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Original poster

Why doesn’t anyone want our house?!

488 replies

noitsachicken · 11/07/2019 13:21

Been on the market since January.
Dropped the price twice, recently switched agents.
Lots of viewings, generally positive feedback. People like the house, but no one wants to buy it!!

OP posts:
mounteverest564 · 11/07/2019 22:50

Do you have to transfer the lease agreement of panels to the new buyer ? my understanding was that they are automatically transferred to the new freeholder, via the leasehold agreement attached to the airspace of the property for the lease length ?

GreekOddess · 11/07/2019 23:05

The house is lovely! I particularly love your bookcase arrangement in your living room. Did you buy this off the shelf or was it made to measure?

SnappedandFartedagain · 11/07/2019 23:09

When a house has leased solar panels it means the sale is treated as a leasehold transaction, even if it's a freehold house. The conveyancing costs more and involves more work. You have to find a buyer willing to take over the lease and a mortgage company willing to lend on the property. Sometimes the solar panel company will offer the new buyer the opportunity to buy the panels, but they are generally asking for the best part of £20k.

PoppingOneOutIn2020 · 11/07/2019 23:11

In regards to your comment about redecorating.

Its statistic that buyers are put off my coloured walls. I read somewhere while looking to buy our house "white walls sell"

Dont go magnolia.. that colour is bloody vile.

mounteverest564 · 11/07/2019 23:21

@SnappedandFartedagain So does the conveyancer have to contact the lease holder and have the lease amended with the new buyers details?

selfishcrab · 11/07/2019 23:35

There are so many new builds going up around the area and TBF the infant school is ok but the senior school is crap , my DSS was there until we took him out and I grew up in that area.
I would say it was a little over priced too.

FudgeMallowDelight · 12/07/2019 00:00

@Tartsamazeballs I give you 10/10 for your lovely drawing Smile

Bovneydazzlers · 12/07/2019 06:51

Lovely house, far tidier and less cluttered than mine.

The bedrooms are small, but I would make the master bedroom look more... Master bedroom like - it looks more like an unloved spare room. Big smart picture behind bed, make the bed more central, get a few more pillows and buy some smarter duvets. All stuff you can take with you so no wasted money.

Agree about some hanging baskets/greenery for the front.

Also the wall in the living room, Id replace the little pictures with a big picture.

MyReadingChallenge · 12/07/2019 07:03

So many people are holding off to see what happens with Brexit, people are being very cautious and want an absolute bargain if they purchase now. So it’s likely more an economic issue that too many bath mats etc

Atalune · 12/07/2019 07:39

op how much do you pay a month for your solar panels.

Also what’s the justification for the price increase on the property?

I think you can titivate and alter but fundamentally it’s the price

Bignicetree · 12/07/2019 08:46

What's the box on the wall above the table ?
Others have asked this . Apologies if I have missed the answer !

PennyPeaShooter · 12/07/2019 08:58

I think the box above the table is cheapy-boxed-in pipework of some kind. I love what Tart did with the front garden - much warmer looking. I don't agree with previous posters about colour. I like colour but it's all subjective isn't it. Good luck with it all OP, this Brexit thing's an utter nightmare.

daisypond · 12/07/2019 09:30

Back to the solar panels - is there a buyout clause at all? Some contracts don’t have them, so you might not even have the option to pay the 20k or whatever to the solar company, in which case you are stuck with them. Has there been any legal action taken in these sorts of contracts, deeming them unfair, I wonder?

Bluntness100 · 12/07/2019 09:34

There are so many issues with leased solar panels. A lot of the time the original installer no longer exists and it becomes a paper chain chasing nightmare and can be very costly.

The op doesn't need to just find a buyer she needs to find one willing to take the lease for the panels. As otherwise she would be asked to buy out the lease hold. And any decent buyers solicitor is going to inc the panels in the searches and make sure they know exactly what they are getting into.

The image the pp did with the hanging baskets etc looks lovely.

sunshine11 · 12/07/2019 13:04

I think the house itself is fine and I like the downstairs layout. The master bedroom is really unappealing though. This is where I’m going to spend a lot of time. Can you put some effort into making it more desirable looking?

HeronLanyon · 12/07/2019 13:10

I think the particulars should summarise how to deal with the solar panels - what that means for someone looking - many (me included) would move on and I’m not sure the house is special enough (it is lovely op but not unusual) for me to start to enquire etc. I know there will be many similar more straightforward houses to look at.

Can 3 or 4 bullet points explain what this means for a buyer on rightmove so people don’t move to next property so quickly ?

millymaid · 12/07/2019 13:21

Your house is lovely! Are most of your viewers people with very young children? 3 things I think might be a tick against it for some people.

No "front" door - could you make the existing entrance incredibly beautiful? there's no picture so it might already be really nice. But could you add stylish plants in pots, lovely door furniture and/or lighting?

Solar panels are leased - what does that mean for the new buyer? Maybe you need to explain why this isn't a problem. This would be a potential deal breaker for me.

No garage - you might have to drop the price to compensate for this. Other 3 beds in your area without a garage are under £300k

Good luck!

Notreallyhappy · 12/07/2019 15:33

It's a nice house with a good kitchen as others have said,, it's not sexy inside...it looks boxy...square rooms with furniture in them but not how people like to fantasize about living in xx

callmeadoctor · 12/07/2019 16:22

Its interesting, isn't it? See I don't like the bookcase at all (wouldn't stop me buying though. Things that would irritate me are the all wonky pictures in the lounge and the plastic table cloth. (Easily solved!) Getting furniture in lots a real issue, along with the solar panels. I wouldn't look at a house with solar panels.

daisypond · 12/07/2019 16:42

Leaving aside the solar panels, which I do think are the major issue, I love the bookshelves - a major plus point for me. I also like the tablecloth! The kitchen is nice in general. Agree that that shot of the wall with the little pictures on in the living room is odd. Looks a bit bare. Agree that the master bedroom needs more of a glam factor, and the boys’ bedroom needs painting. The girl’s room is fine. Yes to flowers or plants outside at the front.

Magstermay · 12/07/2019 17:23

Personally I may be put off by what looks like a very small hall (where do buggy/ shoes/ coats go?). The airing cupboard in bed 2 would I expect make it very warm and if factor in wanting to move hot water tank. Is bedroom 3 big enough for a wardrobe?
It doesn’t look like bed 2 could fit a double - not an issue unless you could get 2 doubles for the same price in another house.

Lastly I love the shelving wall personally but our tv is bigger than yours I think so how would we fit it in?! Sounds ridiculous I know but sometimes small things can put people off.
The side access would put me off a bit too as it looks quite narrow.

For all that I think it’s a lovely home just a less traditional layout which may put some people off.

Bottletopsx · 12/07/2019 17:37

I think it's a lovely house inside. How about putting up a hanging basket and some tubs of flowers at the front would make it more welcoming.

Vivianebrookskoviak · 12/07/2019 17:43

The house doesn't look that appealing from the outside so perhaps a few plants or something to liven it up a bit and a few pictures on the walls of the main bedroom might be a couple of ideas. I don't think the price is wrong, it is a detached in an expensive part of the country.(I can say this as we're in the same city as you! I would not say that is expensive at all since you won't get anything under 300k in somewhere like St George with three bedrooms and not even detached, totally different area but to give some context!)I'm actually wondering how hard your estate agents are marketing the house and if they are doing all they can.