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House won't sell? Post a link and ask MNers what they would do!

65 replies

WutheringFrights · 15/02/2016 13:20

There was a thread in chat earlier about a house that wouldn't sell.

I'm in the same predicament and wondered if people would use a thread for asking honest opinions about houses they are trying to get shot of?

So here is my house

Does anyone have any opinions on what we could do to make it more attractive to purchasers?

Would you put furniture in it - our EA said not to bother as it wouldnt make a huge difference.

Gets tumbleweed ready in expectation that this is a really rubbish idea...

OP posts:
Bearbehind · 19/02/2016 14:14

I think you're right enrique

Although the wooden door would look odd in the first one too as its not in keeping with the other houses.

I always find it strange when people suggest making quite big/expensive changes, which are a matter of personal taste anyway, to a property they want to sell.

PennyDropt · 19/02/2016 14:25

United, I wouldn't buy a house near a stream but perhaps you can mitigate that by saying that 'due to steep hillside the house and surrounding area have never flooded in 200 years' or whatever if this is the case.

springscoming · 19/02/2016 14:30

I know it's already been said but I'd look no further than the photo of the 'boundary issue' in the back yard. Maybe have the EA take a pic at a different angle or put an explanation in the blurb. It would really put me off reading on, never mind viewing.

gooseberryroolz · 19/02/2016 16:25

PMSL at the suggestion of changing the font door

Although the wooden door would look odd in the first one too as its not in keeping with the other houses

Sorry, I was going for budget and a better match rather than perfect match Grin I just googled 'budget cottage timber door' and picked a couple of front door pictures that looked nice (For OP's house of course, not the second house).

Anything is better than nasty uPVC front door IF it then conceivably lets you market it as a 'character' property and gives you a nice exterior photo.

Personally, I'd do that in preference to refurnishing temporarily (for similar cost) on the basis that it has immediate tone-setting impact and that many buyers have imagination to picture furnished rooms if they have measurements but FTBs and holiday home buyers who might be attracted by a more characterful property may not want the expense and hassle of having the front door replaced themselves.

It's all just differing opinion, though Smile .

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 19/02/2016 16:45

united : I pretty much agree with the previous posters. The photos really aren't doing your house justice, particularly as they're so dark and not all in focus.

The outside of the house really does look better on street view. I agree that several pots with plants would cheer the front up no end. What is the bit of trellice for about the door?

Photo 3 of the living room is dreadful. Your EA should be shot for thinking that was acceptable. It's completely out of focus and makes it look like there's a big stain on the carpet. It would be better with the door shut and if you moved the small square table out of the photo entirely to make it look more spacious.

I'm not sure what the purpose of photo 8 is. It only seems to show that there's a big empty space at one end of the room. It would look better with the kitchen door closed. It looks a bit cramped with the two sofas and side table, like you'd have to squeeze by. Maybe move the side table out of the photos entirely to make it look like there's more space.

Your kitchen is lovely, but it looks very dark and the worktop so look very cluttered. Try to reduce the stuff on them to what's absolutely essential. I don't know if it's the lighting in the photo, but I'm not convinced that the yellow on the wall works all that well.

Photo 6 would look better if you moved the table to be more central in the area. The notice board needs decluttering and the wine rack looks slightly odd with three bottles in it (and not all facing the same direction). What is the plug in the middle of the wall above the radiator?

The garden photos are a bit confusing. It's a nice garden. She photo 2 of yours or your neighbour's garden. A photo of your own garden taken at ground level would be nice. The decking and seating area is a nice feature.

I agree that the study looks very cluttered. Having two chairs at the desk looks slightly odd. I agree that the bookcase is very dominant, and there's some stuff piled between it and the desk. The filed paperwork at the end of the desk also looks a bit cluttered. Again, I'm not sure if it's the lighting but the red on the walls feels very dark. It might be worth painting it a more neutral colour.

I agree that the wallpaper in the master bedroom is very dominant and that it looks cluttered. The dressing table is covered in stuff and appears to have wires hanging down the front of the drawers, there's also stuff on top of the stool. Clearing this would make a big difference. It would probably be better to put the photo frame on the de cluttered dressing table rather than the window sill. I think that moving the taller chest of drawers would also be useful. It's taller than the window sill and makes it look cramped. I'd also move the washing basket and take the pyjamas off the pillows.

