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Not much interest in our house, thoughts please!

197 replies

Vicki1990 · 01/06/2019 17:40

Hi everyone,

Could do with some advice. We put our house on the market just under 3 weeks ago, whilst we appreciate this isn’t a long time we thought we would’ve had a lot more interest than we’ve had!

We live in a very sought after village, house prices here are on the increase and the market does seem slow. There is no other property like ours in the village, were a 2 bed with beautiful views and we’ve only had 2 viewings! One was the nosy neighbour, naturally. One was a couple looking to relocate to be closer to their daughter in the village, they loved the property and seemed really keen, they’ve left us great feedback but nothing since! They have got a property on the market though.

We have reserved a new build which is almost ready so we are under pressure to get sold!

Please let me know your thoughts!

OP posts:
ChequersDog · 01/06/2019 18:51

Did you talk to any local agents? What did they say about price?

Vicki1990 · 01/06/2019 18:56

Yes there is a shed included, and the loft is boarded and with an easy access ladder, this is all listed on the advert.
We have spoken to local agents, all with a similar valuation, one was £170,000 others were higher, we’ve gone middle of the road with a view to accept an offer closer to £170,000

OP posts:
Vicki1990 · 01/06/2019 18:57

There is also a large store cupboard under the stairs, the rooms are all large enough for storage and both bedrooms have double beds, wardrobes, chest of drawers, bedside tables etc in

OP posts:
IndianaMoleWoman · 01/06/2019 19:06

Maybe get some pictures of loft/shed/dining area? To be honest when we are house hunting we scroll through pics to get a feel without reading descriptions. Looking through your pictures, I’d think “immaculate but small” and move on to the next listing.

Kernobhead · 01/06/2019 19:11

The downstairs layout puts me off if I’m honest. My house is similar in that you access the kitchen via the living room, it means that half the living room can’t really be used as it’s a corridor to the kitchen.

My next house has to have a separate living room, with it’s own door, that doesn’t lead to another room.

It’s a lovely house though, nicely presented.

Grinchly · 01/06/2019 19:14

Haven't read Full thread.

I think all the grey is too overwhelming although I do know it's currently fashionable, and just cosmetic, it would put me off. The house feels a bit clinical and cold. Could you brighten it up a little ?

The fence panelling is a bit prison-like, sorry.

And I immediately thought 'building site' when I saw the field/park at the back.

newjobnerves · 01/06/2019 19:18

It's beautiful. Great photos, looks bigger than the floor plan. Lovely views. Could purple bricks be putting people off? Only other thing will be price of course (no idea if that's reasonable or not for your area).

Bloomburger · 01/06/2019 19:20

Buy some nice bright bed linen. Other than that it's a lovely little house.

CatsForLife · 01/06/2019 19:26

Can’t see anything wrong with it. As PP said, I don’t like stairs into rooms, but that’s just personal taste. There’s nothing about kitchen/decor/garden or anything else that would put me off!

KatewithaH · 01/06/2019 19:33

I think it’s a beautiful house. Is the shed attached to the house? It isn’t clear where it is located. The only part I didn’t like is the lampshade in the bedroom (with pine bed) everything else looks like you could just move in and get on with life.

Parker231 · 01/06/2019 19:55

I would want to decorate but that is personal taste. It’s well presented but the lack of a dinning room and the entrance straight into the living room would make it a no for me.

longtimelurkerhelen · 01/06/2019 19:56

Nice house but a bit too grey. Change the dark bedding covers and make sure you iron them before photos are taken.

The garden could do with a focal point and some climbing plants to cover the fence panels. Maybe put a seating arbour on the back fence (you can take it when you move).

I would love the view. Hope it sells for you soon.

Fluffycloudland77 · 01/06/2019 20:05

I love the grey!

I can’t see anything wrong with it.

Mse can be a bit bonkers.

Vicki1990 · 01/06/2019 20:09

Thank you! There is a separate porch before the front room which we don’t have a picture of. Will spruce it up with some fresh bed linen, and lighter cushions etc and fingers crossed it will make a difference!

OP posts:
GookledyGobb · 01/06/2019 20:10

If I were being very very picky;
Coffee table and drawers in bedrooms look cluttered
Overhead view of garden makes it look tiny - if you’re wanting to show the view have a photo that doesn’t include the garden as it really makes it looks small and I would have stopped viewing then
Photo of shed on the side of the house makes me think you’re lacking storagd

missyB1 · 01/06/2019 20:16

You’ve presented it very smart and tidy, but my initial thoughts are that it looks a bit bland and not at all cosy? It’s just a bit sterile and lacking warmth for me. I love the location and views from the back though.

updownleftrightstart · 01/06/2019 20:18

I like the grey, but that's my taste. Anyway it's not like people can't paint. But I wouldn't buy a house with purple bricks. I wouldn't even bother viewing it.

keepingbees · 01/06/2019 20:20

I really don't know why you've been slaughtered on MSE, sure some things are personal taste but no one will ever have a suits-everyone house! What on earth is wrong with your fence panels? I think they look really smart.

