Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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

Why can't we sell our house!

259 replies

cocomom · 11/05/2017 22:18

Long story short we've accepted 3 different offers off 3 different people all for them to 'change their mind' in less than 72 hours.
Lowest offer being 5k under asking and highest full asking, I think this is now really affecting our chance of selling as our house has been STC on rightmove three times now only for it to pop back up a few days later Angry

OP posts:
Original poster
cocomom · 12/05/2017 12:12

I think we can't sell because it's quite niche,
Majority of people pull their face at the thought of a bungalow so won't entertain viewing one and the people who do want one don't like the modern extension, so out market is very small

OP posts:
wowfudge · 12/05/2017 12:13

I don't think the other two houses are comparable and both are more expensive anyway.

Original poster
cocomom · 12/05/2017 12:16

@wowfudge
I personally don't think there is a comparison to any others in our area, it is very different because it was designed round our lifestyle, I think that's why we're struggling ATM.

I wouldn't mind the not selling if we hadn't accepted good offers only for silly things to change their mind, I'd probably accept it's over priced or what ever the reason if we hadn't had the interest we have, if you know what I mean.

OP posts:
TinfoilHattie · 12/05/2017 12:17

Have a quick look on Rightmove for three bed semis in her area - there are loads, and a lot are less than the OP is asking for hers. I don't know the area at all but from an outsider's point of view the issue is the price. Either drop the price, or do the work that people have been suggesting such as change the wallpaper for something not black/white, sort the garden and put in a bath.

Original poster
cocomom · 12/05/2017 12:19

A lot of the houses in our area have proposed green belt planning going through ATM aswell which is putting people off, ours hasn't, not sure if it would make a difference if we was buying one but it does to a lot of other people

OP posts:
wowfudge · 12/05/2017 12:28

Comparables are the Chantry Walk 3 bed bungalow which is sold STC and was on at £160k and number 1 on your street which sold in November last year.

It really doesn't matter how different you think yours is - the Chantry Walk one has more living space. Yes it needs some updating but square footage is worth more to buyers. The one on your street was on a bigger plot with a much nicer garden. It sold for £140k.

Kitchen diners are also more popular than totally open plan living. To have a separate living room in your house OP you'd have to rejig things and put it where the dining table currently is. That area is very dark.

The house is overpriced and I think you need to face up to that and accept it.

PaulDacresFeministConscience · 12/05/2017 12:31

The kerb has been dropped it's a double driveway, we was told to move cars for pictures.

You definitely need a better photo of the front then, because I didn't get the sense of a double driveway at all. Agree with leaving cars off for the pics, but you need one from the other side of the road which shows the length and width of the driveway.

Original poster
cocomom · 12/05/2017 12:37

We aren't willing to drop the price when we have offers on the table providing they sell theirs, if we hadn't had offers or very cheeky ones maybe! But we just haven't had this.
If I'm being honest we aren't in a rush to sell as there isn't anything on the market for us right now, it's more pride than anything! My asking of 'why can't we sell our house' come about from people changing their mind for daft reasons as I don't get this myself, we wouldn't put an offer in unless we was 100% and I was wondering if other people had a problem with people just 'changing their mind' multiple people that is

OP posts:
sailawaywithme · 12/05/2017 12:38

I think you know what the issue is - it is really is a "unique" property in the sense that it's a very modern setup in a very traditional shell, as it were. For me, the decor really jars and I find the accent walls really "in your face". Could you neutralize it somehow? Strip the wallpaper and paint a neutral color.

We also sold a unique property recently, took 8 months and I was pulling my hair out. We had different issues to yours, but I empathize at your frustration. The way to sell your house is to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible, and one will bite. The way you have your house does not appeal to as many people as it could. Strip out all the wallpaper, soften the color scheme, rip up the flags and put grass down. Then it'll sell. Good luck!

wowfudge · 12/05/2017 12:42

sailaway is right. It needs to have a broad appeal as possible.

Original poster
cocomom · 12/05/2017 12:46

On the plus side I've had 10's of people message me to rent it! Hmm
If only we could afford that

OP posts:
GnatsChuff · 12/05/2017 12:53

To me, the fact that you have offers says that the price is about right.

People posting opinions on decor etc are all fine and dandy if you weren't getting viewings or offers. I agree with them that the decor is not to my taste and there are a number of reasons why I would not choose to view your house if it was in the right area for me and the right size (paved garden and absence of bath to name two). However, I don't think this is relevant to this particular thread. You ARE getting offers, you have two on the table. Hopefully one of them will be able to proceed.

