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Original poster

Critique my house

132 replies

PleaseSellMyHouse · 21/02/2019 18:18

Our house has been on the market for a month. It went on the day of the brexit vote which was probably unfortunate.

We’ve had a few viewings and one second viewing from someone who said they’d probably offer when theirs sells. But there’s not been as much interest as, I’ll be honest, I was confident there would be.

I’ve got my tin hat on, so please, give me your honest views.

FYI the bedrooms are not as vibrant colours as they look in the photos and the garden is huge and mature - the winter photos aren’t showing it at its best.

Here goes nothing...

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-78598820.html

OP posts:

mimibunz · 21/02/2019 19:15

I love the bathroom tiles! They’re fun and unique.

Countrysideviews · 21/02/2019 19:17

I think some of the rooms are really lovely clean fresh and homely. The bathroom tiles confuse me. Is it a bathroom specifically for children? Or is it the only bathroom. Are they actually tiles with all the words written on or stickers? If they are stickers I would remove them, if they arent stickers I would look at trying to change them by painting over them with a pattern or other colour.
I would repaint the outside wall that is currently white it stands out too much and is a bit ugly (sorry) Maybe a duller shade of white or cream, I would also dress it with some topiary/buxus in pots to break up the wall a bit.
Hope it sells soon op

scaredofthecity · 21/02/2019 19:18

I love the bathroom tiles and it's nice to see a bit of colour. The kitchen would put me off but I do love to cook, many don't!

Jamhandprints · 21/02/2019 19:19

I agree with PPs that the first photo and also first photo of the living room are off putting so I'd just take them off. Otherwise it looks lovely. Really cosy and inviting.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 21/02/2019 19:20

It's a really lovely house! I hope you find a buyer soon.

WhatTheNightBrings · 21/02/2019 19:20

Agree with the comments made so far about neutralizing the colour a bit, and new photos of the garden now it's brighter.

By the way, what colour paint is the master bedroom?

KrazyKatlady · 21/02/2019 19:21

I think it looks fine, not too cluttered. Are other houses nearby selling quickly? It might be nothing personal to the house but that people are wary about buying at the moment. I live in the south east and hardly anything is selling.

ooooohbetty · 21/02/2019 19:26

I don't think going on sale the day of the brexit vote has anything to do with it. I have 2 friends who have houses that went on sale just after that and they have accepted offers on theirs. Yours is lovely inside. The outside front might put me off, is that stone cladding around the door? For that reason could you ask the Estate Agent to put the outside front photo on last so people see the inside first? Good luck. Hope you sell soon

StarJumpsandaHalf · 21/02/2019 19:27

It looks like the order of the photos changed while I was thinking what to write

Agree with what PPs have said, especially about the bleak garden in Winter, some pots would help, but I'd either do a big tidy up of the decking or lose that photo altogether. Similarly pic 15 looking from the bedroom into the loo, that doesn't really sell anything to me.

Second what people have said about the kitchen needing a bit more oomph, it looks small and bare and the stickers on the dishwasher aren't great.

Two things I would do if it were my house is firstly put up some sheer blinds to the bedroom windows. Something like www.dunelm.com/product/sheer-roller-blind-1000051289 The big and plain windows that you and your neighbours have to give lots of light, are also saying to me that everyone can stare in and through almost all your rooms, so the impression I get is that the house is very over looked. It might not feel like that when you're in it, but that's what I picked up on.

The boxed in raised bit in the master bedroom looks odd to me. Is there a small TV on there? That's the only purpose I could see it serving really. I mean that I couldn't imagine anyone sitting on that sofa looking at what's opposite unless that was the idea. I'd take everything off the top of the units and reassess, maybe move the dressing table nearer the bed and the bookcase down to that end of the room. Give that area a clear purpose and less clutter.

Sallylondon · 21/02/2019 19:27

The house looks much more attractive on Streetview. The close is well laid out and the house looks far prettier for some greenery softening it.

Bigonesmallone3 · 21/02/2019 19:30

I think it's a lovely house and really like the quirky bedroom with the steps, I personally really dislike those bathroom tiles.

However I don't think it has anything to do with your house OP, it's a shit time to sell at the moment.
My MIL is having the same problem, she dropped her price has had plenty of viewings but most of waiting for there properties to sell too.

madeyemoodysmum · 21/02/2019 19:35

The bedroom come over a bit cluttered. I know kids rooms but maybe pack up some bits for now.

I’m not keen on the colours myself. It wouldn’t put me off as I’m happy with a paintbrush but it might put some off.

The downstairs colours are dull.

I love the garden though. That would be a selling point to me.

The house itself doesn’t have much kerb appeal. But it’s a big house for price.

I’m south east so that here would be 550-750k depending on town.

StripyBlanket · 21/02/2019 19:46

I always say the same 2 things - and I think it is quite telling that they are always applicable.

Offers in excess of and a non-local agent just screams cheapskate to me. Especially the latter. If you are prepared to scrimp on an estate agent, where else have you cut corners?

