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Original poster

Why hasn't this sold?..

93 replies

NewYoiker · 15/05/2019 23:54

Looking to buy, and our village has houses moving pretty fast. It looks a total dream on paper but it's been on the market for 18 months..

Kitchen in the basement, enclosed garden, first floor is sitting room and dining room / third bedroom (?) second floor 2 beds and a bathroom..

Why would a house not sell for 18 months ?

OP posts:

BackOnceAgainWithABurnerEmail · 16/05/2019 09:06

It’s nice, but it’s still a little over priced when the inside is tired. I’d bid at £137k ish and expect to have it due no more than £145k

ooooohbetty · 16/05/2019 09:07

It's a nice house. However if it hasn't sold something needs to change. I'd redecorate in lighter colours, including hallways and doors and especially in the kitchen. If that is a carpet in the kitchen get rid. The large bush in the front needs cutting back imo. Do up the back garden a bit. Take if off the market while you do these things, give it a new look and relaunch. Btw the bathroom on the top floor wouldn't bother me a bit.

Shelbybear · 16/05/2019 09:22

I don't meant to sound mean I'm just trying to be honest and that is what u need of u want to sell!

I would need to replace kitchen and bathroom and the rest of the house needs decorated too so I would be looking at spending £20-£30K doing it up and that would need to be reflected in the price.

Whatever is on the walls in the kitchen is horrible and same with the bathroom. I would try to tackle those and even just paint with a neutral light colour. Is there a carpet in the bathroom 😯 get some cheap flooring. The bedroom carpets also look grim. You could probably spend a couple of grand and get the place looking much more appealing and get closer to your asking price.

It must be overpriced though. If it was priced to sell then it would even with the improvements that need doing.

Original poster

NewYoiker · 16/05/2019 09:33

@Shelbybear it's not my house 😂 I'm viewing it to buy ..

OP posts:

Drogosnextwife · 16/05/2019 09:35

It's very gloomy. Feels quite closed in and needs completely redecorated, including flooring. It's a pretty high price for the work that needs done so that's probably putting people off.

ArchieHarrison · 16/05/2019 09:47

it hasn't been decorated in decades and combined with the state of the garden, I'd guess it's in poor condition. Added to the horrible layout - wouldn't waste my time viewing

Bluntness100 · 16/05/2019 09:48

I suspect it's the layout. The only loo being on the third floor would be a total ballache. I live in a three story house and I can't imagine having to trek all the way to the top whenever I needed to pee.

Then you've the lounge and kitchen on totally different floors. Meaning you Have to trek Up and down when you want anything. And if you have kids you can't leave them in the lounge when you make dinner. You'd have to bring them downstairs to the kitchen.

Plus no easy access to the garden if you've kids. You'd have to be out there with them or sitting in the kitchen.

If you've guests over they need to go upstairs to sit in the lounge.

Plus it needs a load of work. The kitchen needs replacing. It is over priced for what it is, and it reads like the sellers are unreasonable and want more than it's worth.

On top of this it has a very odd long hallway of 27 feet.

I'd be cautious on this one. I can see why it's been on the market so long.

Ps as a pp said, that's not a basement, a basement is under ground. That's just the ground floor.

ooooohbetty · 16/05/2019 09:52

Sorry OP. I didn't read your post properly and I thought you were selling.

titchy · 16/05/2019 09:56

Tbh why are you viewing? There's much nicer houses available in a better location for that price.

Bluntness100 · 16/05/2019 09:58

I'm curious why you're so keen on it too and think it's a total dream?

DesperadoDan · 16/05/2019 09:58

It’s absolutely gorgeous and I’d snap it up if I lived that way.
I’m on the south coast where you would be looking at around 350k for a house like that

Shelbybear · 16/05/2019 09:59

@NewYoiker Ah right sorry. I thought u were looking to buy in same area but you couldn't sell yours.

It's a shame they don't have home reports like they do in Scotland. That way u cld view the report and see any issues without having to stump up cash for a report only to decide against buying it.

If you really like it, then put in an offer that takes in to consideration what it's really worth and how much you need to spend on it. Start low as ul probably need to come up a bit and tell them why, like it needs x, y and z done therefore our offer is. Good luck!

Bluntness100 · 16/05/2019 10:01

It’s absolutely gorgeous

Gosh, are you the seller? 🤣

DesperadoDan · 16/05/2019 10:05

No I’m totally shocked by the price!!!
You couldn’t buy a bedsit in my area for that price.

Bluntness100 · 16/05/2019 10:06

Is it just me or is the picture of the outside of the house misleading, as in it's showing the neighbours predominantly and the actual house for sale is the one to the far right of the picture, partially cut out, with the for sale sign outside it?

NotDavidTennant · 16/05/2019 10:15

The last two in the local area went for £166,000 and £150,000, and the former had a loft extension and was in better decorative condition, so clearly a better property.

The fact that the one you're looking at was originally on for £175,000, is now being marketed at 'offers over' and that it says "For A Limited Period Only The Vendor Will Consider All Reasonable Offers" in the description suggests to me that the owners have an unreasonable idea about the value of the place and may not even be that serious about selling.

ChicCroissant · 16/05/2019 10:26

Potential parking issues on a busy road (I see that there seems to be some road markings indicating parking but as it is close to the centre of the village this may be a big issue) also it is close to a school by the road signage and will be manic at drop off and pick up times.

CircleofWillis · 16/05/2019 10:37

Bluntness you are right. The floor plans match the house on the right not the one pictured.

wowfudge · 16/05/2019 11:01

No, the floorplans are not completely accurate rather than being for another house - there's no door at first floor level to outside! We used to live in a semi with a similar basement and we toyed with the idea of moving the kitchen to the rear basement room with direct access to the garden. In the end we didn't as the flow wouldn't be right and the rear reception room would lack a proper purpose.

The pricing is because of the additional usable room in the basement, but it completely fails to take the work needed and lack of flow into account. Compared to standard 2 bed terraces, it has a bonus room.

BlankTimes · 16/05/2019 11:24

As well as everyone's observations, check out the kitchen ceiling. It could be old Artex, in which case it could contain asbestos.

wowfudge · 16/05/2019 11:27

Which isn't a problem if it is intact and undamaged although it's unattractive. Skimming or boarding over that ceiling might not be practical as it's likely to be quite low.

LillianGish · 16/05/2019 12:13

Price - it's always price. Also interesting to see people's dislike of the basement kitchen. In parts of London such as Islington basement kitchens are extremely common - not to mention desirable, especially if you have access to a garden.This one for instance - even for £2 million you don't get a loo on every floor

PancakesAndMapleSyrup · 16/05/2019 12:26

I literally just looked at the location and pictures and the first thing that came to my mind was 'that's expensive for what it is. So another one down to price unfortunately.

Acis · 16/05/2019 12:32

This is quite a reflection on differing property prices. I fairly recently came across a property on the market at £160K nearish to where I live. It was one room with a kitchen sink and space for a microwave, and a minute loo, with room only for a single bed. So when I saw a 2/3 bedroom house for £150K it felt incredibly cheap to me.

Tavannach · 16/05/2019 12:49

I like it but I don't know the area.

It needs a bit of work.
Loo in the basement, white tiles in the kitchen and bathroom would make it more livable for me.
I'd ask the surveyor to pay particular attention to any possible issues with damp.
I like the garden and the fact that the kitchen opens straight onto it, and I like the look of the street.

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