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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:
Honeyroar · 14/07/2019 13:59

I think that the house is fine inside. It seems very expensive to me, but I’m used to northern prices! I think you really missed a trick by not adding a door on the front when you converted the garage. I think the house is as good as others nearby people have linked (your garden looks bigger, even with the slide etc).

GrassIsntGreener · 14/07/2019 14:10

Appeal from the outside is hugely important! Why would you think otherwise?

catndogslife · 14/07/2019 14:33

Offer lunch to the friend with the most stylish house, and head for IKEA (no Homesense in Bristol, sadly)

There is a branch of Homesense at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol which is close to the OP.

When the OP posted her link she did request kindness so suspect that she is long gone.
I suspect that it's becoming a buyers market in Bristol at the moment and viewers can afford to be more picky.

Needmoresleep · 14/07/2019 14:53

Yay! Dont know why I did not spot that earlier. Or perhaps I am getting confused by the fact that there is no Uniqlo - favourite place for DD to buy placement clothes.

Still my view that a bit of colour is needed to brightened the beige, perhaps green to blend in the sofa. But not much more.

In terms of market has doing sway with the bridge toll made some areas of South Wales more attractive, reducing prices in North Bristol?

wofs · 14/07/2019 16:40

I think it needs a bit more kerb appeal. Maybe a couple of hanging baskets and a tub to show where the front door is. The solar panels would put me off, as they are 'leased'. ( Not sure what that entails.)I think a few plants here and there would make it look a bit less clinical. Generally I think it looks alright - I'm sure it will sell soon, if it is the 'right price'.

wowfudge · 14/07/2019 17:26

@mathanxiety not every trend is worth following - let's face it, they are designed to simply sell us more stuff - and I have enough life experience to have had discussions with colleagues and friends about how they use their houses, including - yes - the issue of bathroom sharing. So you can get knotted making assumptions about me. You've said yourself, it's a moot point as the bathroom isn't big enough. The point is that there are things either the OP cannot change or which it makes no financial sense for her to change. Potential buyers have to weigh up what's important to them and, if they interested enough, make an offer which gives them the option to make any changes within their budget or which they believe make sense financially.

I stand by what I have said all along that the kitchen at the front of the house, no downstairs loo and possibly the asking price are what are preventing viewers from making offers.

IvanaPee · 14/07/2019 18:28

It would be insane to start buying fucking red sofas!

The house is too expensive for the size of it. Simple as that.

PickAChew · 14/07/2019 19:17

One person's drab is another person's calming. I hate all white walls, even though I bought a house with all white (often multiple shades on one wall) walls. Layout, room sizes, location and actually being a bit quirky sold it to us. The things that are hard or impossible to change. Not the party lifestyle of the young, acrimoniously separating couple selling it.

QueenBeee · 14/07/2019 19:27

Haven't read the thread but looks as if garage has been converted to a room - if so where do you keep bikes etc in a family home.
One loo is a bit dated most expect 2 at least.
Where do you park the cars. If on the street is there room for two outside your house.
Overpriced due to above.

mathanxiety · 14/07/2019 19:30

Who said buy a sofa?
There are slipcovers... There are cans of paint to cover the beige walls. And the OP could easily rearrange the furniture.

The point is that there are things either the OP cannot change or which it makes no financial sense for her to change.
Yes indeed, wowfudge and if you look back through my posts you will see that I have said exactly that all along.

what I have said all along that the kitchen at the front of the house, no downstairs loo and possibly the asking price are what are preventing viewers from making offers.
Me too, if you bothered to check.

I also said that you can drum up interest by means of decor - furniture arrangement, selective decluttering of the bookshelves and children's items, furniture colour, wall colour, plants, and while I didn't mention it, maybe some art that doesn't say 1986.

People can look down their noses all they like at 'stupid buyers' but they are missing the point that you can use your online presence to give either a brilliant first impression or a dud - curb appeal for the entire house - and if visual first impressions didn't count, all there would be in an online posting is floorplans and descriptions as in the good old days when people looked at listings in EA offices.

mathanxiety · 14/07/2019 19:31
  • You can make the house look as if the asking price is reasonable if you pay attention to the decor.
Bluntness100 · 14/07/2019 20:12

People can look down their noses all they like at 'stupid buyers' but they are missing the point that you can use your online presence to give either a brilliant first impression or a dud

This is all getting a bit silly. She is getting lots of viewings. There is no issue in her getting people through the door. The issue is no one is buying.

And really, I don't want to keep saying it, but that's really not due to not having red slip covers on her rather lovely sofa.

Thisisme12345 · 14/07/2019 20:28

Your house is lovely. I think the problem is the leased solar panels. I believe the lease means the householder doesn't actually own the roof and this can lead to issues with things such as insurance.

another20 · 14/07/2019 20:38

Bloody hell OP - have they scared you off ???

