Please critique my house - be blunt & honest

[UnexpectedUrgeToMove]

So ... we were very happy in current house and was intending to stay in it for foreseeable. Then stumbled across a fantastic, ticks-all-boxes project house in another area. End result, we have rushed our house onto the market without much time for prep. The new carpets I'd ordered before all this happened aren't even installed yet (but will be done tomorrow).

So ... our house is on the market but it's been decorated to please us, not to sell. I'm concerned that the lack of prep and our "out there" colour choices are going to put people off. Plus we didn't have time to get a straight-talking friend in prior to the photos being done, and the pics were done in such a rush that in one of them is a stray filing cabinet which looks bonkers (am cringing just thinking about that).

I'm going to ask the agents to re-do that pic at least but please tell me, what else should we do to improve things before the first viewings?

Would really appreciate some feedback!

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/30162018?search_identifier=14d6eb12dc2dbc56fef5cc4a13048900

You definitely need more photos, particularly the bathroom. I'd be worried that it would be old and need replacing which might put some people off. Clearly this isn't the case but no harm in making it crystal clear.

It does look a bit unlived in.

House is lovely but I'd get the EA back to take some more photos. The one of the kitchen is very wonky and that and the sitting room one look as if they've been taken by someone kneeling down and determined to get as much ceiling in shot as possible. Not a great approach!

I may have to find an excuse to paint a room Brassica now - I didn't realise it was such a lovely colour.

I think it's lovely house, and very uncluttered to the point of looking as though it has already been staged for selling, so I'd don't think you need to worry about lack of prep!

Personally I don't worry about things like wall colour - that can be changed easily and cheaply, and I can see past things I don't like, providing I can afford to change them. I look at the quality/style of the bigger, more expensive jobs, like kitchens and bathrooms, and the things that are harder to change, and everything there looks lovely to me.

If I were going to be blunt (only because you insisted, mind ) I'd say that your colour choices may make the house come across as cold. I prefer neutrals or just white, with some texture for 'warmth', in rugs, accessories etc, but lots of people really need a house to feel warm and homely to them from the off, and the very cool colours might make it feel aloof and unwelcoming. Sorry if that sounds a bit bonkers. Not that you should paint it all terracotta, but maybe add some touches of a warm accent colour (with some accessories) to the very cool palette in the sitting room, and the bedrooms. Or just paint it off white. No-one can argue with that.

But honestly, I don't think you need to bother. It's a lovely looking house in great condition inside and out, and providing it's priced right it'll go like a shot. Don't waste your money and your time.

I haven't read any other comments, so forgive me if I am repeating what others have already said.

1. I like the 1st photo of the outside of the house, although it doesn't really show if there is a driveway / garage.

1. Your living room looks lovely. Tiny point - but what is the thing that looks like a wooden plank in the foreground? Also, purely my aesthetic, but I like a picture rail that it picked out on a contrasting colour - white or slightly off-white.

1. Kitchen is absolutely fab!

1. Conservatory - absolutely fine. Could have dressed the table a bit more for photo, but doesn't really need it. Having looked at the floor plans though, the dining area isn't really apparent, and it might have been an idea to take a photo from the living room looking backwards, IYKWIM.

1. Bedroom 1 - I'm afraid that neither the blue carpet or yellow walls are doing it for me. Whilst you don't want clutter, IMO a picture or mirror would be nice above the bed to add a focal point.

1. Blue bedroom - not really doing it for me either - I think the bed looks funny where it is, especially with no headboard or side tables - can you place the bed on another wall and put a dressing table in the alcove? I think the (presumably built in wardrobe) doors look odd with the outer frames picked out in white, and I am not entirely convinced by the colour.

Also, windows look a bit bare - could you even get some voile curtains from Ikea to dress them a bit? That and some general dressing with lamps and side tables to soften it.

