Kitchen Too small

[eggofmantumbi]

I'm getting increasingly frustrated so just looking for tips or when just sympathy!

My 4 bed is on market at BV 220k. 3 bed down the road is now sold STC , after being marketed as OIRO 220k.
We've had roughly 7 viewings in 6 weeks. EVERY . SINGLE. ONE has said kitchen is too small. I've just checked and it's almost the same size as theirs, (10m squared) although their kitchen and living room are open plan. We have separate kitchen, living and dining rooms. We've also got garage set up as utility.

Basically I'm a bit at a loss. I can't make it bigger. Definitely not cluttered, and we paid 210k 3 years ago so I'm loathe to reduce asking price.

I'm frustrated as all this means my husband loves away from home for longer during the week- but other than lower the price can we do anything. And is that even likely to work???

Personally I don't think the dining room/living room layout is what is putting people off, it might make them think slightly but the kitchen is the real drawback. Again just my opinion.

The kitchen & breakfast room together are a reasonable size but don't look it nor take advantage of it.

If you swapped so the dining room was next to the kitchen, would that mean there was no fireplace in the lounge?l

@knittedfairies - yes - which is why we don't have it that way round! Just thinking of anything and everything!

@eggofmantubi you're thinking too hard. For a cook your kitchen is a real userunfriendly space. For someone wanting to 'show off' it doesn't. The reason at present for no offers is easy to see. Sorry to sound so harsh. :)

@sbplanet I need harsh!
Because I've lived in it for 3 years and not had a problem with it, I never even thought it would be an issue!

I've got someone coming round now this week to quote for boxing in the boiler and painting the cupboards / replacing handles.

Will move the cupboard and put a table in and then get photos redone of the kitchen.

will prioritise those things and see what happens.

If you're getting photos redone you might start another thread and ask for thoughts on the other house photos - some ideas might help/or confuse! :D

My first take would be partly chop down the bush/plant that has bits growing into the extension roof (picture 17).

I think a utility/ breakfast just seems a bit odd, especially with no table in it.

Put a table in and suddenly you have table next to dishwasher next to crockery storage - seems much more user friendly and logical. It is still a bit odd - the utility a a bit of a funny place to eat your dinner - but a table you can eat at is a big selling point of a kitchen. Take the tray off the highchair and pull it up to the table if the baby is old enough.

Ideally I would suggest resiting the washing machine and tumble dryer to the garage (plumbed on the wall next to the downstairs loo probably) and just turn the utility/breakfast into a nice breakfast room with sideboard. However I expect you don't want to be spending money on it, you want to get rid and move on.

@fishforclues of happily move the washing machine at least. And probably the freezer too. Would it be really expensive though? To get the plumbing done?

Depends what your waste pipes do. It's not totally trivial.

Do canvass more opinions though. I'm basically proposing losing the utility which is a bit controversial. Your agent also might have some suggestions.

Definitely needs a table in the breakfast room area. I would actually label the kitchen breakfast room as one - together it's a decent space.

For me I'd think it is much better to have a kitchen with breakfast room off, and a utility area in the garage. Ask the agent to describe it as LBSHouse says all kitchen, or kitchen/breakfast room.

Our previous place had a utility area in the garage - washing machine, tumble dryer and freezer all tucked away. (The fact that they wouldn't fit in the kitchen is neither here nor there! :D

Is the worktop over the white goods the same as the kitchen? Perhaps you could recycle some of it to the side of the freestanding cooker (use brackets for support), put a cabinet/shelves under?

Stupid question? Where would the best place be for more shelves?

Oh and white handles too on cupboards??

Can you just not hide the stuff on the shelving and then remove the shelving so it gives the appearance of there being enough room? IMO table looks better as makes it feel like more of a combined area

I missed on the details the first read, there's kitchen wall cabinets in the garage - would some of those be any good in the kitchen?

You need the kitchen to function as a kitchen, cupboards to put stuff in, worktop to put stuff on, shelves the same - it's difficult to imagine what might fit where from a couple of pictures. Look for pictures of other peoples galley kitchens and see if that gives any ideas.

You need to put up some more cupboards. People think The kitchen looks small because there isn't enough storage

Whilst your handyman is visiting could he see if your kitchen door could be opened out in to the hall - this would allow you to put worktop space to the right of the cooker and add storage above. Or change to a bifold door

Agree about taking out sideboard and adding in a table in the breakfast room - if you can, in front of doorway so it looks in view of the kitchen (thinking of children eating their breakfast/tea or doing craft activities whilst you're making tea etc)

Definitely remove bigger toy storage from dining room and dress with a bigger table - can anyone lend you one till you sell?

I think your money would be best spent boxing in the boiler, and moving the freezer, dryer and washing machine to the garage, then putting a table in the breakfast room.
In my opinion that would massively improve the house.