Why is my house not selling?

[MummyMather2]

We listed our house in May and within 4 days we'd had 3 offers and sold our house for over the asking price. Unfortunately our buyer was going through a divorce and her husband suddenly changed their mind on the amount she was having (we'd previously had a letter from her solicitor showing where the funds were coming from) and she pulled out as she wasn't sure how long it would take to settle or if she would have the right funds.

As per her instruction we had moved quickly. The majority of our house had been packed up and move to relatives spare rooms and we were a week away from exchanging contracts.

We shed a few tears but quickly got the house back on the market. I fully appreciate it has only been back on for 4 weeks but we have only had 4 viewings (less then last time!) and things round here sell very quickly usually. We haven't had a viewing in 2 weeks.

To add even further pressure there are now a lot more houses in the same price bracket as ours that have come on for sale.

Estate agent isn't very helpful. We are chasing them but haven't heard from them in a week now as we got fed up of chasing them and waiting for a few days for them to get back to us. However, we haven't had any feedback that says it was too expensive just it didn't tick all their boxes.

I didn't know if anyone can advise what to do - I also realise that the summer holiday period really kills it a bit but just so disheartened!

Luckily the people we are buying from don't seem too bothered yet but I don't know what I'd do if they turned around and gave us a deadline! They are a deceased estate and it's almost our dream house!!!

Any advice welcome.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55167393.html

The listing states, above the asking price, that it's no longer on the market: that might be your answer.

It says no longer on the market @MummuMather2?

What a lovely house! Haven’t the estate agents told you they haven’t put it back on the market? I would go ape shit

I agree- no-one is asking to see it as they think it isn't for sale now.

Listing says it's been removed from the market...

I can't fault the presentation and agree with pps it will be down to Rightmove implying it's already sold.

“No longer on the market”???

Sorry but the upstairs hallway is hideous. What is with the dodgy green and blue lights? Wallpaper is really off putting.

Where I live house prices have reduced by about £10k since May. I have seen a lot of houses being reduced

It is back on the market, when I copy and paste the postcode into Rightmove it comes up. Lovely house but the upstairs landing would put me off as I would need to redecorate it.

Actually I think the OP has somehow linked to a cached page - on RM it isn't showing as no longer on the market. It's only been on for a month. Instruct the EA to go back to the other 2 parties who offered and see if there is any interest from them still. They need to earn their fees.

A photo out of the living room window when it isn't bin day and toning down the lime green kitchen walls would look better imo, but I doubt either is the reason you've not had more interest. Town houses don't appeal to everyone sadly.

Yes that is a good point, some people are put off by townhouses. Could you drop the price? It is lovely but if you've only had 4 views then something is amiss.

Dated kitchen, whole house needs redecorating in neutral colours (or at least the landing which looks like a lot of work to correct) and the bedroom with the bunk bed (which appears to block the window) looks tiny.

It looks lovely to me - and the price is amazing, compared with down south. I don't know what the average price is where you are OP. Is the house priced to sell quickly or is it a 'wait and see if anyone bites' price?

I think you need to check out the competition, see what other houses like yours are selling for. You may have to drop the price to get people interested.

There's nothing wrong with the house, imo. If people don't share your taste in wallpaper, that's something that's easily sorted - and I wouldn't have thought it would influence a buying decision.

The walls are all very bright and to be honest I think most people would look and think nope I've got to redecorate before moving in.
The smallest room looks very very cramped the bed is against the window and the steps shelves half way long make it look very cramped in there.
The front room is swamped by the large sofa and chair combo too, leaving very little floor space

Upstairs hall as other have said is it would need to be completely redecorated and all that wood work stripped and painted white, a very large job.

When this property is for sale locally for £10k less you also need to look at price

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65503030.html

Only on MN do people suggest redecorating a whole house you’re about to leave. If any of these are issues it wouldn’t have sold the first time so quickly- I think you just need to be patient OP although I agree that townhouses are always worth less than semis or detached so should be on for less

Aside from being listed as no longer on the market I would:

1. Paint the kitchen/ diner a neutral colour
2. Take down the luminous lights above the stairs
3. Change landing doorframes and skirting from black to white
4. If possible, Remove the storage from the small bedroom (could it go in the garage for viewings?)

Ultimately, it's a lovely house and garden and will sell soon! Good luck!

Do paint colours really put people off that much that they wouldn't buy a house? Its an easy job to repaint a room and surely if something isn't to your taste then you'd change it when you move in surely?

I think the decor is absolutely fine, and the third bedroom in most semis is usually very small.

I think the third bedroom is tiny for the price. As a family of 4 I wouldn't view it. I also agree I'd need to redecorate. It's a good area though so I imagine it will sell.

Only on MN do people suggest you redecorate your new place before you move in! Who the hell has the luxury of being able to do that?

The 3 bed 30s semi is the competition - it's not cheaper: it actually states 'guide price £280,000-£300,000. The kitchen in that one is a bit dated too.

The only thing that would put me off is your bizarre Star Warsesque landing. And maybe the metal handrail thing in the garden.

Looking at the market info - a house very similar sold in dec for 230. That makes your look a bit expensive imo. Have you looked hard at your price expectations?

All about price at the moment

There are at least a 3 rooms I would redecorate, I’d also want a new kitchen. If the ‘competition’ requires less work or less financial outlay yours wouldn’t be my first choice.

I really don't think repainting the house is practical or going to help. It's a lovely house and people do see beyond decor that may or may not be to their taste. Have the estate agents contacted people on their books to suggest a viewing? Have they contacted the people who viewed previously? Have they suggested an open day? This often brings people to view and when they see others going in builds the pressure in thinking that there is competition to get the house and it is therefore desirable. The estate agents should be giving more feedback, they are ultimately working for you, and is in their interest to sell it for the best price. Have you been into the office? They can't avoid you then!

I fully appreciate it isn't decorated to everyone's taste but I doubt there has ever been a house that has suited everyone's tastes. I refused to repaint the house for someone to redecorate to their own taste.

The house down the road that sold for less had some wierd clause against it as it was owned by the church which put a lot of people off, needs full rewire etc and needed converting back into a two bed. The people who live there now have even said they didn't realise how much work was needed and have spent a lot on it already.

We can drop the price but not sure if it just looks desperate and put people off and the main reason being that it's the summer holiday period? Also not sure how soon is soon?