 17:55

I agree about painting the kitchen tiles. You can get special tile paint at DIY stores and it shouldn't take too long to do. Other than that I think the house is very market friendly.

Original poster
HouseyMouse · 28/07/2011 18:06

Thanks all.

I'll ask the estate agents if we can have another, close-up of the house.

The reason my daughter's bed is that way around is because it faces posters that she likes on her cupboard (not visible on the pic - built-in) doors.

I'll speak to them again about the bathroom pic. Yeah, a towel rail isn't too much of a selling point, is it?!

I'll have a look at tile paint.

OP posts:
midnightexpress · 28/07/2011 18:42

Erk, tile paint. I wouldn't. I've never seen painted tiles that look good. It smacks of 'cheapo student house decor' to me. Sorry to anyone with painted tiles, and am happy to be corrected. I'd leave them as they are.

reallytired · 28/07/2011 18:52

Good luck with selling your house.

I think the pictures look fine, you don't need to do anything to you house.

You need to give the keys to the estate agents and allow viewings at any time. It is easier to get a good price for a house that is newly on the market than one that has been sitting on the market for months.

Don't live like a show home, its impossible to keep up. Keep the house clean and tidy and live normally. It is not the end of the world for buyers to see a house a bit lived in.

We sold our house to an an unexpected viewing. My son had a friend round at the time and the house looked like a bomb had hit it. However the buyers saw a family having fun.

Original poster
HouseyMouse · 28/07/2011 19:03

Thank you! I've given the estate agent keys.

I have to know in advance when there's a viewing though because I need to take the dog out. She's a large lass and some people may be afraid of her, even though she's very gentle.

OP posts:
ChristinedePizan · 28/07/2011 19:11

I think the house looks lovely and am very jealous of the garden :)

The only criticism I would have is getting some colour out the front. A few biggish plants in pots with some bedding plants round the bottom would do the trick.

I always insisted the EA let me know when they were doing viewings, even if they had keys. Meant I could have a quick tidy round (and a tip - it's very easy to iron duvet covers when they are ON the bed :o)

Ponders · 28/07/2011 19:24

I looked at the dining room pic & thought it looks very small & characterless, could you put another bit of furniture in?

Now have read that you have a piano in there too!!! Is there any way you could take a pic from a slightly different angle? (or else add a small sideboard or bookcase or something?)

either way, agree you need to lose the crooked table cloth Grin

also I think the pic of the front would be much better without the extra parking area showing, & with some pots.

(lovely house - I would buy it like a shot)(if I lived there & had the money Wink)

herbietea · 28/07/2011 19:28

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