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Where have all the people who want to move to the country gone?

193 replies

notagoodidea · 11/03/2018 13:22

We have a large country house that we have been trying to sell for the last 7 months or so but with only 2 viewings and no offers.
We are quite rural but can get supermarket delivery's ect, so not exactly cut off from the world.
There is a village very near by with a good primary school and a coop and even a bus service every hour to the nearest train station.
The location is great and the views are stunning but is is a large house.
From the house and patio you have a view down the garden to the loch and across to the hillside opposite, it is beautiful.
From looking at other threads on here i know it is "only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it" but it is on for £10k less than the home report valuation already and is priced at less than a 1 bed flat in London.
Does no one want to move to the country anymore?

I have put some pics on to show the view form the house then from the shore and lastly one from the hill just behind the house.
What do you think?

Where have all the people who want to move to the country gone?
Where have all the people who want to move to the country gone?
Where have all the people who want to move to the country gone?
OP posts:
Longleggedlovely · 12/03/2018 21:41

I would try listing with Corum, they specialise in larger more pricy houses up here.

dotdotdotmustdash · 12/03/2018 21:45

#dotdotdotmustdash. We could or better still you could buy it and do that, start your property empire in a lovely location grin

notagoodidea

Great idea, except I already live in finest Fifeshire in a house overlooking a pretty loch. None of your West Coast rain for me! Grin

notagoodidea · 12/03/2018 21:47

For those asking for a better description, this is a draft of the description the previous agent was going to use, was changed a bit on their listing:

Kenmuir occupies a delightful, elevated position within the picturesque hamlet of Clynder and affords uninterrupted views over the Gareloch towards Rhu and Shandon, This highly impressive and spacious detached villa is one of the largest family homes within the immediate area and offers exceptional family sized accommodation over two levels.
Retaining a wealth of defining architectural features (including original fireplaces, deep architraves and skirtings and plaster ceiling cornices)
Kenmuir has benefitted from the installation of quality double glazed windows and oil fired central heating.
Kenmuir extends to a broad, welcoming reception hall with a large walk-in cloaks / storage cupboard, a cloakroom / wc, an impressive 27’ lounge with triple aspect windows and fireplace, a characterful sitting / family room with ‘period’ fireplace including a multi-fuel stove, a traditionally proportioned dining room with original fireplace (all principle public rooms possess lovely views of the Gareloch), a substantial ‘oak’ fitted breakfasting kitchen with integrated appliances, a utility room, a laundry room and bathroom. A broad staircase leads to a large upper hallway providing access to seven double bedrooms, a linen room and newly tiled shower room. Off bedroom 8/study a French door leads to a loch facing, enclosed balcony with external staircase. Kenmuir is set within a generous, mature garden featuring a near full width patio area which takes full advantage of the loch views and is bounded by mature trees.
Parking is available for two cars adjacent to the front door. There is a single car garage with workshop/store to the rear with additional parking for three more cars. The hamlet of Clynder forms part of the Rosneath peninsula and is surrounded by some of Scotland’s most picturesque scenery.
Clynder is renowned for its considerable sense of community and is located within 5 miles of the naval bases of Faslane and Coulport. This quaint hamlet provides a local general store, a thriving bowling club, regular bus services to local villages and slipways providing access to the Gare Loch. Additional access to Gare Loch for water sports and beach walks is available opposite Kenmuir, with access to hill walks from the rear of the property additional to various other access points in villages of Rosneath and Clynder.
Rosneath Primary School is located ¼ of a mile away' and the neighbouring village of Rosneath which offers two local churches, shops, a newly extended and refurbished Co-op general store and park. Kilcreggan, (2 miles away) provides a local health centre and ferry crossing to Gourock and Greenock. Garelochhead, some 5 miles away provides a train service to Glasgow (and is on the west coast mail-line to Oban and Mallaig – regarded as the most spectacular train journey in the British isles.
Garelochhead village offers a further primary school, community centre, pub, bowing club,
health centre and excellent outdoor centre – catering for a range of out-door pursuits. The general locality provides a wealth of facilities catering for out-door pursuits. The Arrochar 'Alps', some 16 miles from the village, offers some challenging hills walks and form part of Scotland's Munroes.

