Page 2 | No viewings yet... Advice please

Home2Sell · 2017-05-18T11:38:36+00:00

We've put our house on the market but have had NO interest or viewings yet. I know it's still early days but our neighbours (mid terrace) sold within a week or so and we haven't even had a sniff of interest. Any advice?? [[http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66209135.html]]

OlennasWimple · 18/05/2017 13:46

It's lovely OP.

Agree with the pp who asked whether you were selling with the same agents as your neighbours. In any case, what feedback have you got from the agents? Are people just not ringing up to enquire about it? What is going on more generally in the local market? What do they suggest? (Remember you are paying them to provide a service...)

I would lose the fridge in the conservatory (I would assume that there wasn't enough space in the main kitchen, even if realistically I knew that it was just a beer fridge )

If the kitchen much lighter in person? Maybe drop the photo of it from the listing....?

Kokusai · 18/05/2017 13:48

I actually love the blue garden.

The black kitchen is quite a specialist taste(!) and I would be costing up replacing with white!

would never not buy a house if I didn't like the decor or the kitchen etc I'd just change it if I wanted the house

Yeah but it costs many £k to change a kitchen

Fliptopdustbinlid · 18/05/2017 13:53

The only thing that would put me off would be no grass in the garden, and the blue fences, but that is an easy fix, the kitchen dosent faze me, but the garden would, although id still come for a look

sonnybeaudelaire · 18/05/2017 13:54

Are you happy with your EA? We tried to buy a house on the market with Purple Bricks (different part of the country) and they weren't remotely pro-active. It was like dealing with a call centre; they just wanted to know what our offer was and there was no discussion beyond that. We had to make all the running on follow up conversations. There weren't any offers on the table so I don't think it was because we weren't considered serious buyers.

I know they are cheaper than high street agents but I would ask - are they making any effort to sell your house beyond sticking it on Rightmove? (Disclaimer: I'm not a high street EA!)

mummabearfoyrbabybears · 18/05/2017 13:55

For me the kitchen is an absolute no. I wouldn't look further once I'd seen that. It's a huge cost to change the kitchen so would put people off if it wasn't to their taste.

Chaotica · 18/05/2017 13:55

Lone voice: I like your kitchen. (Although it does look a bit dark.)

The garden blue is just a bit much. But I think that the garden looks more like a backyard the way it is presented. So, OK if you hate gardens.

Tumblethumps · 18/05/2017 13:56

The black kitchen would put me off. It's not thephotos, it's because it's black. Also, I'm put off viewing with your choice of agent as I find them rubbish with no local negotiator. Have they provided you with your RM click counter to see how many views it's getting in RM?

Mamabear468 · 18/05/2017 13:59

Overall it's a great house OP. Apart from the green table, which is irrelevant anyway, I really like your kitchen. I didn't realise black kitchens were such a turn off for people, it definitely wouldn't put me off viewing. I agree the lack of grass in the garden would be off putting but as you've said there's a play park close it makes sense. Maybe you could put some plant pots out there to add the feel of more greenery and less paving. Good luck with it all

BumbleNova · 18/05/2017 14:10

Its the kitchen. its a very specific look and very expensive to change. Unless you would be willing to take a hit on price, I wouldnt even look at it sorry. A black shiny kitchen was a very odd decision if you were looking to sell in the immediate future.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 18/05/2017 14:12

I like the kitchen, but wouldn't have chosen it. You could consider some glass splash backs, to lift it.
Your house is very well presented.
Is that a beer fridge in the conservatory ? If not, lose it.
Get yourself to Home Bargains OP, you can pick up some Ivy covered trellis quite cheaply. Add some to the blue fence, to soften it, as a quick fix. It's very tidy, put hard on the eye.

UnderneaththeArchers · 18/05/2017 14:13

Firstly it's very nice, super-tidy and I think you just need to wait for the right person. But if you want the not so good:
I quite like the black kitchen but the whole room looks dark.
The lack of grass is a major turn-off, and not remotely ameliorated by a park nearby.
Personally it seems to have too much bedroom to living space, but I know this is common in town house styles.
Master bedroom looks dark and not very 'wow'.

wowfudge · 18/05/2017 14:14

Four things stand out to me: 1. the black kitchen is really not to many people's taste. Could you put wood effect doors on instead to break it up? 2. the blue fence - tone it down, it's really in your face. 3. the garden is a paved yard. Pretty it up with some groups of plants in containers. 4. it's on with Purple Bricks who get dreadful reviews left, right and centre.

