Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Honest advice on this house

127 replies

vulpeslagopus · 20/03/2017 19:57

Have name changed for this:

This is my parents' house.....i lived there for many years and it was a wonderful family home and still is when I visit with my own dcs.....

However, me and my siblings have all left home so they are looking to downsize. House been on market for almost 3yrs and not sold, they have already reduced asking price.

They want honest opinions on what they could do......

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52303834.html

OP posts:
JaniceBattersby · 20/03/2017 23:50

I think the difficulty is that at that end of the market you're attracting people who want really high-end fixtures and fittings, for which you won't get much change out of 200k. So look at houses valued at between 900k and a mill.

You end up with these options

Manor House

Turn-key ready

Footballer's wives

Also, looking at the number of similarly priced houses around shows what a tiny market you're in up there.

It's a shame I love miles down south because I'd buy it in a heartbeat. It's got some real heart. I'd drop the price fairly substantially, I'm afraid.

NotMeNoNo · 21/03/2017 00:14

It's clearly been a lovely family home. However it's not really selling a lifestyle - it's now looking a bit like they rattle around in it and the bedrooms in particular have odds and ends of old/cheap furniture and aren't tidy/depersonalised. (Of course we all live like that day to day but the standard of presenting homes to sell is very high now). Effectively someone will buy it as a project to make over and it would help them to know is it just cosmetic or what is the structural condition?

I agree more about its history will help "make sense" of it where and why it is.

I wouldn't spend much unless it needs any minor repairs, but I'd think about a home stager to give it a good declutter and make it look more consistent and appealing. Or drop the price a good whack. Also make sure it's marketed widely as it is a really unique and interesting property, someone will love it if they actually find it.

Oliversmumsarmy · 21/03/2017 00:22

There are a lot of properties around here like this

Big old and in need of renovation. I presume it would need a complete rewire and everything else that comes with it.

In this area unfortunately these houses get torn down and replaced with an even bigger footballers wives mansion or they build luxury apartments

I don't know the area but to get it up to date I don't think it is financially viable. I would suggest to your parents on getting planning for either a row of town houses or a block of flats

fallenempires · 21/03/2017 00:36

I don't think that the photos are great at all,especially of the bedrooms.I am also confused about the garden,is there only a front garden?

GardenGeek · 21/03/2017 00:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

passthewineplz · 21/03/2017 01:08

I think it's the outside (garden and steps) and the furnishings and carpets in the bedrooms that lets it down.

I think the bedrooms would look nice in a modern renaissance style, or done in the era that the house was built (or was built to represent).

Also the bathroom with the blue walls is looking a bit out dated.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 21/03/2017 06:51

Four things would put me off:

  1. Render. It's a pig to maintain
  1. The entrance - it's like a servant she entrance at the back
  1. It only looks like it has a garden at the front and an insecure hedge. Not suitable for 3 aged 4 and under. Plus, I like sitting outside in the garden and having washing out. Wouldn't be comfortable near what looks like quite a busy road.
  1. It needs a total gut and refit. We know a decent builder and are looking g at places like this (albeit not in this location). I suspect you'd be looking at between 80k-100k depending on the state of the roof and the heating system.

You need to find a buyer in a small-ish market willing to deal with all of these issues. The only way to do that is to be cute on price so it seems like a bargain

Has the agent contacted any developers? It looks like it could be flatted quite easily and wouldn't need a big garden. Good parking for that too

Bluntness100 · 21/03/2017 07:02

It is a beautiful house, but it needs work and I imagine Will cost a lot to heat.

The bottom line is when something doesn't sell it's because of the price. It seems a shame to have to drop the price and sell it for less, possibly as I'm down south and think the price is low already. But if they want to sell it that's what they are going to have to do. Everything priced right sells.

There is no point doing it up, as simoly it would be too much work to make s real impact. If they want to sell they need to drop the price.

JT05 · 21/03/2017 08:53

Sadly developers might be the way to go. A family member sold a similar house to a developer who put 7 detached houses on the plot. The deal wasn't done till planning permission was obtained, thus making it more valuable. Have you looked into this option.
Admittedly, it does need a strong head to deal with the emotional attachment.

twittertwit · 21/03/2017 13:46

My parents have a beautiful big Edwardian house near the sea too, and I would be heartbroken to see it sold! Impressed with your pragmatic approach

GinAndTunic · 21/03/2017 14:07

Beautiful house, OP.

2015newstart · 21/03/2017 14:24

Agree with the others who are saying overpriced. You need to, as others have said, take into account refurbishment that needs doing as people will factor that into what they want to spend. Additionally it's a niche market - not many people in that area have the money to spend on that house and you can get a perfectly nice 5 bed house for much less (friends in Durham spent about £400k on theirs once refurbished). I'm also contrasting what you are asking with prices where I live now in the south - I'd expect that price for a house around here tbh, not in Sunderland.

The blurb also needs to make more of the location - there are direct trains to London and York, easy commute to Newcastle etc.

