No one will buy our house

[Sellmyhouse]

I’m so frustrated so will try not to witter on endlessly, but it will be a struggle. We put our house on the market in August of last year and went with Purple Bricks because my husband loves to save money. We didn’t have a great deal of interest to start with and then viewings picked up, but we had no offers. We also had a bit of bad luck because our neighbours coincidentally went on at the exact same time and they had recently had their kitchen and en suite done, so they sold almost straight away. We reduced the price in January, I think, and then had more interest. In February we had an offer of £240k, but unfortunately things were suddenly very uncertain with my husband’s job with a possibility that we might be moving to America quite soon, so we declined and took it off the market. In March we went back on with a local estate agent and then after a couple of weeks with Purple Bricks as well. We’ve had far more interest through Purple Bricks than the local agent, so we are looking to drop the local agent as soon as possible because I don’t think being on with two agents is helping. We’ve reduced the price a bit more but only had one viewing since then.

For the most part feedback regarding the property has been positive, but people always seem put off by things we can’t change, such as the rooms being too small or the house being located on a built-up estate. We have also been told that the price is right, and my husband categorically refuses to go any lower. If we got an offer of £240k now we’d take it in an instant, but now we’re barely getting anyone through the door.

I look at the house and I know that there are things that need to be done: it could do with a new en suite and a new kitchen at least, but obviously we don’t really intend to invest that kind of money in a house we’re trying to sell. I’m especially now feeling panicked because I’m very newly pregnant and there is no way we can fit three children in his house without me losing my mind.

Please be gentle, but is there anything you can suggest to help us make some progress?

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53349933.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53098638.html

Really nice house don't know why you are having trouble selling. Perhaps depends on what people are looking for as well they might be looking for a detached property etc...

I think the location is really good. It's a lovely area with good schools and I would've thought it'd be of interest to commuters with it being walkable to the railway stations and also having the road links nearby. Lichfield is a great city with a variety of restaurants and bars and again it's an easy walk from the estate.

I think you are in a difficult position - lots of similar priced properties. You have a new build and the negatives that entails (townhouse, v small rooms) but its not a 'new' new build so you don't have a shiny new kitchen and bathroom.

Your house is presented well, and you do seem to be of a similar standard and size to other similar properties for sale. There are just a lot of them.

Actually within 1 mile of the station, yours is the nicest 3 bed for under 250k by far IMO

My initial reaction was 'wow! Why isn't that selling?' but having looked at the floor plan it would put me off that there's no bathroom on the second floor for that bedroom. I appreciate there's nothing you can do about that but it may Be why others are put off.

Furani, this is why my husband is so resistant to lowering the price. He realised that we were one of the cheapest three bedrooms in Lichfield and tbought that was silly considering the competition. People really will struggle to get more than our house for the price in this area, so I can only assume that they are choosing to increase their budget or look further afield where you can get more for your money.

Sellmyhouse I suspect that is exactly your issue for around 40-50k more you can get more in Lichfield and if you cant you would move out.

If developers are still building this type of house in this location there must be local demand for them.

I don't know the area so can't say if the price is too much, however... We are buying a house now so I viewed a lot of properties, placed some offers... and I would highly advise you to ask some friend to pretend that he's potential buyer. We wanted to place an offer on a flat that was on a market for a few months. So we send an offer.... and the agent replied that they will pass the offer to the seller ONLY if I give them our passports, bank statements, payslips... when I didn't even know if the seller will accept the offer, not mentioning this practise is not legal. We refused and delivered the offer in person to the sellers. They were very surprised.

Thanks for the paint info @Shotsfired and OP!

This may be overly cynical but paying your agent a reduced fee is not necessarily a "bargain" if it means they are less rewarded by selling it than by selling any other house on their books, or less rewarded than other agents working for the competition.

We pay our agent well, which I do resent a bit but i want them to care about selling my house this week - not someone else's - and for a good price. You do have the problem now that you're duel agent and have been sat on the market a while so you do look like you need to sell. And absolutely get the bad pics taken down! It honestly looks like a lovely house, though I do think you need to convey living kitchen diner and space around master bed more clearly.