Help me sell my house!

[HelpMeSellMyHouse]

You guys are pretty good with the constructive criticism, can you help me with my house advert please!

I hope the link works:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66245415.html

It’s estimated on Nesteria at £325k. It’s been on since Nov and we’ve had 5 viewings. All feedback except one says that they like it but not in position to buy yet 😖 Other feedback is too much work so looking at new builds - there’s a few going up in our village so having to compete with them. But we do have lovely views which the field won’t be built on as the neighbours collectively bought it. Also there are no bungalows for sale in the new build estate.

Ny husband is currently paining the master bedroom... then the rest of the house, all white to freshen up.

Help me please

Wow, that view is stunning!

The house is fine, dated kitchen, but I wouldn't touch it. Maybe the camera angles are weird. Some better photos would help. Plainer kids bedding for the photos. And the dining room seems a bit meh (sorry!) could you dress it a bit? Flowers, a splash of colour? Show people how gorgeous it could be.

Good luck op

It's the price. Your view is amazing and your decor is perfectly fine - pretty neutral, the kitchen is a bit dated but otherwise everything looks okay. Have you had it valued by a different estate agent? A family friend of mine has been an estate agent for over 30 years and says that if a house hasn't sold in a month-6 weeks then it's the price!

There is no floorplan listed, it is hidden within the photos. People may give up before scrolling through the photos if there is no obvious floorplan.

It’s all a bit dated, bland and cold OP sorry the view is ok but it wouldn’t grab me either. I think it needs a Lot Of modernising and updating!So if I was looking at it, it would be a project house. It’s needs some life... could you borrow some art, furniture etc??

I think it might actually be a bit too neutral. It's a bit bland. Maybe some pots out the front of the house and some flowers or a few pictures on the walls would help make it look more homely

I'm sure you've spent ages clearing away clutter but to me it looks too tidy in some ways & almost unloved & unlived in.

Photo 1 makes it look small & a couple of pots with some colour in them (daffs?) by the front door would be nice.

Photo 2 - Again looks to empty & a light shade on the central light would help.

The dining room looks to empty - a vase of flowers would help - as would, guess what, a lampshade!!

Photo 6 - A bedspread would help as would a lightshade - hugely!

I do think you've decluttered too much, but it looks in great condition & the views are to die for.

Within a half of a mile the other three beds are on at 285k and 250k. And your kitchen is much more dated than those ones.
There’s your trouble I’m afraid OP.

Thanks! You can see Coniston Old Man - the highest mountain in the distance 😀

Yeah I agree with you with the dining room... I will look at making it more homely/friendly.

I think it’s over priced, the EA has a new manager starting in 2 weeks time so she is booked to come and re value for us

The kitchen is really dated and quite small so I’d be thinking that’s £20k to knock through to the dining room and fit a new one.

And I’m sure it’s a much loved home OP but it feels very soulless. I agree that you need to inject some life in to it - plants, flowers, the odd bit of art.

@lastqueenofscotland it’s difficult to go by prices in this area as Flookburgh is notoriously cheaper and Cartmel is notoriously much much more expensive!

No views through the windows either.

I think it looks lovely. If I could work out how to do my job from the lakes I'd buy it off you in a heartbeat.

That was our original plan @DragonMamma with the kitchen/diner but have no money!

We have put real oak (engineered) flooring throughout, fire, carpets and painted. But other than that, nothing else. We’ve been here 5yrs

Ha, thanks @Peony99

It's a good size, great views and a very good layout, but it does look drab and the photos are awful.

I hate the kitchen but don’t think it would be worth re doing as new buyers could do it to their own taste.

I think it needs new doors throughout but not sure whether that’s worth it.

First thoughts - is Grange over Sands near Sellafield, that would put me off looking if I was moving into the area.

The bungalow itself looks fine from the outside. I'd be a bit concerned about the flat roof on the garage but not enough to put me off viewing, it's to be expected after all.

