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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:
thetardis · 30/10/2019 21:24

your house looks smaller than the neighbours, is that an optical illusion? do you have relatively low ceilings?

this isn't about the colour of the bedroom it's something more basic/structural.

personally, i wouldn't like the wall next to parking (we're mid-terrace and enclosed gardens is a plus).

lastqueenofscotland · 30/10/2019 21:27

Are you selling it for significantly more than you paid for it? It may just not have increased in value that much, if at all.

Aquamarine1029 · 30/10/2019 21:30

I think you need more pictures.

Gingerkittykat · 30/10/2019 21:40

The garden looks really dark because of the high wall and fence, and because of that not somewhere you could sit out in the sun. Unless you can knock down the wall there is nothing you can do about it but since I want outdoor space and there is loads of choice yours would be pushed down my order of preference.

Cathnip · 30/10/2019 21:42

More pictures needed. The blue bedroom does not need to be repainted. If you are getting as many viewings as your neighbours and they are the ones being bought then it is the feeling when you get in the house. I normally think fragrant sticks in the bathroom are kind of tacky but Zara home’s Cashmere are divine. You can hide them out of sight on viewing days.

oohnicevase · 30/10/2019 21:47

The garden is oppressive ... if it's a good price it will sell .. eventually

Littlepeak34 · 30/10/2019 21:49

Lovely little house I think. The only thing I noticed is that your house seems a little bare...maybe less of a homey feel to is than the other. Although one of them seems quite cluttered. Other than that, yours has a bigger garden, but again looks bare.

I don’t think you really need to get rid of the blue...people should see past that, it’s easily changeable.

Maryclary0 · 30/10/2019 21:52

Its a lovely house.
In my opinion I think your kitchen units may put some people off.
Nothing wrong with them but I think you like that style or you don’t.
Having plain white doors or a pale colour like light grey would transform the kitchen, and I think it would be more appealing. I think you can buy just the doors and they can be attached to the carcass, so it wouldn’t be a case of ‘re doing’ your whole kitchen.
Also agree with posters saying dining/seating area so people can visualise using that space for eating.
Get rid of blue paint in bedroom.

Good luck

Daisy7654 · 30/10/2019 21:53

I would rearrange the lounge. It seems a bit stark. Could do it with the same furniture just rearranged.

GinUnicorn · 30/10/2019 21:57

I was always put off houses that didn’t say the total square foot in the floor plan and I’d be guessing yours is much smaller than the others. Hope this helps!

Maddie2019 · 30/10/2019 22:05

I’m an estate agent in Cornwall and have noticed a few things based on the web advertising.
Firstly, it’s not on a price point. Many people search up to 300k, and won’t look at anything above this, meaning yours is totally eliminated even if they’re able to go slightly about and meet with negotiation. The next price point is up to 400k, and as Rightmove tend to put it highest to lowest yours wouldn’t get seen until the last few pages.

Your first photo is also of the interior of your property (which is lovely by the way!) but many customers tend to question what’s wrong with the outside if it’s not used as the typical first photo. The others which have the exterior as the first phone tend to be more eye catching.

That’s really the only advice I have for enticing more motivated buyers to look around :)

Good luck with the sale! Your house is lovely! 🏠

PastTheGin · 30/10/2019 22:05

Your photos are too dark and you need to stage it differently. The garden picture is awful.
If you are getting viewings what is the feedback?

BackforGood · 30/10/2019 22:06

I'm going against the majority with the bedroom. That is the one room I actually like! Grin

To me, the other photos make the house look really stark... somewhere between 'dull' (the grey) and 'clinical' (the white) - neither of which make a house look homely.

My first thought was 'you have no parking' - but if I were looking seriously, I'd have discovered you had spaces. I think most people would rather have their parking out from that round the back, so if comparing two otherwise equal houses it would be a negative.

It's a nice little house though. Can't say anything about pricing in your area, but do agree with all posters saying OIEO isn't helpful.

Fingers crossed the next viewers are interested.

TreePeepingWatcher · 30/10/2019 22:08

For me, the blue bedroom. The other houses have all white walls. When you move in and have to paint a room, you have to move round all the furniture and people just don't want the hassle. Plus that blue would take a few coats to hide it.

People do struggle to visualise so do you have a dining table anywhere? If not where do you eat? Where would anyone buying your house eat?

When we sold our house a million years ago with a cot in the 3rd bedroom we taped the floor with masking tape so you could see how a double bed would fit in the room.

Clearly you are getting people through the door, but lose the OIEO which I agree with PP that buyers want to feel they have got a good deal when they offer.

bookwormsforever · 30/10/2019 22:09

I love your blue loo and teal bedroom. If people can’t see past colour then they shouldn’t be buying a house!

The garden with that high wall would be the dealbreaker for me, I’m afraid. I’d feel like I was in prison...

Itsallpetetong · 30/10/2019 22:15

And it being winter now, can't really liven it up with plants?

Cyclamen, pyracantha, winter flowering pansies......the garden centres (and even Aldi) are full of seasonal plants you could stick in pots to add interest.

Do you have a dining table? Have I missed a pic? People viewing will be left thinking they have to eat on their knees if there isn’t a table which would put a lot of people off. The other properties are neutral so people could move in and live with it before putting their stamp on it. A lot of people will be put off by thinking they don’t want to have to start painting the day after moving in to get rid of the blue.

End terraces are usually more desirable as they have bigger gardens but in your case there isn’t a big garden and the side leads to a parking area. I wouldn’t t want cars driving down the side of my house, I would be worried bout noise and disturbance.

itswinetime · 30/10/2019 22:25

The others are neutral where as yours has colour, I wouldn't think that was enough to put people off but it maybe why the others have gone first.

The other think is parking yours is at the back right? Are the others? I would choose a house with parking to the front if I had a choice. I know that's not something you can change but maybe why people have chosen the others first.

Have your agents given you any feedback?

Besidesthepoint · 30/10/2019 22:36

I'd prefer the others to yours tbh. Yours feels more claustrophobic. It's a bit boring, don't like the light, don't like the garden. The others look more spacious, more luxorious, much lighter and airy. It could be different in reality, but that is what the photo's look like.

You still have quite a nice house though, it's just in comparoson that you see a difference. I hope you sell soon.

Candle1000 · 30/10/2019 22:46

I live in Chelmsford and work for an estate agents- it’s over priced Op.

Dandelion1993 · 30/10/2019 23:03

O. I. E. O is definitely off putting and for that price I'm sorry but the garden looks awful!

It's just a strip that offers no promise or potential

Wheat2Harvest · 30/10/2019 23:17

The garden would put me off. I'd feel like I was in Alcatraz.

I don't like the kitchen colour scheme, but admittedly that's down to my personal taste.

Rumboogie · 31/10/2019 00:04

I love the blue bedroom and the duvet cover is like a summer's day!

The garden is offputting.

The house is expensive compared to the two semis which seem to have larger rooms.

They are all fantastically expensive, however, for what they are. Glad I don't live down there!

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 31/10/2019 00:40

Lol at Worcester Park!

crustycrab · 31/10/2019 01:11

@Candle1000 but that's a grey monstrosity, hardly comparable

OP I think you must be a bit overpriced and the garden isn't great

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