1. Have I missed the photo with the filing cabinet?

1. No pictures of bathrooms - that always makes me wonder why not.

1. Is there off-road parking? It doesn't say, and if you do have it, would be worth highlighting that.

10. Is the cloakroom really upstairs like it says? Also, if you have a downstairs loo, it would be worth highlighting that too - something I would want.

Overall the house looks lovely - well proportioned, big garden, lovely kitchen - the points I make above are just being perfectionist. Good luck with the viewings.

If they really won't put more than 7 photos, I'd take out the 2nd bedroom one and put in one of the bathroom; description and measurements are enough for bedrooms.
Very well-maintained looking, and I can't see the filing cabinet either!

Absolutely fine. Don't need to change a thing. It is market ready. Good luck!

I can't seem to view it.

number of pictures wise I would expect to be able to see
front of house
garden
kitchen
bathroom
lounge
dining room
at least 2 of the bedrooms so that is 8 pictures already. If there are more reception rooms or a utility room or numerous bedrooms/bathrooms then I would expect to see a fair number of them. If not then like others have said it makes you wonder if you are only seeing the rooms that are nice.

I want to see it though - will try link again in a bit.

Maybe OP is getting the ad sorted out with more pics?

Or ??????

Actually I think I was being rude . Apologies! It is not nice to compare someone's sitting room to a battleship! I just meant that it looks very long and thin and the colour is a bit utilitarian. One of the things I always look for is nicely proportioned rooms and the layout of that room makes it look a bit long and thin. It certainly doesn't look like a cosy space that I'd want to come home to.
I also avoid any house that looks as if it has been bought by a developer and done up to sell and yours has a bit of that look about it because of the lack of pictures or personal bits and bobs. Maybe that is a reflection of my lifestyle which is chaotic at best. I'm just shocked that anyone can actually be that tidy in real life. Sneal a big jar of marmite into the kitchen and a few books into the other rooms and I'd be won over!

Thanks to everyone for taking time to help with info. The house has vanished from the internet, so I have phoned the agent in a flap and asked him to retrieve it from the internet black hole. V grateful to MNs for pointing this out!!

Meantime I have ordered some curtains (striped as per suggestions earlier today) and will be zipping around putting up pics and other things as per the very helpful ideas from here - this is fantastically useful.

Will challenge the agent on qty of photos too!

OneandOnly - we have quite a lot of plum accessories but they aren't very visible in the pics. Agree no one wants chilly cold colours, that's a great point. New flooring is a champagne gold colour so hopefully a bit warmer too.

Beryl - access to garage is from the rear laneway so driveway not visible from front. Garage is in far off point of back garden. Alas, no downstairs loo. Thing like wooden plank in sitting room is the exposed parquetry where I ripped up the hated old carpet a few weeks ago (ie before we'd ever thought of moving) ... new flooring arrives 10am Fri and we can re-do pics.

Bed 2, I will think about flipping the layout around, it's a good square room and shouldn't be difficult to adjust. Thanks, I wouldn't have thought of that. It's used about three nights a year for guests so we haven't put enough thought into how it looks, I realise that now.

The filing cabinet is next to the sofa in the sitting room (cringe). I'd shoved in there during my carpet-removal mania.

Am really grateful for all this help: if ask people IRL they aren't blunt enough (unless they are the colleague of poor DameDoom and she didn't even invite comments!!)

And I forgot to add, I like the Brassica in your living room

Right the link is back - has been fixed overnight. Many thanks to those who pointed that out - another MN save.

Thanks for positive comments esp on joys of Brassica - it's actually much nicer in real life.

Vest - you weren't rude, it was helpful. I didn't like the pic - I actually gave a little gasp of dismay when I saw it - so I needed a proper download of people's thoughts. I don't like thin rooms myself and rejected lots of properties in this area because many have sitting rooms that are narrower than ours, so I completely agree with you.

So! Going to rearrange furniture and put up pics / curtains over weekend and lure agent back to do new photos on Tues. Will report back when new pics uploaded or may do trail shots if unsure prior.

