Advise please: can you see the potential in this room?

[jojosapphire]

Hi, we have had our house on the market for 3 weeks now and its the cheapest 4 bed within 3 miles of a very popular town. We have had about 12 viewings and only 1 offer which isnt procedable.... These are pics of the second bedroom, which used to be the master before we converted the loft. It is obviously currently our playroom, is this putting people off as its a large double room. Should i ditch the sofa and put in a double bed? I would concider re painting but OH isnt keen as was only done 6 months ago....
Some people have mentioned the stairs being an issue (4 half sets!) or the distance from town (2miles) and 1 mentioned tge garden size but i cant change any of these!
Thanks jo

If it's a bedroom, dress it as a bedroom - you have to assume people are stupid.

It's lovey for a kids room, but it is a bit harsh on the eyes if you're selling!

However, I don't think it would be enough to put me off if I wanted to buy your house. And it's definitely a decent enough size.

It sounds like the lack of interest could be related to the other factors you've mentioned. As you've said you, or indeed potential buyers, can't change them, so I imagine that would be more off putting than a red wall and set of curtains.

And 3 weeks isn't very long at all. I think you're starting to panic very prematurely!

Three weeks isn't long at all but people are also very short sighted when it comes to buying houses so you might need to pack away the toys and stick a bed in there, leave it a little longer though :)

It may be that it's overpriced? I take it it's a 3 bed with converted loft? Perhaps the 4 beds you're comparing it to are original 4 beds (so with more space on the ground floor?). Have you compared your asking price to other houses with a similar square footage (regardless of whether they're 3 or 4 beds)?

But in answer to your question I wouldn't change the play room - think it looks great. The other thing is it might be reinforcing the idea that there is a lack of living space (if there is!) so that the play room has to be upstairs?

I'm sorry but I'd say lose the red, empty as much as possible and reinstate the bed.

Many people are afraid of colour and cannot fathom the idea of repainting in a couple of days.

I had to cover up a beautiful navy room once with several coats of white paint and the house sold. The agent told me that viewers were afraid of such a strong colour.

I'd repainted the red wall only, put up neutral cheap curtains (voiles?) and put in a cheap bed. For £250 max it could be. Definite double bedroom again. It's s big room too so worth it I think.

My gosh it's massive! I think you're panicking a bit personally - 3 weeks isn't long at all. We had about 12 viewers before getting 2 asking price offers last time, and I thought that was super-quick.

If you want to do everything you possibly can to get that sale then yes, put a bed in (blow up maybe?) because some people may be that stupid.

Great advice, a three bed plus loft conversion is worth less than a proper four bed make sure your price reflects that. You could lose the red both curtains and wall, looks great btw just not if you want to sell. Pack the toys away stick in a bed but honestly I don't think it's the room it's tidy and obviously big enough for a bed. Did you do the loft conversion? If so don't price your house to recoup the money as you rarely do.

Thanks all the EA is happy with the asking price tho we did knock 5k off last week. As its a split level you enter at the kitchen then down to the lounge or up to the playroom, then up further to the bedrooms. So yes its up stairs but not far from the kitchen.
Its actually 60k cheaper than the nect 4 bed in our town which is also extended over a garage so similar living space, but we dont have a garage. We are out ogmf town however that also means that we have amazing views (of the bristol channel and Wales) especially in the loft conversion. To be honest when we put it on the market we wernt desperate to sell as thought it would take ages to find somewhere we liked however have already lost out on 2 with a 3rd being a possibility if we dont get an offer soon...

Ah, I didn't really pick it up from the 4 half sets of stairs but if it's half a staircase up from the kitchen and half a staircase down from the other bedrooms I would style it as a bedroom, yes. Having the flex to have it as a living or bedroom is great but you need to convince people to pay the extra for a 4 bed.

If you do decide to replace bed, is there an option to just put your bed in this room for photos? Cheaper than new one. Obviously people will see it when they visit, but by then they've had the suggestion that it is a bedroom.

I would put a bed in it and maybe tone down the colours. Some people can really lack imagination and also don't want to do any work and may see the bold colours as extra work (I think it looks great though!).

Far too many bold/primary colours going on, takes away from what looks like a lovely, light room.

If you cant remove the colourful/toy drawers- drape a fabric over it to cover them and place some pictures/lamp on top to make prettier and less kids focused. Get another rug- again not in blue/primary colour. Remove red curtains and red wall and replace with cream or pale grey. Even a mattress/futon on floor or this-

www.johnlewis.com/house-by-john-lewis-kix-double-sofa-bed/p2055835?sku=234542648&kpid=234542648&s_kenid=36abb25c-f757-4a78-abed-02ddef73dca8&s_kwcid=404x1209152&tmad=c&tmcampid=73

laid on floor and made up into bed would be great to give impression of lovely bedroom and v inexpensive.