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Original poster

Why won't anyone buy our house?!

202 replies

BuyMyHouse · 30/10/2019 14:47

So frustrated trying to sell our house! We have a nice little 2 bed, part of a new development (we bought off plan 3 years ago). Had a good number of viewings, but there have been a few other 2 bed houses/flats for sale in our development, so naturally everyone looking at ours is looking at those too.

So far all the other houses have had offers and we're just waiting away! Ours is arguably nicer than the others too - back of the development, so nice and quiet. And we're end of terrace, rather than in the middle like the others.

I didn't realise how easy it was when we were first time buyers!

OP posts:
Original poster
BuyMyHouse · 30/10/2019 15:16

We have told the agent to take OIEO off. We're close to losing the house we want to buy, so willing to go low just to get it sold at this point

OP posts:
missyB1 · 30/10/2019 15:17

The only things I would say are that the kitchen needs to show a dining space and the living room needs to look a bit cosier.

Usernumbers1234 · 30/10/2019 15:18

Nicely presented place. It’s the OIEO hurting you, it’s a buyers market, people like to think they’ve got a deal. You’d be better off going 360 and making them think they got a discount

NightsOfCabiria · 30/10/2019 15:19

People dislike colour unless its of their own choosing OP which is why estate agents usually say:

  1. paint it neutral
  2. Declutter
  3. price reasonably

The bright blue bathroom and bedroom would put a lot of people off.

Jaxhog · 30/10/2019 15:28

It doesn't stand out as being more desirable than the others. Paint the walls neutral colours, 'dress it' and, possibly lower the price. Make fresh coffee, the smell is very inviting apparently!

By dress it, I mean fresh flowers, lovely bright cushions and put some potted flowering shrubs in the garden. I think the garden is very barren and uninviting (sorry!) Most people don't have much imagination when it comes to viewing houses, so you have to create a nice environment for them.

toffeepinklady · 30/10/2019 15:28

Lovely house, but some pointers having bought recently myself. Agree about the blue! Also the living room and garden do look a little unlived in?! I would cosy up the living room a bit with a pair of curtains. And a similar approach to make the garden look a bit more friendly, and break up the solid grass area.

Humberbear · 30/10/2019 15:29

I prefer 2, the living space looks bigger and has room for dining table. Prefer their kitchen, not overkeen on your bottom units.
Glad I live north as well at them prices. Could get a 4 bedroomed for that where I live .

carly2803 · 30/10/2019 15:29

only criticism is paint the blue bedroom grey/white - neutral

it properly clashes with the bedding and yes i agree everyone walks into the house and will repaint/do the house to their style, but you want them to be able to visualise space/light and what they can do with it

the main things i look for in a house (im buying and not london way thank god)!, is kitchen and bathroom newish/not needing work and the rest is just a case of decorating to my taste.

your house is beautiful and id also put a fixed price. people will offer!

Mildura · 30/10/2019 15:30

Almost without exception when you're getting viewings and they're not turning in to offers it's down to price.

Make the price attractive enough and someone will buy.

Ditzandspritz · 30/10/2019 15:30

I think Chelmsford is having a bit of a hit at the moment (IMO) about a year ago I was looking to buy in the area and I would phone estate agents as soon as properties were listed only to be told they had gone, or properties were being bought without viewings (I've been told this is illegal but still seemed to happen). However, I have three friends in the area trying to sell their homes and nothing is moving, yet previously most properties under 500k would go super quick. One friend bought their 2 bed house for 380k last December (after competing with another 3 buyers), they have put the house back on the market this summer and have dropped the price to 265k as no one is interested. I dont think all the Bellway developments are helping as they offer financial support and house prices are dropping in London so maybe people are choosing to live closer? Just a thought !

LifeSpectator · 30/10/2019 15:31

I disagree with the comments about blue bedroom i think its not so in your face that you cant see beyond i, t and think if you dont like blue you can easily repaint, do you have a dining area thats not in pics? maybe that is putting people off if on viewing they dont see themselves sitting to eat, and you had people through door so its not the photos but i would try to do something about the garden put some pots in, borow a bbq , at moment doesnt look like a space you'd want to sit in, needs something on wall or infront of it a bit of trellis, maybe re do that pic with sun on garden or not in such a way that you see a lot of it remains in shade, set the table in garden before viewings make it look like an extra suiable space to use , talk to estate agent would restaging babysroom with a small daybed be better to reinforce its a two bed rather than a babys room with cot?

Danglingmod · 30/10/2019 15:31

There's nothing wrong with your house at all (I would probably move the pop up wardrobe in the nursery room so it's not awkwardly between the windows) and it seems reasonably priced compared to competitors. It's nicer than the two houses you linked to.

