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Original poster

What is wrong with my house?

101 replies

anonymouse · 02/02/2020 11:31

We've been on the market since 15th Jan and 1000ish views on the listing which has translated to 5 viewings.

Other properties in our neighbourhood (of the same type no less) have gone within a week of being listed at pretty much asking price. We are priced competitively with those to factor in variations in property (some have conservatory or garage conversion, others no have integral access to the garage just the over and up door)

So lovely people of MN what is wrong with my house? What can I change to sell it quickly without massively reducing the price?

We may potentially drop our current agent to go with a movemaker scheme as we are interested in a new build and really don't wish to lose it. We've been looking for a year or so and this is the only property that meets almost all of our requirements.

link removed by MNHQ as per OP's request

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 02/02/2020 14:28

You definitely need a photo with the table not pushed against a wall as if I were looking online I’d instantly discount it as it looks like actually eating at a table is going to be daily hassle . The bathroom photo looks really dark so I’d want that retaking as well .

GoodDogBellaBoo · 02/02/2020 15:06

The photos are absolutely terrible, and the house is cluttered and badly decorated and very outdated. Not even the curtains are straight. The furniture are in strange places, like the table in the kitchen against the wall. Makes the house look small. The patio needs cleaning, also the front of the house. Looks like money has to be spent for the buyer to re-do everything from the bathroom to the kitchen and wallpapers. You need to get someone who knows how to take proper photos.

Myamoth · 02/02/2020 15:08

There isn't anything wrong with the house, apart from the back garden which looks very unloved - you might like to "stage" that, clean up the patio, mow the grass, set up the table and chairs so it looks like it's a lovely place to use, flowers (even if fake) as pp's have said.

However, I'm sorry, but the photos are dreadful. The frontage is dull, shouldn't have been taken at that angle with the car in the way. The description of the house says "spacious", yet the photos appear to show tiny rooms, doorways blocked by furniture/appliances. The lighting in all of them is terrible (far too bright and washed out in most, too dark in a few), there's more ceiling than anything else, and all the other issues already described by pp's. Complain to your estate agents until they agree to send a photographer who actually knows what they are doing, then remove all personal items from every space, put in some vases of bright flowers, etc. You might have to move furniture so they can get good angles, but it's only for a few minutes.

Good luck with it all, I hope you get a good buyer quickly!

GoodDogBellaBoo · 02/02/2020 15:09

And remove the bin and schampoo bottles in the bathroom, nobody wants to see that. And no personal photos anywhere. Or things om the walls at all preferably.

AnneKipanki · 02/02/2020 15:10

I have just had a browse around some other properties and actually your one is not that bad .
Here's hoping a few tweaks and new photos do the trick .

Original poster
anonymouse · 02/02/2020 15:11

Okay so overwhelmingly it is the photos. It is much nicer in real life which actually is feedback we've had. Some of the reasons for not putting in an offer have been things we can't change such as north facing garden.

Aside from changing decor to suit personal taste it doesn't require any immediate work.

I do need to get out an sort the garden.

OP posts:
NaughtyLittleElf · 02/02/2020 15:13

I didn't see wardrobes in the bedrooms ( might be there but I didn't spot them) I'd be worried there wasn't room and I'd struggle for storage.

GoodDogBellaBoo · 02/02/2020 15:13

Mow the front lawn as well, it looks untidy.

BabbleBee · 02/02/2020 15:29

Is there something wrong on the flashings on the neighbour’s house? To the left as you’re looking at the photo.

woodencoffeetable · 02/02/2020 15:30

no downstairs toilet (or no obvious space to put one) would put me off.
does the house smell? do you have pets?
that could explain viewings and no offers.

73Sunglasslover · 02/02/2020 15:31

I look at right move and is there not an identical house for sale at 'the lawns' for 20K less? Is the house perhaps over-priced?

Original poster
anonymouse · 02/02/2020 15:40

The lawns doesn't have the integral garage access, parking spaces or plumbing for utility. They also listed in Sept as 340 so have recently reduced. We may have to do similar.

Wardrobes are built in but can't be seen I the photos.

No pets and no odours that I am aware of.