Deux · 12/05/2017 12:57

I think if you had a window in the dining area, you would have a more flexible space.

It would then offer the option of putting in internal doors to create a separate seating area where your dining area is.

I think if you're getting offers then you just need to hold your nerve. Otherwise take it off the market and relist in a few months taking on board some of the suggestions on the thread.

Original poster
cocomom · 12/05/2017 12:59

Unfortunately the dining room is where we join next door otherwise we would've put a window in.

OP posts:
Deux · 12/05/2017 13:13

Oh yes, stupid me. I was thinking it was detached.

anon1987 · 12/05/2017 13:14

Op maybe cheaper houses are appearing on the market after you've accepted their offer, so they're pulling out because of that?

Has your agent properly vetted the buyers?
My dp vets all buyers makes sure they are capable, serious, basically makes sure they're able to proceed before he allows clients to accept the offer.

There's a lot of time wasting in estate agency. People moan about them, but they do hundreds of hours for free.
Doing valuations etc because people are curious or bored. Doing viewings because people again Are bored and occasionally people putting offers In and then it turns out they don't have the means to buy.

Maybe the buyers are worried you might pull out? Maybe they lose interest because you haven't got anywhere to move into just yet?.

Lilmisskittykat · 12/05/2017 13:15

I'm looking in the area of this house.

I think although it appears nicely presented, there is no separate living / dining space and no bath is bathroom. Which is all fixable (conservatory/orangey and bathroom fitted) or use one of the bedrooms (front probably) as a living room but then the sums don't add up as it becomes a two bedroom

I feel for its area, although I accept it's unique, it's over priced in that respect in my opinion.

I think having had three offers and the fact it's a smaller pool of buyers to start with being a bungalow means it might be a matter of hanging in there til the buyer turns up? Or obviously reducing and becoming competitive

Original poster
cocomom · 12/05/2017 13:19

When we accepted the offers we had found somewhere, had our offer accepted and then it all fell through, that had since sold Sad
All this happened with our previous agent, there was a LOT of mistakes on their part which they have admitted and apologised for but I've seen people comment on our Facebook post with new agent about how 'it's been on and off the market wonder what's up with it'
I just want to scream 'nothing just time wasters' lol
Like I said their reasoning are reasonable but silly in the same sense, the parking one was just down right weird, we have a double drive and our side of the street is always fine with parked cars, her problem was we live opposite an island and cars where parked on there and she didn't like it. They was our visitors cars though!

OP posts:
Mrscog · 12/05/2017 13:24

'Tbh I'm a total neat/clean freak and couldn't bare picture with a curtain out of place, me and dh have viewed some absolute shit holes and it makes me feel even worse about ours not selling! It's so disheartening'

Ha ha - its so tidy in the photos it makes me feel anxious and on edge! I would still view it though, but I wonder if the show homeness actually puts some people in the market for a bungalow (wanting something more homely) off?

anon1987 · 12/05/2017 13:24

How frustrating for you op Confused
Like another poster has said, it can take months and months to sell a unique property.
I think your home would be excellent for someone with a disability, all that open space and nice flat garden.
It would also be great for a young couple who want somewhere to entertain.
I think it's all about getting a decent agent, and sitting tight for the right buyer.
Maybe hold an open day? ( sorry I might have already mentioned that!.)

NapQueen · 12/05/2017 13:27

Id be tempted to change one of the larger bedrooms into the lounge, move the dining table down near the patio doors, and put a desk/office type space in the dark corner?

Better use of the outside space, pot plants, patio table abd chairs etc.

Can still be listed as a 3 bed but shown as a 2 bed with separate lounge.

Original poster
cocomom · 12/05/2017 13:28

We can't do this when we're living in it, we have two kids and all the bedrooms are being used my DDs are 8 and 1 so not really an option of sharing even for the time being.

OP posts:
Original poster
cocomom · 12/05/2017 13:30

One of the people wanting to rent has a disabled young son and she loves it!
I so wish we had the money to rent!
Stamp duty increase Angry

OP posts:
anon1987 · 12/05/2017 13:31

Napqueen that's an excellent idea. It would make it more appealing for a wider range of people.

Op I would instruct your agent to add to the house details that one bedroom could potentially be a lounge.

Lilmisskittykat · 12/05/2017 13:35

It will sell .. offers tell you that... it's just a matter of keeping your sanity til then xx

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.

Swipe left for the next trending thread