ALittleBitAlexis · 14/07/2019 20:38

You can make the house look as if the asking price is reasonable if you pay attention to the decor.

Not if you’re already getting viewers. The issue is the solar panels, you could have the House Doctor herself kit out your house and people would still back away once they’ve looked up the issues with them.

I doubt the OP is still reading but if you are, ask your EA if buyers are mentioning the panels and if they’ve had issues selling other houses with the same agreement.

BarbedBloom · 15/07/2019 00:17

The solar panels would be an issue for me, as would the narrow entry as our furniture wouldn't fit. Inside is fine and I love the bookcase

I suspect the bigger issue aside from a slow market is everyone seems to be buying in newport area and commuting now as you get more house for your money. A family member sold to a family who work in Bristol, as have a few friends this year

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 15/07/2019 11:42

I think it's a fab house! Just lovely. Sadly massively out of my budget and not where I live but I can't see anything wrong with it. I love your white book case, where's it from?

Devora13 · 15/07/2019 14:00

May have been said, but people can be fussy about nowhere to park. Looks like you converted the garage and no parking at the front.

sueyandcol1 · 15/07/2019 17:08

Apologies if someone has already said this...

I believe RightMove is by far the most popular online property search tool, and the searcher normally enters their highest price. The price levels are fixed, so in your case, the highest level would be £325k or £300k. The problem is that, if the searcher sets their highest price at £325k, they may have to scroll down through lots of other properties in your area before they see your house.

I think you would be better off setting your asking price at "offers in excess of" £300k. Then searchers will see your house at or near the top of the search results. Ask your agent what they think about this.

A few other tips - keep the pressure on your agent to get you viewers, and make sure they get detailed feedback for you after every viewing.

Get them to add more info to the description about nearby schools, shopping, etc.

And I think the front of the house needs more kerb appeal - maybe a few troughs with pretty plants. That won't cost much to do.

Good luck!

BNA2983 · 16/07/2019 04:02

I know nothing about this area but it's most likely your price.

I live in London and I wouldn't buy a tiny 3 bed house for that amount..not sure why it's that high in Bristol.

Nearly47 · 16/07/2019 11:54

BNA2983 Where in London can you find a 3 bed house for 300K?

BNA2983 · 16/07/2019 14:36

Greater London...that is a commutable distance to the city...

Surrey, Kent, Essex,

mathanxiety · 17/07/2019 02:49

ALittleBitAlexis Sun 14-Jul-19 20:38:39
You can make the house look as if the asking price is reasonable if you pay attention to the decor.
Not if you’re already getting viewers. The issue is the solar panels, you could have the House Doctor herself kit out your house and people would still back away once they’ve looked up the issues with them.

I doubt the OP is still reading but if you are, ask your EA if buyers are mentioning the panels and if they’ve had issues selling other houses with the same agreement

She is getting lots of viewings despite the clear warning about potential issues with the solar panels in the description:
On the roof of the property are Solar Panels which are leased. Please ask for more details.

She could ask the EA if people talk about the solar panels.
She could ask if the house smells.
She could ask if people remark on decorating/outfitting costs - textured ceiling visible in living room, mag throughout, bathroom flooring and skirting boards could be replaced, laminate worktops in kitchen, washing machine is plumbed but not visible in the kitchen..
She could find out if people ask about cost and PP for extensions or conservatory/second loo/ switching around kitchen/living room.

PooWillyBumBum · 19/07/2019 15:58

I haven’t read the whole thread. My thoughts:

Change the cover photo to the kitchen diner. It doesn’t always need to be the front of the house.
Some plants out the front wouldn’t go amiss
Back garden nice and neat, I would set up a chair and tables and parasol
Bedrooms look a bit drab/clinical, but lovely and minimal. I would consider repainting more modern colours I.e. grey/white/an F+B-Type colour and softening the rooms with a few throw pillows
The master is particularly unappealing. I would think about throw cushions, rug, better light fitting and something above the bed
Daughters room is nicely appealing however
Bathroom could do with a plant or something

I know nothing about price in your area but if you’re motivated to sell I would “re-stage” the house, ask for new photos and bring it down by 5-10k. You’ll always sell at the right price.

PooWillyBumBum · 19/07/2019 16:01

Also in another life I worked in a v successful EA and they only published some of the rooms. In your case they’d probably photograph all of downstairs, the bathroom, the master and the garden and leave the smallest bedroom and reduce the kitchen pics at the least. People who feel like they’ve already “seen” the house may be less likely to view. Obviously a risky tactic as others may argue they’ll assume you’re hiding something but it did seem to work for them.

Also there are loads of great tips on How to Sell your House on Netflix. Can’t say how much was down to staging and how much was market demand but we worked bloody hard on ours and it sold in one day of hitting the market last month.