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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:
Honeyroar · 21/02/2019 20:26

I think you are being a bit impatient. I'd give it another month before you do any painting. It really isn't bad.

Nettleskeins · 21/02/2019 20:27

any buyer who wanted 4 bedrooms would also be thinking of the potential of the garage space too. Could it be a playroom, a big kitchen - a rough plan could show the possibilities to a buyer - perhaps take car out so that the space is displayed to full advantage. rough estimate of conversion cost from local builder? something you always planned to do but now have decided to sell...put it in that sort of framework..

wizzler · 21/02/2019 20:30

Agree with pp to make the first photo more attractive with plants. Other than that I don't think it needs much .

shrumps · 21/02/2019 20:33

Looks perfectly nice except for the first exterior photo.

lovefriday · 21/02/2019 20:34

Lovely house, I would buy it! But -

  • repaint the kitchen anything but lime
  • trim the grass
  • add some colourful pots in the garden
  • screen out the neighbours... it feels overlooked from the decking area
AnnaBegins · 21/02/2019 20:37

Are you certain on the price? We just sold our 3 bed plus 2 loft room semi for that but much further south.

I think it is great, is there a second bathroom/ensuite? Looks like there is on the pics but I might be imagining it as can't see floor plan.

Love the multi levelled bedroom! And the garden.

I'd add a pic of the garage too.

Nettleskeins · 21/02/2019 20:39

you need to show the garden, perhaps it could be part of the ground plan too? to show the length breadth in metres.
I don't think there is anything wrong with the bedroom colours at all, it is just rearranging downstairs furniture injecting a bit of vibrancy into it. Kitchen is a great colour but clock should be neutral after the green walls. Swop kitchen and sitting room clock perhaps? Also tidy up bookcase so more like a neat smooth wall of books, no jutting out bits, different sizes and odd ornaments/photos. It is quite an art to tidy a bookcase they are intrinsically muddled looking things. Skimmias camellias and bamboos in wooden planters outside perhaps, something strong but softening but not too vertical, blob like static - you have lots of conifers in garden already.

I also think you need to play to the style of the building/windows and keep the style light but modern, could be a bit retro eclecctic but it shouldn't be Victorian or Edwardian elegant vibe or shabby chic. somehow that doesn't sit right with windows or front door etc. Basically light and air and nothing too fussy or fancy or prettified.

YetAnotherThing · 21/02/2019 20:44

Agree- no kerb appeal. Also the view out of some windows is of other properties so mightthink it’s too overlooked/built up. Maybe those are the photos to cut or take photos from another angle in those rooms, to avoid looming properties behind. Agree back garden is a bit forlorn too, esp that photo of the back wall. Get lots of potted spring plants, garden table out etc. It’s a lovely house inside and honestly wouldn’t do too much there.

Twooter · 21/02/2019 20:45

I also thought at looking how you could convert some of the garage.

Jojobythesea · 21/02/2019 20:48

I ended up getting a family member with professional photography equipment to take photos of our house on a nice sunny day as non taken by the EA showed it to its best. Much more interest after that.

sheerjewl · 21/02/2019 20:52

The first thing I noticed was O.I.E.O...
I find that can sometimes put people off because what is it that you want... 400k? 326k?
I know you said it's reasonably priced but it depends how much excess it is and that doesn't say you would take any lower than 325k so is that priced right ?

onemorego2019 · 21/02/2019 20:56

It's a lovely house once you get past the first picture. The cover photo is awful and may put people off. You only see the top one in the list view so many are maybe scrolling by?

minieggsqueen · 21/02/2019 21:04

Really like your living room dining area.

I don't like that the master doesn't have an ensuite and one of the bedrooms is really small.

I think the kitchen would be nicer if it flowed into the dining room more, it's very small and seems quite dark from the photos.

Not a fan of the garden, looks messy and a lot of upkeep! Also front of house isn't very appealing or smart looking.

Fettuccinecarbonara · 21/02/2019 21:10

I actually really like it!

And I barely like any houses on MN.

The colour scheme isn’t to my taste, but you’re NEVER going to please everyone, and people who like your house will expect to redecorate.

I do agree though, front impressions of the house don’t look great.

If the price is right, I’d wait it out. What will be, will be.

crimsonlake · 21/02/2019 21:12

I always check the market information which shows you bought in 2012 and are now asking 90 k more for it. Have you done a lot of work on the property?

Foraminutethere · 21/02/2019 21:14

I think downstairs doesn't have much heart going on. Upstairs feels a lot more personable. It is lovely, don't get me wrong, but it just doesn't scream welcoming home to me downstairs.

Tell the agent to cut the hdr crap with the photos too!

PersilOrAriel · 21/02/2019 21:22

Nobody has commented on the lack of downstairs loo, or only one bathroom. That would put off a lot of families, I think. There was opportunity when the extension was built, although I realise that was previous owners.

soulrider · 21/02/2019 21:24

Tbh first impression is expensive for a semi detached house in Sheffield

BeekyChitch · 21/02/2019 21:25

I think it's lovely!! I would buy this only
If the kitchen were 3x bigger!

I think the green in the kitchen and yellow I. The study are very in your face, I would tone it down. The tiles in the bathroom as well are pretty random and not to everyone's taste (I actually think it's pretty unique and cool).

Your kitchen is the one area I dislike. The layout IMO isn't great and with a big house like that I would expect a much bigger kitchen. Is there anyway to open it up?

The garden is a fabulous size but could do with tidying up/ decking painted. Hope you sell it because it's a cracker!

ChesterGreySideboard · 21/02/2019 21:31

I love it, especially the multilayered bedroom.
I think the lack of second bathroom and/or downstairs toilet would put people off.

soulrider · 21/02/2019 21:34

It's also top heavy due to the extension over the garage which will put a lot of people off. Downstairs sqm is much more like a 3 bed semi (which i imagine it once was) than what people would expect for a 4 bed.

RuthW · 21/02/2019 21:35

It's lovely inside. Decorated really well. I wouldn't view though as I can't see a downstairs loo and a large house should have one. I

Original poster
PleaseSellMyHouse · 21/02/2019 21:41

FYI

First pic on rightmove now changed. I have also now asked EA to take off OIEO, delete several pics and turn down contrast on bedroom photos (the yellow room is actually mustard!) as a stop gap before potentially painting etc.

OP posts:
HellsBellsAndBatteredBananas · 21/02/2019 21:45

The expanse of white on the frontage photo is what is off putting, its just a bare massive space and it would look so much better with planters in front of it or even just painted a colour to match the brickwork. I would also make sure that the door and garage door matched in terms of colour to make it pop and look cleaner.

Other than that just a declutter and maybe, possibly repaint the brighter rooms to make them appeal to more people.

NoraEphronsneck · 21/02/2019 21:49

Lovely house but agree about first photo being awful.

Things that stand out for me:

Kitchen needs splashback or tiles.

Are the words on tiles in the bathroom stickers or actually whole tiles? I like them but someone else might want to replace straight away.
Get rid of carpet in ensuite bathroom.