Critique my house

[PleaseSellMyHouse]

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

Oh sorry I don't think it's the front of the house. Whatever the first photo is of.

Yopa is probably some of your issue. If you've not sold within the next 8 weeks I'd go with a traditional agent who are commission hungry. We used a grandiosely agent and ours sold in 2.5 weeks. We paid around £9k in commission but to us it was worth it. It's a funny time now though so that's not on your side. I'd probably say it's a tad overpriced for the area, based solely on living in London/South East where prices are high!

27 picture is way too many, show 10-15 of the best rooms and they can see the rest upon viewing.

*traditonal not 'grandiosely' whatever that is!

Just to add to my post above about the number of pictures. Why is there a pic of just the sink in the cartoon bathroom? Not needed. Just one pic of each room max!

I think you have a lovely house. Here is what would put me off buying though:

Front exterior looks very run down because of the exposed white walls. Add some planter baskets there to make it look more inviting.

The colours on your walls in the kitchen and bedroom are too personalised. To sell, these need to be neutral colours. I don't want to have to move somewhere and immediately think I have to paint.

@PleaseSellMyHouse Do you know what paint is in the master bedroom?

The coloured bedrooms wouldn't bother me - it's just paint.

However, the bathroom tiles would. I don't mind the colour at all. It's the cartoon words on the tiles. I'd have to replace them and get someone in to do it. Firstly I wouldn't want that hassle, and I'd be wanting a reduction on the price to account for that.

If it was just one of the bathrooms.... but it's both.

@whatthenightbrings it’s Laura Ashley dark dove grey

Thanks for your input everyone. Right move should change a bit today (I have found Yopa to be brilliant compared to any previous agent I’ve used, local agent and so responsive) and house has been tweaked for this weeks viewings.

Clocks swapped, furniture moved a bit, surfaces cleared, oranges on the table.

I’ve realized through this thread the photos are the issue. The house really isn’t 90s but the photos have the contrast turned up too high. But, I have heard what you’ve said about neutral colours.

I’m not going to do serious renovations and I am constrained by the reality of the layout and room sizes, the kitchen is bigger than it looks but it isn’t an eat-in kitchen. This is a fairly standard shape and size round here (we aren’t, for example, up against symmetrical period properties with down stairs loos!)

I will read and re-read and take on as much as I can.

I will paint etc I just mean I’m not going to start knocking down walls.

Honestly I wouldn't paint, that's just subjective.

I think the kitchen is an issue, and that image would make me hesitate to view it, it looks barely functional. Can you maybe put shelves up on the bare wall? I think a lot of people will be unsure how they would manage in a family house with a kitchen where you can't have a fridge freezer and there is very few cupboards.

I'd neutralise all the coloured walls/tiles, people are put off straight away as its not their choice and lots of people don't want the job of redecorating throughout.

Before any viewings pull off the stickers on the outsides of the dishwasher in the kitchen and the washing machine in the utility room. Small thing but the white goods/room looks much smarter when they are cleaned of them.

Could you photograph the kitchen from a different angle?
I think it’s the large amount of wall above the cooker that makes it look unbalanced.

There are no tiles or splashback in the kitchen which I would find difficult to live with.In fact the kitchen feels unfinished or an afterthought.
I'd be taking off the cost of replacing the tiles in the bathroom, fitting a new kitchen and putting in a downstairs loo from any offer I made tbh.
It seems really overpriced to me living not too far away as well and if that was my budget it would be pretty easy to get a better deal so wouldn't view if I'm honest.

Its an odd shape, have you extended it?

Lounge: the seating arrangement looks odd to me, quite anti-social and cluttered.

Master bedroom: the steps look lethal without a rail. The platform area with the repurposed sideboard would be a pain for me as I'm short and would struggle to reach anything on it. With safer stairs I think it would be a great kids bedroom as you could put a mattress on the platform. Then you could have the room with the ensuite as the master.

Study: Doesn't this room have a door? I would find the prospect of having to get a door fitted off putting.

Bathroom: tiles would be great for a kids bathroom or quirky downstairs loo but very marmite for the only bathroom.

Colours don't particularly bother me but the lounge/diner looks odd in comparison to the others.

Unless the garage was desperately needed for parking I think I would be looking to convert the garage to living space to balance out the downstairs. Obviously then I would be making an offer with that in mind.

Op, did you replace the kitchen and try to keep the cost down, hence the bare wall, and no tiles or splash back? I. Think shoving three cream or pine shelves up on the bare wall would make a huge difference and be very cheap to do.

So the top of the job isn’t open on the picture. When that’s open that’s the splash back for the hob. It’s just never occurred to me to have tiles in the kitchen, the paint is so much easier to clean than tile grout. We’re big cooks and there is lots of storage, to the left of the shot is a huge floor to ceiling cupboard. We’re big cooks and we’ve never struggled with it. There are ten normal sizes cupboards, a pull out cupboard with shelves (full height) and a huge 7 foot tall cupboard (just mentioned) plus the utility.

The photo angle is awkward I agree. I’ve been round and round today and have struggled to see how it could be taken better.

*job = hob

I wouldn’t bother repainting the bedrooms, agree with everyone else, the first shot of the exterior of the house is very unappealing.

I thought the kitchen looked a bit basic/unfinished and small but from what you say that might be down to the photos. For me the kitchen is the heart of the home and a big expense if it needs replacing. If I was going to repaint or tart up anything it would be that.

Having said all that, I think your home looks lovely otherwise!

Picture!

Picture with correct cupboard numbers

I have had another look at your advert maybe I am over invested in your sale and I still think that your photos let it down.

I would seriously de-clutter. In the lounge there is something tucked down the side of the bookcase (next to the chair) other items on there which don't fit in. All this CAN give the illusion of not having sufficient storage. I understand that this is a family home but for the purposes of a sale you have to make it look as large and usable as possible.

Pack away half of the books and wall mounted plates/ornaments etc. They just confuse the viewers impression of the room. This also makes things easier when you actually do move as you have started on the packing.

Definitely re-visit the photography though. They really have not caught the best aspects and have included some of the bits a buyer might not want to see. Such as the garden area looks a bit untidy and unloved. Clip back some of the dead stuff and pressure wash the green paving by the back door. sweep the decking area. In a couple of weeks those bushes and trees may look a bit greener too which will look tons better.

Also there are too many images of the overlooking houses. A skillful estate agency photographer would have made sure they weren't on show.

Maybe tidy up the front - put some greenery in pots on the front - and as a pp says get a better angle of the front.

I htink there are too many photos.
One per room is enough to whet interest.
Otherwise people think they've seen all that needs to be seen and don't come and view.

I love all your bedrooms and garden.

I agree about not repainting teh bedrooms, I think the bright colours are fine for what are obviously kids rooms / study.

The bathroom tiles are distinctive but there’s nothing you can do about that now. Maybe some pots plants, towels and naice toiletries would distract a bit . Take wide shots with less focus on TILES shouting at you.

You are not showing off your garden properly. I know it’s hard in winter, but you need to take photos from a lower angle so there’s less focus on the ground. No ones grass and decking looks good now.

I agree with you OP that the photos are letting you down.