OP posts:
notagoodidea · 12/03/2018 21:49

#dotdotdotmustdash but it is a bit warmer here with it though Grin

OP posts:
notagoodidea · 12/03/2018 21:51

DragonsAndCakes perhaps it is the agent then ?
Longleggedlovely will have a look at them thanks

OP posts:
lljkk · 12/03/2018 21:58

These threads always confuse me when folk talk about "clutter" in the pics. And talk so much about the pics at all. How many large country houses are there to look at I wonder, is OP really competing with a huge number of similar?

Not that I saw any clutter in OP's pictures, but even if I had, do buyers expect to keep all the seller's stuff?!

I am SO not a typical buyer, I guess. Not in market for a house in Scotland or with 7 bedrooms or have to drive to get anywhere, either, sorry OP.

ginghamstarfish · 12/03/2018 22:04

If I remember correctly from selling ours last year, your agents are the ones that make promises about a speedy sale etc, lower fees,not that this is backed up at all - but it seems that a house like this would really benefit more from a local agent. I also think that when viewers see you are selling with a cheaper/non traditional agent they see it as meaning they can offer less. Just my opinion!

wowfudge · 12/03/2018 22:25

It's a bit flowery, but the location info is detailed and useful. Why are 'oak' and 'period' in quotation marks? It suggests they are not actually either. The repeated use of the house name is a tad pretentious imo. Room dimensions and a floorplan are key. But at least the original features are mentioned. The photos need to show those features - there's furniture in front of several of the bedroom fireplaces OP. It's tough when you lived somewhere for a long time - you need to put yourself in the shoes of a buyer and see things as they will. Imagine it's your first time in the house. What are the first things you notice in each room? What do you think it would be best to see first in each room?

@lljkk there is stuff all over one of the bedroom mantelpieces not just a couple of ornaments. There are books stacked on top of the shelves in the living/dining/gym room, various bits of computer equipment around the place. When you are selling a house, especially a big one in a higher price bracket for the area, you are selling a lifestyle not just a house. A decent agent or photographer would have moved these things.

MovingAgainOhWhy · 12/03/2018 22:29

Lovely house! If we weren't moving to the city I would come have a look!

I currently live in a rural part of Scotland too and the market is incredibly slow around my village. It takes about 18 months to sell at the moment. But I think your area is more accessible/better transport links than mine. We have no bus!

I do notice that lots of the rural/small estate agents can be a bit 'relaxed' about marketing their properties. For example, around here, their photos aren't great, they don't chase up buyers/sellers, they don't put up floor plans, or corrects details, they don't put photos in any logical order.

Maybe change agents?

But I honestly think the house is lovely

p.s I know some posters have commented on Scottish weather but I don't think Scotland weather is that bad Grin

notagoodidea · 12/03/2018 22:42

MovingAgainOhWhy we have just changed agents. But spoke to them today and they promised to amend the listing, so fingers crossed a lot of the problems highlighted above with the listing will be fixed. If not then another change of agent. Also spring is around the corner and I am hoping that helps too

OP posts:
notagoodidea · 12/03/2018 22:45

#wowfudge that was a draft version of the description. The actual description was not so over the top, it had the same info just not so flowery. but I don't have a copy of it to post on here.

OP posts:
Maria1982 · 12/03/2018 22:50

It sounds lovely on here, but you need a new agent, who will do proper photos, floorplan, room dimensions.

Looking at the current listing one has no idea of the layout of the house. When we were house hunting we wouldn’t have booked a viewing for something like this.

Also when you have new photos done, do declutter the bedrooms: eg kettle, cafetière on shelves make it look like a bed sit , which isn’t a good look.

Maria1982 · 12/03/2018 23:03

PS spring should definitely help! At least around here house sales pick up lots in spring

LittleBearPad · 12/03/2018 23:22

I don’t think there really are ‘national’ agents. You need a really good local one. There definitely needs to be a really good plan. The estate agents download has lots of unnecessary bullet points - they haven’t spent time on the listing.

