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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:
madeyemoodysmum · 31/10/2019 14:58

How long has it been on market. We have just sold after about 14 viewing. Market very slow and I’m in a south east fast paced market and it’s a family home.

Oliversmumsarmy · 31/10/2019 15:11

The house is up for £340k - how much does a few tins of paint and a couple of rollers from B & Q cost

  • time+ effort of having to start decorating.

It isn’t about the cost of a pot of paint.

If you have the choice between a house that needs nothing doing to it and one that needs painting for similar money then the latter will always fare worse against the competition

kennyjenny · 31/10/2019 15:12

I think it's lovely. Tbh the paint colour in a room would not prevent me from buying a house.
I would say it's the price.
Also not having a drive way would stop me buying although I know you can't do anything about that.

wowfudge · 31/10/2019 15:14

It's a 2 bedroom house. It's not exactly huge. There are 3 rooms which have been decorated by the OP. It's not as if the whole place needs a refurb!

doginthemanger · 31/10/2019 15:14

I wouldn't buy a house with no dining space. Yours is supposed to be a living/diner but there's no sign of a table.
You haven't addressed that point in any of your responses as far as I can see.
The garden isn't great but it wouldn't bother me as long as I had some outdoor space, and it could be made a lot more attractive than it is with some climbers and planters.

Basilicaofthemind · 31/10/2019 15:18

I think the other 2 properties have a more ‘aspirational’ feel to them. They look like someone has loved living there. Yours is sort of a blank box with some bits of furniture in.

I know that the houses are essentially the same but people are buying a home and something that is showing a lifestyle will be more attractive, even if it’s subconscious.

Mildura · 31/10/2019 15:20

I would say it's the price

It sure is.

There's no way having a blue bedroom is the reason for this property not selling. I am genuinely staggered that it is being suggested.

HuggedTrees · 31/10/2019 15:21

No dining table is what stands out for me

Oliversmumsarmy · 31/10/2019 15:22

Your surmising based on your own tastes though Oliversmum. It would help the OP to know from those who have viewed. It's possible the EA has fed back which house in the area has been someone's first choice then you can look at the listing and figure it out if they haven't said why

Not just my taste but obviously the taste of the buyers of the other 2 properties.

I buy and sell places as a job.

You would be surprised how many people won’t paint a chimney breast or see a 5 bed house and dismiss it because the 5 th bedroom has been made into an office so even if the dimensions are bigger than some of the other bedrooms because it doesn’t have a bed in it will be written off as not really a bedroom.

With a lot of potential buyers you have to state the obvious by furnishing things accordingly.

No good saying there is space for a dining table you have to put in a dining table

I think possibly (though you can’t do much about it) your 2nd bedroom people are seeing it as a nursery and not as a proper double bedroom.

As I said you have to show people the obvious

GiantKitten · 31/10/2019 15:33

According to the map it’s SW at the back so should be very sunny.
However I’m not sure the map is showing the right house, & zooming in reverts to building site for some reason Confused

MrsTargaryan · 31/10/2019 15:52

The garden photo is shocking.

XingMing · 31/10/2019 16:01

I think it's the immature garden and the deep shadow.

Buy 3 or 5 decent size tubs, put a well-grown evergreen in the back one, and fill the others with spring bulbs and pansies on top for immediate colour. Position them to create a cluster mid way down the garden so they break up/ make a curve in the rectangle. Then change the picture at a different time of day.

Alternatively, put lighting in the garden and take a night view. Spend as much as you can to do it well, but take the pots with you.

I don't love the blue room, but paint is cheap. It wouldn't stop me buying the house (I bought mine, and the decor was hideous) because you look past it if the price and location etc are right.

XingMing · 31/10/2019 16:04

It's actually a good idea to plant trees and shrubs in the ground now while they are dormant before the soil gets really cold. But then they are permanent.

Sotiredbutcannotsleep · 31/10/2019 16:14

Perhaps add a few touches to the kitchen/living room to make it more 'homey' like a bowl of fruit, vase of fresh flowers etc for photos and viewings. Garden definately needs breaking up, I would probably put the furniture in the middle of the garden or something.

Karcheer · 31/10/2019 16:14

the market is slow and some people make odd choices.
we had a viewing yesterday, our house was one of 5, they whittled it down to 2 and the agent has just called to tell me they are going with the other house which has a bigger garden and is on a main road. id rather live on a nice quiet road and have a slightly smaller garden, but everyone is different.

Yours will sell, you've just got to wait for the right people to come along - it's annoying!

Sotiredbutcannotsleep · 31/10/2019 16:22

Sorry just to add I would even add some kids toys to the garden to bring some life into it like a slide. So like separate it into kid's space/dining area. Similarly the kitchen needs a bit of life put into it too, maybe a potted herb plant plus the bowl of fruit thing I mentioned earlier.

Original poster
BuyMyHouse · 31/10/2019 17:56

Oh on the dining table, there is plenty of space for one in the living space. We used to have one that sat 6 people. But for various reasons we don't have one now. If nothing comes of the viewings this weekend I'll get one we can stage.

OP posts:
Original poster
BuyMyHouse · 31/10/2019 17:59

Never realised what a lack of imagination people have...this has been enlightening!

OP posts:
pinksquash13 · 31/10/2019 17:59

I live nearby and have had a painful year of trying to sell so I feel for you. I also think you should paint blue room white and maybe the dark blue in bathrooms as then the buyer really would have to do nothing. It absolutely wouldn't put me off but maybe it could affect people choosing between 2 properties. I also wonder about a dining table. If you've got place for one, add a photo. Finally the garden is a little bare but I'm not sure what you can feasibly do. I do think it's possible too expensive. If you market it at 325k you'll get more people through the door as that's a rightmove limit. Perhaps OIEO 325.

Disfordarkchocolate · 31/10/2019 18:17

I'm not sure if it's always a lack of imagination but it's so stressful buying a house. And, if you are up against a few nearly new 2 beds it can be a case of actually I like their decoration being the deciding factor for some buyers. No one is looking at your house thinking I have to replace an unfit kitchen/bathroom/heating system.

user1471449295 · 31/10/2019 18:24

I prefer yours to the others. I like the layout more. What’s parking like? Do you have to park behind? A drive is completely non negotiable to me.
The blue room, although not to my taste, would not put me off buying your house. Painting one room is hardly a chore.

NWQM · 31/10/2019 19:26

I'm assuming the feedback was via the estate agent - it was basically useless. Do you need to rethink who you are up with?

MaybeitsMaybelline · 31/10/2019 19:31

Sorry didn’t read all replies but the other two houses are semis yours is a terrace. For five grand more i would go with the semi.

sunshinesupermum · 31/10/2019 19:57

BuyMyHouse If you don't currently have a dining table in place I'm not entirely surprised that you've had no offers. Do you eat all your meals on your laps then?

I'd be going out first thing to buy a table and four chairs BEFORE this weekend's viewings alongside some pots and colourful plants for the garden as other pp have suggested. Good luck.

Original poster
BuyMyHouse · 31/10/2019 20:04

@sunshinesupermum We use the coffee table/sofa. Literally everyone know eats in front of the tv, especially when you remember this is going to be first time buyers/single/young couple - not a family.

But again - if you came to the house and saw there is a big space for a table, would the fact there isn't one already really be a dealbreaker? I guess I just don't get that people can't picture anything that's not spelled out for them.

OP posts:
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