OP posts:
73Sunglasslover · 02/02/2020 16:11

I think integral garage access is not something everyone would see as a positive. We saw it as a security weakness in a house we bought. Probably is worth showing the wardrobes if they're a selling feature. What do you mean plumbing for utility? do you mean you use the back of the garage as a utility area?

MitziK · 02/02/2020 17:54

Is there space for a car in the garage - or is it on the drive because the only place you could fit the washing machine was in there/you can't actually open the doors enough to get out of the car once you're in there?

Original poster
anonymouse · 02/02/2020 18:06

Garage is not wide enough for a car. Well, a car would fit but I don't know if you'd be able to open the doors.

We have our washing machine and tumble dryer at the back, cupboards in there as a pantry and a section for general storage. Everyone who has visited has seen the positive in the garage. There is also potential to convert to a proper room if they so wish. As its plumbed you could make a downstairs loo.

So I'm going to mention the photos and get them redone. My other question now is does it need to be the staged version for every viewing or is the general state (as per current pics) just tidier okay for viewings?

OP posts:
ImGoingSlightlyBrad · 02/02/2020 18:10

The lawns doesn't have the integral garage access, parking spaces or plumbing for utility.

The integral access and plumbing can be added for less than 5k. That means 15k is for 1 extra car space, right?

An additional parking space is worth about 5% extra to the value. But so is a conservatory, which the other house has and yours does not. So these could even each other out, meaning you are expecting 20k more for about 5k of work. That's how I would think of it, as a buyer, anyway.

MaggieFS · 02/02/2020 18:25

Personally I don't think you need it fully staged for every viewing, if that's difficult, but it is preferable. You certainly need to minimise general clutter, toys and sort out the dining table though.

Original poster
anonymouse · 02/02/2020 18:26

Fair point. We may need to reduce. It's not listed anymore- or rather I can't see it under sstc but we listed based on our neighbours who are identical to us but with a conservatory and got £355k in 2 days of listing and the shrubbery- identical less the integral garage access which sold within 1 day for £340k. I asked, I know they got asking. Our neighbours opposite who have converted their garage and have a conservatory were on for 365k. Sold in 2 weeks but don't know what they accepted.

The lawns is probably throwing things off for us now that they have reduced from 340 to 325. Looking at the photos, I'd like to think we're in better conditions maybe we can get some viewings off the back of them if we reduce.

OP posts:
oohnicevase · 02/02/2020 18:26

First pic should be this with no car ImO .. garden looks awful so either take it the other way or tidy it up .

What is wrong with my house?
Original poster
anonymouse · 02/02/2020 18:27

I hide always toys and general clutter for viewings.

Noted on the table. I always liked it out properly but my DH has always wanted it against the wall. I'll quite gleefully tell him the consensus is my preference.

OP posts:
ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 02/02/2020 18:32

Integral garage access is great, but it wouldn't increase the value of a house imo.

Lipperfromchipper · 02/02/2020 18:36

Get rid of the drainer in the kitchen!
Curtains in the main bedroom just look wrong...sorry
Change the rugs...they are too busy!
Tidy up the back garden it’s very rough around the edges.
You need to stage the house OP, it’s not staged!

justdontknow45 · 02/02/2020 18:37

I don't stage it as my pics for viewings.
I have dogs and all their crap gets put away, the worktops are cleared and everything out bar ornaments/candles gets shoved in the nearest wardrobe.

I do but fresh flowers, blow some fresh air through and make sure it's tidy and double check just prior the kids haven't dribbled all over the loo seat ( has happened 🤦🏻‍♀️)

I have a box that I chuck any bits in from living areas and when I have viewings I just say ' sorry excuse the box it's going to the charity collector in the morning 'when really it's full of crap from the kids! Works every time.

NotMeNoNo · 02/02/2020 18:51

From when I was house hunting, I spent a lot of time looking at photos and using them to sift out properties. When you view a house you are often only there for a short time and there is a lot more to look at, so I think it's OK to be slightly less staged and have day to day items around as long as they are tidy.

73Sunglasslover · 02/02/2020 18:58

I think yours is better presented overall than the lawns but they have a good bathroom and kitchen and many people can see past the furniture arrangement and coloured carpets (which I always need to change when I move into a house anyway due to my allergies). They have sort of summer house which you don't have and a more interesting looking garden. I don't know your area but unless there is something else to make yours stand out I think you have some stiff
competition right now.