LillianGish · 21/03/2017 14:27

3 years is a long time to be on the market - I would think that fact alone might put some people off. Have they had any offers? What are people who look at your parents house going on to buy (not sure if you have any way of knowing this). I always think it's very difficult to put a price on a house like this because it is so individual - look at other supposedly similar house posters have put up for comparison, none of them remotely similar - it's not like valuing a house in a street of 50 similar houses. I think in the end it will come down to price - there's nothing glaringly off-putting - for the right price it will sell.

keeponkeeponkeepon · 21/03/2017 15:25

It is a lovely house but walking up to it I would think "no"

Photo 3 - the large part of the drive and front door lacks any appeal whatsoever. It looks plain and ugly and s very odd design.

I would do something in that area straight away. Get some gardeners in a buy in a mature creeper (if such things exist). Some well positioned and expensive looking pots which complement the style of the house.
A statue/sculpture.... just something.

There is almost something unsettling about that photo and it is the first thing they will really be taking in. It really doesn't look right.

Apart from that - lovely house. (That weird fireplace and sitting area to the side of the hall is a bit odd though.)

MissHC · 21/03/2017 21:34

This might be outing but we're looking to buy a 5 bedroom house in Sunderland (not city centre). We've actually seen this on Rightmove before.

There isn't much on the market at that size. We're looking at up to £400k with some stretch, which is already very high for the area. I think at £750K the market is tiny. It's extremely expensive. And then you're not even covering the cost of heating, upkeep etc.

Secondly there's the decoration - for something that price it would need to be spot on with absolutely no work doing to it. I'm sorry but I don't like the kitchen - it looks "cheap" compared to the rest of the property. Main bathroom is dated, carpets will all need replacing from the looks of it. Huge rooms but there seems to be a lot of wasted space; it doesn't come across as particularly cosy. The bedrooms in particular look like a bunch of mis-matched IKEA furniture; not really what you'd expect from a £££ house.

Either the price needs to reflect that or it needs some extensive redecoration and interior design. At the right price anything will sell.

specialsubject · 21/03/2017 22:20

Wow. It is beautiful .

The epc( linked from the listing) gives the floor area , 495 sq m I think. And also that it has single glazing and no insulation. In Newcastle. Brrr...

It is still beautiful but after three years, I think it has to be price.

Paninotogo · 21/03/2017 22:34

3 years?! Shock It is always down to price.

Blossomdeary · 21/03/2017 22:45

Basically it is unusual - and unusual houses often take a long time to sell as someone has to fall in love with it. I have to say that externally it is to my mind rather ugly.

Also there is a sort of artex on some of the ceilings and that is a huge turn-off to many.

Harree · 21/03/2017 23:02

Have they had viewings? What has viewing feedback been? What's the current market like in that area? I put my house on the market & had maybe one viewing every few weeks for months, no offers & in the end accepted a much lower offer (our only offer) That fell through so i rented it out & 3 years later i put it back on the market & had 20 odd viewings & a handful of offers within a fortnight & sold for the asking price.
Here, that house would be snapped up as there's a real gap in the £750k-£1.1m market.

HollySykes · 21/03/2017 23:10

Price, if it's not selling every time.

Jennsdiaries · 22/03/2017 06:11

Hello its lovely and id buy it. 2 things for me what can be better are color (yellow don't suit this house. Get a color consultant to visit like what they have in make up places in shops). Also furnitures is a bit old. Get some new ones to take it our for the pics. Also lights aRe not good get some leds and some diff colors. Also location location locations is not great. I'd want it closer to town and to beach. Last is that snooker room what I would get changed for a home cinema.

jenn

pictish · 22/03/2017 07:01

I agree that if it's been on the market for three years and no one has bought, they are asking too much for it.
It's a great house...but it is on the fugly side exterior-wise and needs a good upgrade interior-wise. Sentimentality won't sell their house but a good re-style and a lower asking price might.

chicaguapa · 22/03/2017 07:07

It needs staging, inside and out, to sell a lifestyle. There are people who do that professionally for a living and I think it would be worth paying for, if it means not having to drop the price. I know someone in Carlisle who does it but there should be someone a bit closer. PM me if you'd like her details though.

MirabelleTree · 22/03/2017 07:20

What a fabulous place to grow up! As others have said the number of people looking at that end of the market will be small and the garden size isn't matching the price tag. Combined with the fact it isn't everyone's taste from the outside (I think a lighter colour might help so it looks a bit fresher but you can't do anything about the style). It also looks like it is going to need a fair bit spent on it so you've then got a greater discrepancy between total spend on house to plot size.

After 3 years it has to be the price so two choices basically are reduce ( a fair bit) or look at another way, someone suggested above looking at breaking it into smaller properties which I think is a good idea to explore the feasibility. Potentially could they split it , sell a bit then retain some for a rental income to help maintenance maybe?

oleoleoleole · 22/03/2017 07:28

First impressions

Garden needs tidying but then the Photos were taken in winter.

All rooms need de cluttering and the house needs "dressing" for the photos.

Price must be a factor.

Blue bathroom, I'd give it a lick of paint.

Kitchen is a big disappointment, not as grand as I would expect in that sort of house.

Maintenance costs could put people off.

It's absolutely beautiful and if they knock £50k off and get it under 700 they might generate more interest. Change agents, have an open viewing day.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.