Why doesn’t anyone want our house?!

[noitsachicken]

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!!

Thanks for everyone’s comments.

The ‘dado’ is that what they’re called? Rails would put me off. I’d be looking at every room thinking great it’ll all need a replaster on top of a new bathroom.

You have storage bits on show too, that would put me off, Personally anyway.

What do you mean Jellybean?

Also the bookshelfy/ tv unit would put us off personally.

Another thing would be added to the list of things to do to make it ours.

Like in the kitchen the storage thing under the counter.

When you move to want the illusion of space, not seeing that people have ran out of it. You know?

I think it looks completely decent. I'm not sure what the housing stock is like in the area but the house seems to have pretty small sq footage. If someone views a standard 30's 3-bed semi, they'll probably get at least 25-30% more space and a bigger garden. But then I don't know if you have any of those locally or just if it's just modern houses with small rooms.

Is the market generally slow/prices dropping in your area or are you just unlucky?

Leased solar panels would put me off. I love your living room though!

It is nice btw!

And nice and clean! I can’t stand looking at houses that are cluttered- I wouldn’t even look at the photos in that instance haha

Thanks everyone, I’ll speak to the agent about a new photo from the front.
The new agents have been better with feedback than the last ones so we might get some more useful info after a few more viewings.
I get there are things that don’t appeal to everyone, but surely that’s part of buying a house, it’s not all going to be perfectly to your style/taste.
I just don’t understand why we haven’t got any offers, even low ones.

In general it's a really lovely house OP. As someone currently looking at buying in the near future, my first critical thoughts are 1. Front shot is confusing, can't work out where your front door is and where your property begins/ends. 2. I don't like the dado rails, they'll be a pain to remove. 3 bathroom looks a bit tired. Could you get a new side on the bath to lighten it up a little?
Other than that, it looks really spacious and light, and neatly decorated.

Yes it is slow, nothing seems to be moving, but it’s been six months!!

I'd guess that it's mainly because it doesn't have a 'front' door. More a side door. That would potentially put me off.
Looks like a lovely house though

What is the minimum you have told the agent you will accept? You said there is a school opposite any parking issues?

I know the area (I work at a very big MOD establishment close by) I'm surprised you've not had any interest given the desirability of the area especially for staff at my work.

Price seems fair and I think the house looks lovely.

I do agree the outside doesn't do it justice. I'd be put off from browsing by the front I think.

Seems a lovely house inside esp Kitchen area .Only thing is to me seems a little tight at the front(difficult from a photo though!).Maybe because front door at side?.I know here on South Coast ,houses generally arent selling much .2 on our road have been hanging around a while(both 4 and 5 beds!) .Brexit maybe ? .Can you hold off selling until later in year do you think?.My DA is having trouble ,selling one of her homes in London too ATM.Maybe pop some hanging baskets out there

It's a bit "meh" from the road. You need some planters with bright flowers and it needs to look loved from the outside. That's the first and last look they have of your house - make it memorable.

As an aside, you don't call it home either - do you not like it?

Just been looking on your road on Google Maps. (I should be working...oooops!)

TBH, I think the angle of the first pic (outside of your house) is odd. It looks like it's been taken from a low angle. I got a much better feel for the street on Google Maps, a lot of the houses don't have front doors.

Could you get a fence/shrubbery between yours and your neighbours house? Would hide the messiness? Or take photo showing the other neighbours house instead?

Would also look at adding some kerb appeal, a hanging basket or two. Also currently looks like there is rubbish down the right hand side of the house that needs moving?

Otherwise the house generally looks nice - nice sitting area, bedrooms look fine. However, it's a small newish house and for a growing family there is zero extension potential. When we were looking for our family home, extension potential was non negotiable and settled on a property that allows us to extend downstairs and create a loft room long term.

I do appreciate Bristol is expensive, though are there other houses where you can get an older house with more potential for similar money?

I just don’t understand why we haven’t got any offers, even low ones

Because you are likely not attracting the right viewers if, as I suspect might be the case, the price is a little high.

I read this a while ago and I think it's absolutely spot on:

Keen to get the best price, sellers will often ask what is wrong with ‘going high’, believing that their initial guide price represents the maximum achievable and that buyers can always make an offer. Buyers, though, want the best house they can afford and will not look at anything else. If your house is in their range but doesn’t appear to offer what they think they can get for their money, they will not consider it at any price. Conversely, less wealthy buyers for whom your price is even 10% above their maximum, assume you will be insulted by a low offer, so they will not look at your house, either. Indeed, if your price is outside the thresholds set when buyers search online, they won’t even be aware that your property is on the market

It's the front door that's the issue. The house looks really strange. Agree with others to try to exclude next door from the picture. I just wouldn't want to access my house via a some alleyway. Although you say the alleyway is wide, it doesn't look wide to me in the picture

Inside it seems fine, but maybe lose a few of the storage units.

Thanks mintypea

No issues with parking, we’re not opposite the school it’s behind the houses opposite if that makes sense (well the field is)

No its a chicken :Could be too near the school! .Often people who dont have children or not at the right ages , may be put off by Parking issues /playground noise !.Sometimes the right buyer will come along ,but it may take some time. Good Luck anyway!

I just measured the access to the door, it’s 110cm wide.

I see proximity to the school as a good thing, but I know not everyone will. It’s a popular and good school. It’s busy around pick up/drop off but not terribly so, and we have a drive so parking not an issue

Looks nice but I think you need a few better lighted photos. Also If you have a different cover photo, people that might have scrolled past yours on the website might take a second look.

The front of the house picture should be taken front on, on a sunny day, sun shining full on front to show that the path to the door is not narrow, also get some pots/flowers for curb appeal. and to hide neighbours messy front

The kitchen looks a bit dark (again take the pics when sun is flooding in), take off the plastic tablecloth for pictures, move stools to appropriate space, not shoved together.

Living room looks lovely, maybe take picture with the doors open and move the chair so it is not obstructing view.

Bathroom looks a bit bland, put something decorative on the windowsill, pot plant etc.

Garden, could you put the slide in storage or hide it for photos? Also need some flowers out there, looks a bit empty.

You can take your own pictures and send them to the EA and tell them which ones you want replaced. It just needs a bit of dressing, I think the price is fine, looking at others nearby.

I also think the market is a bit slow atm with the dreaded B word. Hope it sells for you soon. Good luck.