The gym equipment needs to be moved out of the sitting room. I’m afraid overall it doesn’t look very loved. If you look at the other ones you reference in Helensburgh there are fresh flowers / the fires are lit etc. The estate agent needs to sell a vision of family life.

DuckBilledAardvark · 12/03/2018 23:32

That has to be one of the crappest listings I've seen, photos are crappy, the house needs to be dressed a bit more for the pictures, some areas look great, some look like a bedsit, take out the pictures of the huge TV from varying angles and crappy sofas pointed at an old TV, add in a description of the garden as I have no idea if it has one!

I'd use a local agent and get them to do the viewings.

MovingAgainOhWhy · 13/03/2018 00:23

Unfortunately we have some rubbish local agents too, like I said before. It's not just the national ones. They just don't put the work into the listings, they don't follow up or put enough details in the adverts. They're just not 'professional' enough IMHO.

If you can find a good local agent, and with spring coming I think you will get more viewings! Good luck Smile

notagoodidea · 13/03/2018 07:36

#MovingAgainOhWhy hope so and thanks

OP posts:
notagoodidea · 13/03/2018 08:09

#DuckBilledAardvark a bit harsh, yes I agree the photos are not the best and hopefully the agent will have a better description up today. But you can see some of the big garden in the photos looking up at the house. The first one shows quite a bit of it. The sofas in the bedrooms are not the best thing and I get the bedsit feel, but that is what the teenagers wanted in their rooms. Does show how big their bedrooms are though, double bed and a three piece suite with wardrobes chests of drawers ect and still have room to walk around. But if we have to get another agent I will get all the rooms dressed better for their photos. Thanks for the advise

OP posts:
kmmr · 13/03/2018 08:21

Nothing to add other than tell the agent to put down the fish eye lens. Its not needed in a property like this and just makes rooms look odd. That might be why they look a bit soulless. The viewer just knows something feels wrong with stretched images.

Beetle76 · 13/03/2018 08:28

I agree with others in that the listing / agency probably isn’t helping. What strikes me as missing from the listing (and you touch on it in this thread) is the extent of the garden. It sounds substantial so perhaps more description or a small plan showing the position of the house within the garden may also boost interest. Oh, and what a PP said about the “period” and “oak” being in quotes bothers me, as does the use of caps in the Rightmove listing. But a lovely house with potential. Hopefully with spring almost on the way, it’ll just take the right person to fall in love with it.

LizzieSiddal · 13/03/2018 08:40

Agree with others.

Sack the agent, they’ve done a dreadful job of trying to sell your house.

I also think you need to do a bit of rejigging in the house. There’s so much going on in each room, it just looks very confusing.

I’d also spend a bit of money on new throws/duvet covers/cushions etc just to make it look more “out together”.

LizzieSiddal · 13/03/2018 08:41

*put

wowfudge · 13/03/2018 09:58

If it's any consolation OP, when we sold our last house I re-wrote the EA's blurb, got them to re-take a couple of photos and provided my own to replace a dire one they'd taken of the outside in the rain. We believed these particular agents were the right ones to sell the house for us, but they weren't perfect and they weren't experts at everything. Their sales progressor was excellent and it was her we wanted to deal with things for us. Others we had round we felt weren't as good.

NotMeNoNo · 13/03/2018 10:36

I was going to say the same as wowfudge, we also took some photos and heavily edited the particulars, even quite a good agent don't know your house as well as you.

It's a bit of an odd house to place. A lovely traditional villa in a stunning spot, but with a plain modern extension bolted on that would never get planning now. Possibly will end up a six bedroom house as I'm sure most people would change bed 7 to a bathroom. Over 5 bedrooms is a bit daunting as even people who could afford it, might prefer less space and less work to do. You need a huge family who don't mind living somewhere lovely but inconvenient and can get stuck into community life. People like that do exist (I know a few) but they don't come along very often. And then you need to hook them in!

I just wonder if marketed at 6/7 bedrooms it might catch people looking at 5 beds.

heron98 · 13/03/2018 11:13

Well I think it looks chuffing amazing and I would love to live there. Sadly I don't have that kind of money. The photos look awesome to me.