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Original poster

House been up for sale for months, still not sold!

195 replies

TamR · 21/02/2019 07:35

Hi,

Just looking for advice...
We are trying to sell our house but just not getting any interest...
We initially put it up 7months ago, had approx 7viewings..few had a 2nd viewing, was told all very interested but they needed to sell theirs first..was having a bad exp with the EA so we got a new one. Been with our new EA for 7weeks, nothing..so in the fourth week we reduced the price..had one viewing, they came back for a 2nd, loved the house but not in a position to buy yet as theirs is only going on the market next week.
Had chat with EA, asking why are we not even getting people through the door, they cannot understand why, photos are good, had numerous quotes and all agreed price was right before we even reduced it, nice house in good location with stunning views. EA mentioned brexit....yet I’m still seeing others selling...
Any advice I’d appreciate please
Thanks

OP posts:
steppemum · 21/02/2019 08:10

The only other thing I can think of is that there isn't anywhere to eat int he kitchen, and there is no door from kitchen to dining room. I would immediately be looking to see if I could make a doorway through, or put a table/breakfast bar in the kitchen if I was looking.
But that isn't something you can change really.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 21/02/2019 08:10

It's a family sized house with a tiny paved over back garden. There just aren't many buyers looking for that combination.

Gizlotsmum · 21/02/2019 08:11

Don't know the area but when you click on similar properties it brings up 2 cheaper than yours which are also empty within half a mile. I would suspect it is price combined with a slow market. Is there a reason you can't wait for the offer from the couple who need to sell? They might sell quickly

LIZS · 21/02/2019 08:12

Sorry your EA is being polite. The decor screams weekends needing to be spent repainting in nice neutral tones, better to tone it down now. What on earth is the "pub", maybe present that as a more relaxing multipurpose room - games/play room/cinema room? Garden may have been landscaped but is there any grass left, families tend to like space to kick a ball around. Price it just under 300k.

PotteringAlong · 21/02/2019 08:12

I’d be thinking “hmmm, hate the wavy paint but I could do something with it” until I got to the pub at which point I’d think “no”.

VanCleefArpels · 21/02/2019 08:13

Agree Prive looks a bit toppy compared with others nearby

Are there new developments nearby? They are your competition potentially.

I’d paint over the coloured ceilings and style the pub as a home office which would have more general appeal. Also lose the “reduced” tag on the listing. It makes you look desperate and will make buyers think there’s something wrong with it

TortoiseLettuce · 21/02/2019 08:13

Depends on the area. In my street houses take about five years to sell. Because nobody is shopping in our price bracket - price wise we’re between starter home and executive detached. How long did other houses take to sell?

Alexalee · 21/02/2019 08:15

Maybe reduce to 299995?
Psychologically starting with a 3 might put people off

Mammyofasuperbaby · 21/02/2019 08:16

I agree with pp, the decor is not to everyone's liking and the pub is certainly an acquired taste.
Personly I'd tone down the pub and display it as a summer house or office. I'd also change the paint drip effect to a more traditional paint job in calm and pleasing tones e.g. warm blues, soft greens, greys ect.
Have a look on a few home selling programmes such as ones with Amanda lamb and Phil Spencer as they deal with properties like yours all the time.

RuggyPeg · 21/02/2019 08:19

This is your competition www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61871878.html

You're way over on price.

RamonaQuimbyAge48 · 21/02/2019 08:19

Ah, what's that industrial site at the end of your street? Looks like a vehicle wrecker or waste site? That would put me off too, to be honest. And the potential for all those fields to be developed. Are there plans in place for the fields? Might be putting people off too.

Butternutsqoosh · 21/02/2019 08:19

I'd repaint the coving in all the rooms and as others have said, the half and half walls. Ditch the pub or at least the photo of it.

LIVIA999 · 21/02/2019 08:20

Wow! That pub. Amazing!
I'd buy it for that.
I think the house is lovely. When we sold ours we took things out with to much ' personality ' and repainted in neuteral colours. I know it's a massive pain but I might be inclined to do that.
Also again it might be a pain but someone further up the thread posted that maybe turn the bar into a home office.
To be honest though I do think that most people will over look colours they don't like and home bars etc if the price is right.
It probably comes down to price. I reduced mine three times to get it told. It started at 500 and sold for 427 eventually. But I was desperate to move.

PotteringAlong · 21/02/2019 08:22

Also, don’t you have a garden? Is that paved area it? If so, you need some grass.

Beach11 · 21/02/2019 08:26

Nice house but what put me off:
-could get a brand new new build for similar price
-the decor- especially the dripping paint, the -garden- is a yard
the bar

The house is expensive and these things would cost thousands to rectify.

Hope you get your sale soon

SlinkyDinkyDoo · 21/02/2019 08:28

For that price the floorspace and view is a bargain imo but then again I live in London.

I dunno OP, the decor is quite person but really that shouldn't be an issue.

What are transport links, schools and amenities like? Sorry if I missed that haven't RTFT.

SlinkyDinkyDoo · 21/02/2019 08:32

That new build is 1065sq feet, what's yours OP? Individual rooms are sized but I can't see a total size (no I can't add it up myself!)

SlinkyDinkyDoo · 21/02/2019 08:34

P.s I like the dripping paint effect OP 😀

MrsCollinssettled · 21/02/2019 08:35

Agree with Wakk apart from the fact you need to do what she suggests AND reduce the price by £30k to make it competitive.

How did the EAs justify their pricing? Putting a significant premium on your very personalised property over a new build was an interesting decision on their part.

Original poster
TamR · 21/02/2019 08:35

Thanks guys.....some remarks a tad brutal😂
All the gardens are raised, and slope up....we had ours totally ripped out and levelled as there was an awful brick wall just staring at us.
As for the prices, we got this very cheap as the previous owners had split up and wanted to go quick, so we put a cheeky offer in. The house that went 16months ago needed a lot of work, new roof, kitchen, needed fully redone inside.
As for the painting, this was done before we moved in unfortunately just not had chance to redo it but yes I can certainly see your point, but can this really reflect the price?
Thanks

OP posts:
LIZS · 21/02/2019 08:38

Ruggypeg's link illustrates it well. You can have "blank canvas" for less. Families often have no time or energy to get a house as they want it, they want to walk straight in and do it over time. You have styled your house to suit yourselves, with focus on entertaining but that is not a lifestyle for many young families. If you have no grass in the garden could you put some astroturf down and pots to break up the stonework.

KatnissMellark · 21/02/2019 08:39

I would go for the cheaper same size new build every time over yours, I'm sorry. I think I'm probably your target market too- youngish growing family. I'd prefer neutral colours, bar as a playroom or summer house, grass in the garden and a more reasonable price Vs local competition. Sorry OP, good luck.

LIZS · 21/02/2019 08:40

Posts crossed. You have answered your own question - you have not got round to redecorating so why would your buyers think they would.

TokyoSushi · 21/02/2019 08:41

It's too expensive, I'm deep into the house moving process at the moment so am very much in this zone!

If I look at it, it needs a full redecoration and a new bathroom. That's quite a lot to spend when you get in there, can you reduce the price to start with a 2?

The least said about the pub the better

Wakk · 21/02/2019 08:43

You bought it for £245k and haven't done much to it, I do think you'll need to come down on price.