MalloryLaurel · 01/06/2019 20:21

I have the same kitchen as you, ours is a different colour.
I can't see anything that needs doing.

EggysMom · 01/06/2019 20:29

The room are so grey that I wondered if they'd been published in black & white with spot colour on the flowers and fish-tank ... Please inject some colour into those downstairs rooms!

MSE isn't bonkers, just sometimes brutally honest. Most of their objections were to PB as an agent. Personally I agree with the idea that you should consider a locked gate at the back of the garden for easy access to the park. It doesn't change security as a burglar would either jump the fence or simply remove a fence panel. But it could be a selling point for dog owners ...

Attache · 01/06/2019 20:42

When the estate agents said £170k are you sure they were saying that as a price they'd expect to sell for? I would take it to mean the amount they'd propose marketing it for.

Pure speculation not knowing the area, but if you assume agents go slightly generous at first valuation to win your business (say 5k over) plus you're expecting to take an offer below asking (say another 5k) then you could be looking at a sale price around £160k after their initial sale price suggestions of £170k. I would expect you to be selling at around the same price as your bought it for, or a little less - in the last 2 years ago I would guess house price inflation hasn't yet outstripped the new build premium you'd have paid. If you paid £165k then that would support the very speculative £160k.

I hope you get more, and there is certainly no harm in trying it at more to start with. But you need to sell, you're not attracting viewers, people generally say it's fine... it all adds up to price, to me. Don't paint, don't faff about with cushions. It's a perfectly nice house, the space looks generous and it looks incredibly clean. The bedrooms and living room look great.

Also Purple Bricks is probably fine in a more mainstream house with a big pool of buyers, but it sounds like this one's a bit niche in the area. Maybe people who want 2 beds in the area tend to look for a town rather than a village? A local agent might be better able to target the right buyers for you. Sorry for the essay!!

longtimelurkerhelen · 01/06/2019 21:13

You could put out some cut flowers in the rooms to inject a bit of colour for the photos. It does look nice though.

PetrichorRain · 02/06/2019 08:15

I think it’s lovely! Really nicely presented. My only slight issue would be that a lot of the photos look monochrome - at first I wondered if they’d been taken in b&w, and a few pops of colour added with photoshop! Might be worth adding a bit more personalisation? In the kitchen too - a bowl of fruit, half a sourdough on a board, that kind of thing.

But I agree that’s probably not the reason you haven’t had many viewings - could be the price, or is there a lot of competition in the area at the moment?

TheCaddy · 02/06/2019 08:23

Purplebricks have your money and no incentive to help or find you a buyer. Why are you taking photos? Shouldn’t that be your expert agent?

Wowthatwasabigstep · 02/06/2019 08:59

I am an former Estate Agent and would say the following;

It is very clean, painted the almost compulsory grey with no clutter however when I initially looked at the pictures it presents as a cold, clinical house. The only splash or deviation being the flowers in the lounge. You need to inject some warmth and loose some of the grey which had become the magnolia of years previously.

Kitchen is again cold, a single pot plant, cookery book or le Crusset /Chasseur type cooking item would suggest more happens than a cup of coffee in that kitchen.

You have a lovely back garden but it needs a table and chairs, the token attempts with pots scream these will be taken when you move and then all that is left is an expanse of grass and nothing else. How about planting some borders? Current set up gives the impression you were never, literally going to put down roots. People generally want to buy houses with a good vibe and yours to me screams could move at a moments notice as there is no real connection to the property. Also a barbecue showing it is a sociable garden for the months ahead.

The shed at the side of the house, paint it a nice appealing but subtle colour, but certainly not grey!

There is a distinct lack of any personal detail, houses record life events and it is reassuring if there is a couple, but only a couple of pictures of weddings, graduation, significant events etc and such like dotted about.

The pine bed frame in the main bedroom, could that be altered? Doesn’t fit in with the look.

Books on the bedside table would counter balance the ‘dine and dash’ feel of the house.

I can’t remember if there are fluffy towels in the bathroom, if not they are needed.

Will have another look at the photographs and come back.