Why won't anyone buy our house?!

[BuyMyHouse]

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!

As feedback, again, you need to know from your Agent, why your house has been people's second choice, not first. But to counter the fact that everyone you know eats from their laps in front of the TV, absolutely no one I know from 20s onwards eats on their laps. If they don't have a table they use a breakfast bar and eat there.

I don't agree that people have zero vision, but you do have to indicate things, not leave it all to their imagination. Viewers will think less 'there's no dining table but we could put one there or there' and more 'where is there to eat? There's nowhere to eat'

I've sold more properties than I care to remember, including the most recent which was, frankly, hideous and very outdated, but I still achieved a sale price a few thousand higher than the Agent's value and that was all down to canny staging.

You've got to remember that you're now marketing a product, not your own home as you like to live in it.

I’ve seen several posters above say the other two houses you linked on the first page are semis and yours in an end terrace... this just shows that people really don’t use their eyes, brains or read descriptions. They just see “terrace” and dismiss. I’d get your estate agents to call it a semi.

Get a cheap dining table from Ikea. I use ours when I work from home so it would definitely be a deal breaker for me and we do eat at the kitchen island or table most nights- pizza is the only thing that’s a sofa meal for us (I’m 30 so not THAT old). Also if people host family or have children then they will want one- it’s not inconceivable that a young family or a couple planning one would buy your house especially as you live there with a baby! Most people want a table even if they don’t use it to eat at every night. And your living room isn’t huge so it’s probably not as obvious as you think that one would fit.

I disagree about most 20 something couples eating off their lap. Most young couples I know eat at a dining table. How would you entertain if you dont have one? Where do you eat breakfast? It’s all a bit studenty and unaspirational at the moment and I think people buying in that price bracket will want to show off their potential new home to their friends by sending pictures and yours just dont lend themselves to that activity.

Sorry OP. I know that sounds harsh. The front of your house is beautiful, as is your nursery.

ps Ive lived in over a dozen houses so have been through this.

You really have to make it obvious. My son wanted a double bed, my DH was convinced there wasn't room for one even though I measured. He couldn't see past the single that was already there. Once we got a double in there, he stood looking at it like I'd pulled off a magic trick. As to colours, it's not so much that people can't change them easily enough. It's more that they might not consciously realise that it's the colour that's affecting how they feel about the space.

Agree with other posters. It's the garden - sad and not a great shape - and the lack of dining table. If it's a south facing garden, bloody well say so and take a picture of the back doors in the sun!

Lack of dining table really is a massive howler OP. It's not about whether you and everyone you know eats in their laps and whether you think it's obvious that a table would easily fit into the space.

For lots of people it won't be at all clear that one will fit and that it is an option. And lots of people will find it a complete deal breaker not to be able to eat at a table. It simply doesn't represent an aspirational lifestyle to think that when you buy a house you will need to eat off your lap in front of the TV even if in reality this is what many choose to do on occasion and some choose to do all the time.

Ignore at your peril! And it's relatively cheap and easy to fix.

BuyMyHouse you and'everyone you know' sound very young if you eat all your meals on your laps like students!

It seems other posters agree that no obvious table to eat at IS a dealbreaker. Many people do not have the imagination to visualise something that isn't actually there.

If you stand any hope of getting an offer this weekend go to IKEA and get one. Retake the photo of your garden when it is in full sun and buy planters for it.

I did a house a few years ago that had an odd shaped landing.

It had an area that was tucked away behind a wall.

It was really only a few feet by a few feet.
I put in a small table and office chair, a computer on the desk and a small filing cabinet and called it an office area.

When I sold the people who bought were specifically looking for a place for an office and they needed all 4 bedrooms and to buy a 5 bed house or one with an extra downstairs room was beyond their budget.

If I had just left it as a landing they would have just dismissed it as just another 4 bed house with no place for an office.

Friend was using her 5th bedroom as an office. She had multiple viewing and the feedback was it was too expensive for a 4 bed house. (Reasonably priced for a 5 bedroom)

Told her to put in a bed because people need to see a bedroom with a bed which she did and it went for full asking price to the very next viewer.

If you have a space for a dining table then show it as a dining area

Most people do have no imagination when it comes to house viewings

Mildura is spot on. How can a blue bedroom or a dining table be a dealbreaker? Really! It's the price.

New builds have a premium - this property was a new build and sold for £349,995 in 2016. Prices have been coming down since and the OP is selling for in excess of £340,000 BUT there are lots of properties in Chelmsford in this price bracket to choose from - many are 3 beds with more space, but may need cosmetic updating. OP's property is not within walking distance of the station or the city centre so may not appeal to young professionals wanting to commute to London. It is not a family house either so does not appeal to expanding families who need space.