I agree with everyone else that the bed in picture 12 should be turned around. The photo would also look better without the bin or the pile of clothes.

I'd really want to see photos of the other two bedrooms too.

wowfudge · 19/02/2016 19:49

You will it get back the money spent on a new front door OP. And I didn't even notice it.

united I've had a look at sold prices and I think yours is overpriced. The description says nothing about the location - it's equidistant from a tram stop and the railway station and really well placed for the road network. I'm guessing that's why there is a parking scheme. You could easily walk home from Alty.

PettsWoodParadise · 19/02/2016 20:55

In the plan there is no door to the bathroom. Might be worth correcting that and also clarifying in the particulars if it is door from landing/hallway to bathroom if that is the case.

toopeoply · 19/02/2016 21:07

Great thread, could you critique mine....

www.walkerscottireland.com/properties/58-rosetta-road-peebles-eh45-8hj

It's been on for 4 months, only 5 viewings. ..

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 19/02/2016 21:29

I think it must be the price, toopeoply. It's a lovely house and looks it in the photos. It would be useful to see photos of the bathroom and wet room and the other bedrooms though.

Being super nitpicky, it does look a bit dark. You could make it lighter in the photos by completely opening all the blinds completely to let in as much light as possible. You could also open the curtains and blinds for the front of house picture, and there are places that could be a bit more de cluttered (the kitchen work tops, the children's bedroom with the toys on top of the wardrobe), but I don't think it'll make much difference.

The house has a slightly odd layout on the first floor, with the box room and study accessed through the bedrooms. Buyers may well want to turn them into ensuites, but that's really up to them, rather than your problem.

What is the market like in Peebles at the moment?

annandale · 19/02/2016 21:36

toopeoply, it's great. I found the layout hard to understand from the photos but the floorplan in the brochure made sense.

Where does it fit with the prices locally? Is there more of a garden? if there's no back garden I probably wouldn't be interested, and I personally hate conservatories, but then you don't need me, you need one buyer.

PennyDropt · 19/02/2016 21:40

Lovely house. The picture of the back with the big conservatory isn't flattering, it looks a bit boxy. Personally I wouldn't want a white kitchen with white floors as too much effort to clean but it looks nice.
I think you could removed some of the stuff/ornaments as it's a bit distracting eg cushions and coffee table in lounge and cushions on bed.
A garage would be good.

toopeoply · 19/02/2016 21:53

Good points, I hate the front pic with the curtains! Can do a bit more decluttering. And the back is a bit higgeldy piggledy. Market slow here for this size of house. It's a big old lump!

toopeoply · 19/02/2016 21:54

And yes, never again will I have white bloody tiles..

toopeoply · 19/02/2016 21:55

It's got a large walled back garden. With an abundant apple tree.

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 20/02/2016 15:28

toopeoply

I don't understand the Scottish system of offers over and have often been lead to believe that the actual desired price can be tens of thousands more than the figure mentioned?
Anyway, the price of your house is irrelevant, it only matters depending on supply and demand in your area. I'm just curious as to what it actually means.

Critiquing your photos it's very disappointing not to see the garden, that's important for a family home.
I like your front door area, but as you already identified, the windows (and the car with a cover over it) are offputting. It makes me think you're on a main route and get streams of gawpers peering in. Psychologically it's already giving a don't come near me message instead of inviting the viewer to look at more.

Two things you could do are to lighten up the eating area, it looks very dark on my screen and also dress the conservatory in a more appealing manner.

The thing that would put me off your house more than anything else is the heavy bedroom to bathroom ratio. I can obviously see the ground flour wetroom, but it's not particularly convenient for the three bedrooms at the top of the house. The master bedroom also shares a bathroom with two other bedrooms (if someone used the study as a bedroom)
I would get a couple of companies in to price up and quote for adding an ensuite to the master and fitting out top floor bedroom four as a full shower room with toilet. Get the prices to be separate quotes and then at least if potential buyers like the house but feel they'd need those facilities, you could address their concerns with the information readily available.

Lovely house though, those comments really are just trying to be helpful as you want to sell.

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