Would you drop the price?

[Namechange10006]

I've had my London house on the market since May and have had zero offers, literally nothing. Lots of viewings, no offers.

My neighbour sold one year ago for the same as my asking price. Our houses are basically identical.

So that's why I've been hesitant to drop the price so far.

But am now tempted to drop it by about 7.5%. Should I? Or - if people were interested - would they have offered this anyway?

It's so frustrating. I have no idea what to do!

It is actually a lovely house, modern though, not period, and I know that's a sticking point in London. But the interiors are in great condition etc!

[TheVirginQueen]

Summery Sun, I'd take a better picture of your bedroom. Taken from a slightly higher camera angle to show a bed! with the linen box centred. It just looks a bit confusing. And if people can't visualise one main bedroom I think it would be hard to imagine sleeping/living there.

[EssentialHummus]

Summer - sorry it's the layout that's an issue for me which you can't change. I wouldn't want a two bed with bedrooms on different floors as can't have small child in own room on same floor.

Same here. I'm looking for a family home in this budget-ish, and the layout and lack of private garden would scupper it for me. Your furniture etc is lovely!

[allsfairinlove]

summer I love your house and would def buy it if I could! Im also puzzled as to why it's not selling -- how established is the EA? Is it worth having another opinion and agent to take over?

[OhTheRoses]

House is cheap for condition and location.

[OhTheRoses]

Take off market for a Cpl of months. Do the beauty parade again and ask each agent for one suggestion to make it more marketable. Relaunch after implementing the improvements. It's stale.

[NicknameUsed]

Summerysun I think the fact that the stairs go straight into one of the bedrooms make the house look very small.

Also the single large room downstairs would be a massive off putter to me.

I live in South Yorkshire so am aghast at the asking price of your house. You could buy 4 for that price round here!

[Thecazelets]

Just on the 'have prices gone up or down' thing - I sold my London terraced house a year ago - asking price offer on the first day on the market in summer 15. Since April this year two have gone up in our old road for the same asking price as us and have had no offers. It's a very desirable road in a very 'naice' part of London. Usually things don't hang around. So something strange is definitely happening.

[SingaSong12]

Summerysun
I'm not a parent so not so bothered about the layout. I'm not keen on the multiple views of the same space. I think the stairs look quite steep in the photo, so if they aren't maybe you could include another view not contradicted myself at all there

Just curious is the sliding door a back door or is it into the communal garden? If it's into the garden I'd mention that.

[albertcampionscat]

If it's modern and architecturally interesting you could try the 'modern house' estate agents. No, I don't work for them.

[CotswoldStrife]

If you want to drop the price, have a look at the price bands on Rightmove and drop into the next one as that may attract new interest from people who search in that band.

I suggested dropping the price of a house we had up for sale and the EA said to do it for £5k less as that would move it down a band

[Artandco]

I would:

1. def add a 4 seater table where tv is
   
   
2. add enough seating for 4 also. A small 2 seater facing door, with two small chairs opposite and a small coffee table in the middle
   
   
3. show off size of second by adding a cheap double maybe. Could your toddler just sleep on double a while?
   
   I think your market is best at those who actually don't want or have children as they will be the ones who want to buy a forever home. With the market iffy atm those with small children might not be buying a home for just 5 years as worried if it won't sell.
   
   So you want to market it for a couple, but showing there's space to entertain with larger table, and have people over with larger seating capacity. Plus guest room and home office potential
   
   Also highlight outdoor space more if any

[Summerysun]

Thank you everyone! I sooo appreciate this, it's really helpful. I can't believe what a struggle selling has been!

I don't have any pics of the way it was before, annoyingly. But I love a change, maybe I can swap it back! Sell my big sofa, get a smaller one that I love and will take with me anyway as a "second" sofa when we eventually move...

I think you're right about kids, I wonder if I could tone down my son's bedroom? He's due a toddler bed / single bed now anyway!

We've just lived here for too long, since 2010, and probably should have moved a few years ago but love the spot we're in and our neighbours. Oh well!