If OP wishes to sell, her house needs to be better than the competition. As Pinksquash says, drop the price to £325/£330 (and be prepared to bargain hard on the onward purchase), and have prospective buyers queuing to view it.

I haven't read the full thread so apologise if this has been pointed out already, but the other two are marketed as semi detached whereas yours is marketed as an end terrace. Some people will have a terrace filtered out on their search. Could yours be classed as a semi too or is it different? They look the same set up from the photos?
Also you need better garden photos as others have said.

If people are viewing but not offering its either the price or they are disappointed when they get there. I think a table is so easy to fix i dont know why you wouldnt just get one. Most people with children i know do have a table (or breakfast bar) and eat at it.

I have to say that I wouldn't have viewed based on the garden, because it looks shadowed and really narrow, perhaps as others have said you could add things that make it look wider than the pics (if indeed it is wider)

I do agree that the other two seemed more staged and although you might not want to do that sometimes its just a case of getting on with it in a buyers market.

Imo this kind of thing is where EAs in this country should be advising their clients on how best to present a house of flat.

I'd make the front garden into a space you could park the car if possible. Take the shrubs up and put shingle down to show you have off road parking.
It's great you have parking at the back but even better that you can park by the front door.

That second house is beautiful!

I find it hard to visualise things which aren't there when I view houses. I have poor spatial awareness so can't judge well if a bedroom is a double if it's empty or furnished as an office or single room.

The thing is Op, you asked for suggestions and if you really are desperate to sell, you will take on board the ideas, even if you think they're a bit daft. Almost everyone on this thread has mentioned the lack of a table and chairs......you might eat off your lap and know there's space for a table and you might tell me that if I view, but I won't believe you and I might not get as far as viewing if I can't see it in the picture.

Yes to being careful with the wording. Call it a semi, emphasise the allocated parking and some near front if there is some, say 2 double bedrooms if there are 2. Emphasise there is space for living and dining in that room.

Wording is easy to alter with the estate agent. I know you don't want to spend money when you're selling but a table and chairs and a few pot plants in the garden with some colour will help. You can use the table and chairs in your new place....presumably you'll want your baby to eat at a table.
And ultimately its price which sells. It doesn't matter if others sold for more or same a couple if months ago, prices are falling and there's a lot of similar stuff out there, so a drop of just 3-5k might make all the difference. It's only worth what someone will pay, not what you think it's worth.

Hope your viewings go well this weekend - get a table and some colourful pot plants ASAP.

Yours looks less lived in, which I would prefer but people are odd.

The others look like they have parking close by whereas yours looks like everyone needs to pass yours to get to the parking.

The garden does look bland, could you put a couple of hanging baskets or some lighting? Fire pits are currently reduced you can get them for £30.00 - just something to make it look like the garden can be used.

I'd actually swap the babys room for yours, the blue is something that you would expect in a baby room and the olive colour looks more like an adult room.

I also agree you could add a table and chairs.

The only other thing I can think is it looks like you just have a sofa for a couple to watch TV, not seating for three or four people.

You can get a table really cheaply on Facebook marketplace. Pop some flowers on it, maybe placemats. Ideally an extended one so you can extend it for viewings and fold it down so you aren't tempted to eat at it. Once house has sold put it back on marketplace.

If buying a table is an issue maybe borrow one. I know some people are saying they are surprised that people don't have imaginations but I don't think it's that - your house keeps coming second. You need it to be first choice

Does it smell? Do you smoke or have pets?
Sorry to be blunt but this can be really off putting for buyers

I agree with angea the smell of smoke or pets (especially cats) would really put us off.
To me the only picture that would put me off is the garden. It has no sunlight and looks cold, dark and uninviting.

I think your kitchen is probably having an impact. People prefer a kitchen diner at the minute and TBH your kitchen doors were briefly fashionable and have unfortunately dated really quickly. If two houses are the same price people will go for the better kitchen.

It's a lovely house op, it has curb appeal. Would echo what others have said about garden, it looks overshadowed , does it get sun? Also needs breaking up with containers ( that you can take with you when you.move) . Inside maybe try and create a bit more cosiness by adding curtains, throws , accessories etc and also would be good to demonstrate place for a dining table.is there parking? Could that be an issue? Do you need to think about price? Oieo is a bit off putting.

If I was spending £340k on a house I would want to be able to sit and eat at a table.

OP How did your weekend viewings go?