Picture 2: Put some art on the wall over the fireplace and a vase of flowers on the hearth. Is that a coffee table next to the sofa? Move it to in front of the sofa and put the flowers on there instead. I'd move the 2 seater sofa at the end forwards to make it look like you can sit and chat to the people on the other one, it looks a bit far away. Add some cosy throws and cushions.

Picture 3: Love the view.

Picture 4: Move the clutter off the top of the cupboards and have the photo taken again. Nothing says not enough storage space than stuff on top of the kitchen cupboards thank goodness you can't see mine

Picture 5: Move whatever the piece of furniture is to the right at the front of the photo and get the photo taken again. Add some flowers to the table and move it to a more central position in the room. Add some art work to the left hand wall. I like your map and holiday photos (?) Add tiebacks to the curtains to tidy it up and maybe a nice rug.

Picture 6: Tiebacks for the curtains. Put a lightshade up - just a cheap Wilko one and turn the light on. Put some flowers on the window sill and move the car off the drive when a new photo is taken. Yes, it's a bungalow but have the possibility of a nice view rather than of your car. Put some art above the bed.

Picture 7: Tiebacks! Art above the bed.

Picture 8: Pull the bed away from the wall so the room looks like there is space enough for you to walk down the side of the bed on both sides. Make it look like an adult room rather than a child's room, people might be put off by the thought of a child being able to get out of the door to outside or somebody getting in. If you make it look like a lovely guest room they'll think how nice it is to be able to open the doors and step out into the garden in the morning and enjoy the lovely view.

Picture 9: Brighten up the bathroom with a cheap more colourful shower curtain. Have the lights on when the picture is taken. Add a plant to the windowsill.

I think you could tart up the kitchen quite easily - get some cupboard and tile paint, change the handles and maybe invest in a new sink and taps. I think what you’d spend you’d make back easily.

It can be a bit naff but join DIY Ona Budget on FB. Some people do some naff stuff but for every naff one there’s somebody who overhauls a room quite cheaply!

Thanks @pauapaua, really useful stuff.

We’re nowhere near sellafield

Thanks @DragonMamma

Its nice but bland and looks like you haven't unpacked or really lived there.

I'd add blind in kitchen, mirror above fireplace, flowers and plants throughout. Long curtains and light fittings in each room. Nicer bed covers with making sure divan bases are covered, cushions and artwork on the walls.

You have done none of that in 5 years so it looks unloved. Also retake the pictures and make sure the angles are good. Show the back of the house in relation to the garden. Drop price to £295 so people searching under £300 can see it.

It looks like a nice property but lacking in character, so it looks slightly rented IYKWIM. If you want to maximise the value or speed up the sale it will help to showcase the good features a bit more. A modern spacious house with oak floors and no work apart from a new kitchen and stunning views should sell easily.

Add a good photo showing the view if it is stunning/panoramic.

Slight bit of dressing up/splashes of colour would really brighten it up. For example, lampshades over bare bulbs, proper bedding, some element of colour co-ordination, artwork or mirrors where there are large blank walls. This can all be done from supermarket/the Range type places. If you are painting all white then a slightly modern and colourful look in your accessories will look amazing. Or a few things that say "cool local craftsperson made this".

i would actually say the kitchen would "pass" if you did new worktop, sink, tiles, got a cooker that fitted the gap (they are very cheap secondhand) and replace your plinth boards. £800 job done.

Is that a massive dog in bedroom 2?!

I think it's the kitchen putting people off- everything else is fine, or at least only a minor niggle.

Not everybody is keen to immediately start renovating, and that kitchen is very unattractive. Dropping the price by £20K might get more adventurous types through the door.

You could paint the kitchen cupboard doors?

It is over priced. None in your road have gone for that amount and it was sold for £227000 less than 5 years ago. What have you done to add more than 25% value as the housing market has been almost flat all that time especially in the North.