[Namechange10006]

I don't mind at all, summery, I'm too shy to show mine so am enjoying seeing yours!

It's really lovely!

I would agree with the previous posters that the layout of the living / kitchen is the problem, but there's not much you can do about the size. A swap around for a smaller sofa / bigger table would work well. You definitely want people who don't have kids yet and don't want them for a while if at all.

I know your neighbourhood well. I am not far from there and I actually think £600k is a bargain for that neighbourhood / sq ft / a house. I'm shocked you haven't been able to sell! Whoever buys it has got a great price!

[Dizzydodo]

Summery sun I love your style, your house looks lovely, my only suggestions would be to echo pp define the spaces in the living/dining/kitchen, maybe with a slightly bigger table but smaller sofa? Also the bedrooms on separate floors would put off a lot of family buyers, could you stage the room as less of Childs room, even if it's just for photos?

[Widdykinkles]

Summerysun yes I think putting it back that way would be much better. Do you have any pics of how it was before for nose factor?!

[Summerysun]

Thank you everyone!!!

Yes I've thought it's the layout and the kitchen / living space that puts people off.

I never thought of the suggestion to get another chair / smaller sofa / rearrange!

We used to have the sofa facing the doorway (it was a smaller two-seater) with the tv (again, smaller) on the wall facing it (does that make sense?). The table was where the big tv is now. It was a bigger table that sits four.

We changed it as we wanted a bigger sofa, but I wonder if that separated the space off better?

(OP- again, I hope you don't think I'm stealing your thread! Would also love to see yours!)

[Widdykinkles]

Summerysun looking at it again, I think you should move your TV to where your sofa is at the moment as it would help split the areas. You could then maybe sell/put.into storage your big sofa and get a couple of small 2 seaters or a small seater and an arm chair. It would separate the areas and stop the kitchen dominating the space

[IAmAPaleontologist]

Sweet house summer. Too many photos though, I got bored of all the different angles of the same room, and what is with the photo of the stairs?

My house has been on the market for over a year. Not London though so totally different market. At some point though the right person will come.

[Artandco]

Summer - sorry it's the layout that's an issue for me which you can't change. I wouldn't want a two bed with bedrooms on different floors as can't have small child in own room on same floor.
Also the fact there's literally one living space and it doesn't fit a table for more than 2.

We live in a one bed flat with two children, but it's actually much bigger than your three storey as all on one level. Our living area is a large L shape and table seats 6.

[Widdykinkles]

Summerysun, your house is lovely! My only comment would be to section your reception room. I would put another small sofa/arm chair in there and move the dining table to the side. Think it looks more kitchen than sitting room at the moment and I think doing that could even it up. Good luck with selling!

[Summerysun]

I could have written your post! Except my London place is not the same price as yours.

I just dropped the price on mine this morning. In January it was on at £675k, after brexit, swapped estate agents and dropped it to £650k and today dropped it to £600k. Pretty much because I'm about to have a baby and pretty desperate to move. It's been on since JAN!

Like you, my neighbour recently sold (I think about a year ago) for a similar price to the last one I was asking for - £640k.

Would love to share a Rightmove link of mine and get your opinions? Don't want to crash your post though, OP....

Also have a modern house.

What do you all think? Any suggestions as to why I can't budge it and what I should do?

If it doesn't sell soon, thinking of letting it and renting.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43065510.html

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

If you've not had any offers at all, even a silly one, I doubt it's down to the market.

I'd be removing it from the market, refreshing some styling and then choosing a different agent I think.

[TheVirginQueen]

Just read it's modern! well, I'd embrace the modern. Really nice house number. Modern front door. Go completely modern. Not like please accept our apologies that this house is not period.

[TheVirginQueen]

I'd love to see a link. When I bought my house there were several in the same drive for sale and my neighbours told me that mine ''went for a song' compared to the others!" I bit my tongue.

[YelloDraw]

Aw, lets have a RM link and we can see if there are any major issues! :-)