Your photographs aren't brilliant. The kitchen one is too close up and doesn't show how big the room is. If there isn't a table in there or room for one, then there needs to be one in the living room (like in the white and pink house you also linked to). The first picture on the listing should really be the front of the property, unless it's horrible looking, which yours isn't. And I'd remove OIEO (which you said you will). V offputting.

Otherwise, yes, expect to get less money for a new build than you paid for it, especially if they're still building as people always prefer a brand new house than a two year old one.

Good luck!

stucknoue · 30/10/2019 15:32

It's not your house its brexit nothing is selling

ChicCauldron · 30/10/2019 15:33

Is it possible to get a picture of the garden without the shadows - it makes it look a bit dark for the majority of it. Might not be if the shadows are due to other buildings!

Can you fold down the heated airer in the second bedroom and get another photo?

Agree with the PP about showing a dining space and perhaps dressing the kitchen a bit more.

Is the development finished or is building still going on at the moment? If they are still building new houses people might be tempted by the new ones.

Good luck with the sale OP, sounds like you are getting the viewings but not an offer at the moment.

Mildura · 30/10/2019 15:34

It's not your house its brexit nothing is selling

That's a rather sweeping statement, which is far from true.

1forAll74 · 30/10/2019 15:36

I think your home looks nice,and can't understand why you are having problems with selling it. Comments about blue walls,and long narrow gardens are so silly. Things can be changed quite easily, I would love the challenge of designing a newish garden like that.

It's a shame that other similar properties are for sale,or selling,and that their are so many picky people about.!

tentative3 · 30/10/2019 15:36

In yours vs number 2, I like their upstairs side window and also prefer their garden to yours, plus I would be a bit put off by the access to the parking down the side of your house. That's all based purely on what's in the photos, I appreciate the reality might be different and I do completely understand that you can't change those things, except the garden. I do think you should try and do something there.

More easily changed is the lack of dining table. Your lounge is a bit smaller than number 2 but looks substantially smaller.

In terms of yours vs 3, I think they're pretty different houses and I wouldn't choose theirs but if I had to think why, again I think it's things you can't change such as the dual aspect.

I would do some work to your garden, get a dining table and make the whole thing a touch more homely.

Danglingmod · 30/10/2019 15:37

Absolutely not true around here re Brexit (E Mids). Certain types of property (bungalows and modern large family homes especially) are selling within days of going on the market.

Noflora · 30/10/2019 15:39

Nice house. I can't make out the floorplan though. There is no overall total like the other 2 houses and bedroom 2 is wider than bedroom 1 although plan shows a rectangle. Not a huge thing but would bug me till I found out why (both issues)

Ohdeariedear · 30/10/2019 15:41

I would take a photo of the garden showing the back of the house and the nice seating area - agree with a PP who says the garden looks like a long corridor.

Also, change the OIEO

Apart from that it looks nice, clutterfree etc. There's sometimes just no rhyme or reason to why one sells and another doesn't!

YogaDrone · 30/10/2019 15:44

I like your house OP.

I agree with the others about some of the photos ,particularly of the kitchen and garden. I like your kitchen but the photo makes it look like a little cubby. Also, why is the photo of the front of your house not the first photo? It's a good looking house so this seems weird. I always assume that if the first photo isn't of the front elevation then the house must be really ugly!

I also agree that you need a table in the living/dining room if you can't get one in the kitchen.

What sort of feedback are you getting from viewings? You could ask your estate agent if they know what people viewing yours are putting offers on (or at least looking at) this might give you some ideas about your "competition".

JoJoSM2 · 30/10/2019 15:44

I agree that the main issue is no dining space + only one sofa in the livings space. Most people looking to buy a house envisage that it’ll fit more than 2 people eating in their laps in the living space.

FuckyNel · 30/10/2019 15:47

Op where’d you get that foot stool / ottoman in the lounge? Ta Grin

Constantbronchitislaryngitis · 30/10/2019 15:52

I think oieo is the main problem

AdoreTheBeach · 30/10/2019 15:53

The second link has quite poor photos. Much prefer the first link photos of your house

The blue bedroom and very dark loo should be more neutral

About the garden, a few large tubs of winter flowers / shrubs can give a softer feel and better look. Plus, if you use tubs/planters, you take them with you.

Agree with PP, show the kitchen as having a table and chairs (even if you borrow from a friend for photos only) and remove the grey canvas storage thing between the windows of your DC room. Ensure this room is described as a double.

Also agree, remove OIEO.

Generally speaking, I thought this time of year the house market slows down the closer you get to Xmas and picks up @March.

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