Also, have you tried to book an appointment to view your house? Is it easy?

keepingbees · 21/02/2019 19:49

I like the decor and I don't think it looks cluttered. I don't like the outside, the side extension looks a bit ropey in all honesty. I don't like the low, sloping ceilings in the bedrooms, but that's personal taste and obviously not something that could be changed. The kitchen looks small for the size of the house and the garden looks like it would need work. There looks to be signs that walls have been knocked through, with that and the extension I would worry it could be a minefield on a survey.

dublinruth · 21/02/2019 20:00

I love the upstairs of your house and the garden but the first photo wouldn't have made me look any further.

Also it could be that the small kitchen is offputting to people as everyone seems to want huge kitchens with space to entertain and bi-folding doors nowadays.

Finally, not a fan of OIEO prices. Don't know why, they just make me irrationally angry.

Nettleskeins · 21/02/2019 20:00

I love the tiles and the colour of the kitchen and all those bedrooms. I think the garden is undersold in the pictures, I cannot really get a sense of it. Are there no photos of it from last year in spring, summer that you can use instead?
living room and dining area seem smaller than they probably are. What about removing some of the big bits of furniture in there and opening it up a bit, just table and one sofa, no big items of wall storage, so the room feels more open when you go in. There seems to be far more bedrooms than downstairs living space, far enough but you have to overcompensate in making downstairs look big and airy (less stuff)

If the house really doesn't sell, could there be an advantage in knocking down wall between utility and kitchen?.It really should be bigger somehow. sorry I need to go back and look at the floorplan. That is what Kirsty and Phil would suggest!

Honeyroar · 21/02/2019 20:01

I think it's a nice family house. It doesn't look particularly cluttered to me.

It doesn't have a lot of kerb appeal from that first picture. And the kitchen looks a bit bland and neutral. The bathroom tiles are ok, not my thing particularly, but wouldn't put me off.

I don't think there are too many photos. It's good to see rooms from different angles.

IamPickleRick · 21/02/2019 20:08

I think it’s really nice. But, since you asked;

I’d put some pot plants outside and retake that first photo
It’s all too green for me, I’d need to paint and re-tile
The door that’s on an angle, is that a loft extension? My kids would fall off those steps all day long

It’s not cluttered, everything else is really nice

sidesplittinglol · 21/02/2019 20:09

The structure of the house is good.

The kitchen looks bare. Needs more cupboards I'd say and a different colour wall.

Too many colours upstairs. I'd make it so that all the walls are uniform in colour and neutral too.

The bathroom tiles are a personal choice and probably not to everyone's taste.

I'd also tidy up the garden too.

I agree the first photo is off putting.

Nettleskeins · 21/02/2019 20:14

okay you cannot make the kitchen bigger because that is the outside wall of the house!

However, I think you could just rearrange the furniture in the through room and that would make a big difference.
First get rid of aquarium. Next make sure the sofa and chair are in the living room end and not in the dining end. Make the dining end centred with the fireplace, and lots of space around the table. Big pot plant on the table or bowl of fruit/apples. Get rid of large telly and tv cabinet/hide it.

Or even, change the table and sofa round. Sofa at the front of the house, and table at the french door end. Could be a cosier effect with fireplace as focus for the sofa etc, bookcase at sofa end. It also might give the illusion that the kitchen and table are the same space, wall could be knocked through etc at later date.

I still absolutely love your orange and green tiles. The living room needs to be a bit more zappy in the same way. green bowl with oranges in it. The sitting room diner is a bit too bland, and doesn't feel like the heart of the home at the moment.

Nettleskeins · 21/02/2019 20:15

I mean don't let the sofa and chairs overflow into the dining end, makes it tunnel like.

Gina2012 · 21/02/2019 20:18

Exterior (front) is AWFUL. Truly dreadful

But the rest of the house is really lovely. You have a beautiful home imo

Original poster

PleaseSellMyHouse · 21/02/2019 20:20

Lots of comments - thank you.

So in summary:

repaint bright bedrooms more neutral
soften the front with plants (will look better once leaves are back on creeper too)
cut down the number of photos esp. garden ones until garden is looking more back to life
kitchen looks bit bare and take stickers off appliances.

To answer some questions, the fridge is counter height so not visible.

The agent is local - not sure why you think they aren’t.

Extension was done long while back 15+ years previous to us) and our survey showed up no issues.

Have booked a faux appt with our agent and it was easy to do.

Stuff is not selling fast round here currently - maybe I’m being impatient!

OP posts:

Rainbowqueeen · 21/02/2019 20:24

Can I just add that generally on right move there is a description on each phto so you know what you are looking at eg bedroom 4. Your photos just have DSC followed by a jumble of numbers It makes your agent look lazy and also makes it harder to follow to work out what everything is

Original poster

PleaseSellMyHouse · 21/02/2019 20:26

also repaint front
take off ‘OIEO’
rearrange living/dinning room

Have started some of these already!

OP posts:

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