Huge thanks for great advice :)

I think your photos are fine. They all give a sense of space and the lack of furniture in the bedrooms just illustrates the space to me. The brown/beige bedding is not to my taste as I prefer crisp white sheets but again, I would easily see past that. Your living room is really lovely as is the rest of downstairs. The price would put me off though my 4 bed was 170k.

Your house is lovely, not to my taste but very well presented and attractive. I think your agent is the problem not your house.

Brassica is good colour, it's not a cool colour it is a warm purple based colour however it could be off putting and a neutral off white might be better.

Bear in mind that location, kitchens and bathrooms sell houses, you definitely need a picture of the bathroom. Your kitchen and conservatory are very appealing.

The two tone colour scheme in the bedrooms are lacking something, I would suggest folding down the bedspreads to two thirds or half way and showing patterned duvet colours using 3 colours or if you hate patterns add some texture and detail or some lovely pillowcases. You need some pictures over the bed. I think you can get away without repainting but you could redo bed 2 in a lighter shade something like farrow and ball borrowed light.

Get the agents on board because they are letting you down, too few photos and people think you have something to hide, too many and they will not be tempted to view. I don't think your house will take long to sell if it is priced correctly.

Just one point - an 18' lounge and an 18' main bedroom are big selling points but I don't think the photos of either of those rooms make them look as big as they are (I was very surprised when I clicked on the floorplan and saw that both of those rooms were 18').

I think the angle of the kitchen photo is odd, looks like its looking up (i.e. camera was low down) when photo was taken.

Agree that if you've spent money on the bathroom, get a picture of it up.

Its a lovely house, good luck

Your house is beautiful. I love th kandinsky rug! The outside pic is fab. I didnt notice a iling cabinet. All downstairs pics are great. The green ish bedroom is a bit out there but nothing that would put me off. There isnt a pic of the bathroom, and prob could do with. Couple more berroom pics.

Im a rightmove addict so have looked at ons of houses. Yours looks great.

perhaps curtains or something in the bedrooms, they kind of finish it off a bit

sorry - just saw you said you are doing curtains.

I think it looks a very nice house, I don't think you have anything to worry about in that sense but they MUST put up more photos.

I think it looks okay - if anything, i would put more decorative items in the bedrooms as it looks a bit sparse. And a photo of the bathroom is a must. Otherwise, it's Good! ,

Ohhho love it! I love the period and the quirky sitting room is amazing. The buyers will be v lucky

Haven't read the other comments so sorry if repeating. I would:

trim back the bushes at the front - it looks slightly overgrown
some flowers would be nice at the front in a colourful pot
I think the interior is a little cool - it needs a bit of brightening up to me - warmer colours, some textured/fluffy cushions etc.

Let us know when the new pics are up :)

I would change agents, yours seems to think they are doing you a favour?!

I wouldn't paint a thing - the colours aren't all to my taste, but it has that lovely clean look where you can visualise it all painted in the colours you like (for me - white/white/grey/white ).

It sounds like everything else is in hand after 70 posts

Can you tell me though - where did you get your kitchen from and what colour paint did you use in your conservatory??

I would be surprised if your house isn't snapped up - it seems like a good price for a nice place in Twickenham.

Its modern & stylish, but the bedrooms make it look too unfinished.

I would add bedside tables with cosy lamps to the blue bedroom. Add a nice blanket and decorative cushions too.
Also add either a big picture, a selection of smaller picture (as you already have in your front room) or mirror above both beds.

I would also add a vase of flowers of bowl of fruit to the table in conservatory.

Good luck!

Cosy up the bedrooms, please tell us if you don't have curtains in your room

I think it's a stealth boast cos its lovely!! The lounge is a bit kind of line up and stare at the TV, but then whose isn't? Also, I agree with someone else that their stupid angled photos make it look smaller.