CotswoldStrife · 18/05/2017 14:20

Obviously you'll have lots of views on RM now

But I have to agree with PP - the black kitchen, lack of grass and the strong blue fence/shed would put me off, and anyone with an online EA would be at the bottom of my list anyway tbh. You just need that one person through the door that loves it though, and the deed is done!

I think the OP did say that they were not planning to sell the property when they put the kitchen in.

Tumblethumps · 18/05/2017 14:24

What is your weekly RM info telling you? Does your house sit in a busy price band? If it does, what's the click through rate for your house? If it's high then that indicates that something in your photos is putting th off viewing.

Bearbehind · 18/05/2017 14:26

As others have said the black kitchen and blue garden are love it or loathe it, and if it wasn't to your taste you gpcouldnt just learn to live with it very easily.

Also, the first picture shows a drive on the left with a double garage apbut the description doesn't mention a garage and says the double drive is opposite.

Does the drive on the left not belong to you?

If it doesn't that would put me right off.

If it does it's an example of why Purplebricks get such shocking reviews.

Iamastonished · 18/05/2017 14:27

I agree with the kitchen comments. Kitchens are expensive to replace, and black is clearly not appealing potential purchasers. The "garden" is too stark and unwelcoming. It needs softening with more pots and perhaps a gravelled area if you don't want lawn.

It's interesting that a couple of similar threads have had paved back yards and a lot of black in the houses. Clearly black is not a popular colour in houses, neither are completely paved over yards.

snoozybear · 18/05/2017 14:29

I love the garden fence, don't like the lack of grass and I'm sorry but that kitchen! I don't think it would be so in your face if the worktops was a white/grey marble instead, not a cheap fix though..

CryingShame · 18/05/2017 14:31

I'd also mention the conservatory, with the blinds closed down the right side. That would put me off as it shouts "this room is overlooked by next door" and would inhibit how relaxed we felt in that room.

AgathaF · 18/05/2017 14:32

Hadn't realised it was with purple bricks. They're crap, like most of the online agents. We moved last year and without exception, all the online agents that we tried to view through were rubbish and failed to set up viewings. Get yourself on with a proper agent.

Someone mentioned leaving the kitchen photo out. That might be a good idea, although make sure that the details state that it's new and good quality. Hopefully it's just bad photography that makes it look so dark.

MrsTwiddles · 18/05/2017 14:33

Another one (sorry) who doesn't like the kitchen, and the fact it is brand new would feel like paying over the odds to rip out and change it. I also immediately think of the cost of redecorating the blue walls (hard to cover up) and that it's very odd for a family ho d to have no lawn in a space like that.. not appealing if you have a dog and or kids. Sorry to sound brutal, it is a beautiful home.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 18/05/2017 14:35

If I was house hunting in your area, I would dismiss yours because of the kitchen and the back garden.

Everything else looks great.

Original poster

Home2Sell · 18/05/2017 14:35

Thanks everybody. The only difference between us & neighbours is that we have side access to the garden & a conservatory (they don't have either). They went on 5K cheaper.

I didn't realise a black kitchen would put so many people off. We had no plans to sell when we chose it.

I also didn't realise that people wouldn't view a house if they didn't like the décor. I've always looked at a house for the area/potential rather than cosmetics (we once bought a house with a chocolate bathroom suite!)

We went with purple bricks as houses seem to be flying off the shelf so to speak round here & the guy seemed really good. I have considered appointing local EA as well but DH says no at the moment as early days. To be honest, if people are put off by the kitchen or garden, no EA is going to get them to buy.

We only made the decision a couple of weeks ago to sell but now the decision is made, I want to get on with it...

OP posts:

AgathaF · 18/05/2017 14:41

I also didn't realise that people wouldn't view a house if they didn't like the décor. I've always looked at a house for the area/potential rather than cosmetics (we once bought a house with a chocolate bathroom suite!) - we always buy complete renovation projects, so personal decor taste wouldn't remotely put me off. But you are selling your house as 'done', and as such are not offering a reduction in price to allow for people to decorate to their own taste, or replace expensive fixtures like kitchens. That's a whole different market. So since that's the market you are going to appeal to you need to maximise the number of people who will like it by offering it as a more neutral space.

Tumblethumps · 18/05/2017 14:42

Op, what is your weekly RM info telling you?

Tumblethumps · 18/05/2017 14:48

As an aside; op is your house a Westbury Leicester design? We bought a house almost identical pre children (just) in 2002.