Lovely MNers, help me sell my house and escape Brexit.

[duende]

I don't want to get into a political debate on pros and cons of Brexit. I'm an EU citizen, I've lived in the UK for 16 years, my whole adult life. I have been heart broken about the referendum, what it has uncovered and unleashed, and about what's to come.

Long story short, last year we decided that we would move to Poland, where I am from. It's a big move, our 2 kids were born here, my partner is British. It's exciting and terrifying at once but mentally, I've felt a huge relief since we made the decision.

We put our house on the market 4 weeks ago and we had maybe 6 viewings in the first 2 weeks, then it's gone quiet. We live in a village within a commutable distance from Milton Keynes, Luton, Bedford and under an hour on the train from London.

I'll be brave and put the link, I'll be grateful for ant tips and ideas.

I've been considering paying for targeted advertising on Facebook but not sure how to go about it.

We'd like to be gone by end of June.

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/76778473

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/76778473

Hopefully clickable link

You have a lovely house. It is clean and well decorated. Not to much clutter but not so empty as to look sterile.

What feed back have you had?

I’d like a picture of the inside of the outbuilding.
I’d like to know which bathroom is the downstairs en suite and which is the family bathroom.

Flamingo, thank you.

We had 1 person who seemed to love it, came twice, was supposedly proceedable but then told the EA she had to sort out finances and to leave her for the time being.

2 people who already live in the village "loved the house but were unsure about the location". This one frustrates me a bit because in a village of 5000, wherever you live, you have access to the same schooling, doctors, community etc. So probably what they mean is they don't like the fact that there are some council houses here, even though everyone is lovely, and the street is safe.

The EA has not probed into what they don't like about the location.

Other viewers liked the house supposedly ("It's in their top 3") but we're not proceedable.

I'd like to get in front of the people who are maybe from outside the area and the village does not crop up on their radar.

Btw, the blue walls bathroom is the end suite, the bland/ white one is the family one.

The shed is full of clutter. Gym equipment, Xmas decs, bikes etc. Think most peoples garage and loft content.

Could you get the driveway jet washed to remove the moss and add a couple of tubs of plants outside the front door? It looks a bit bleak and I think all house exteriors can be helped by a bit of brightening up in these dark winter days.

If you want to move so quickly, you probably need to drop the price.

It’s a nice house in good condition, nice garden etc. So if it’s not selling and you are in a hurry, drop it to just below 350.

Alexa, you are right, as soon as the crazy weather is over, we will sort out the front and get some plants. This time of the year it all looks bleaker.

Arrietty, I can't afford to drop my that much as we wouldn't be able to buy over there. I'd probably need to wait longer for a buyer instead.

I just think the market hasn't picked up yet. There's nothing wrong with your house and if the location is the issue, it's not really something you can change. Villages aren't for everyone, so I think you'll just have to wait a bit longer.

I know what you mean about people not looking for your village.
Is it with a high street agent? How much work is the agent doing or have they just stuck it on rightmove?

House is lovely, just the right mix of not cluttered yet lived in. But the first photo makes the house look so drab! You need to scrub the drive, plant some colourful plants, maybe add a hanging basket, get the fascias cleaned and take the new photo on a sunny day. That's all I could think of. I suppose, like a pp a photo of the inside of the out house would be good. Take all the stuff out just for a photo.

Good luck!

4 bed family house and no mention of the Ofsted outstanding school?

That should be first thing people look at
No mention of the commute or how far the nearest train station is either

Ok, I will sort out the front and retake the photos on a sunny day. Thanks! You've given me the motivation and some reassurance that I am not missing a different "elephant" putting people off.

@FlamingoAndJohn they have put it on Rightmove and are possibly mentioning it to people who express interest in other properties in the village. They are based here in the village and an independent, rather than a high street chain.
What else should I expect them to be doing?

See the independent things isn’t good when you have a huge potential market in London buyers with a decent commute.

Ask if the advertise anywhere in London.

The fourth bedroom is in a horrible position on the ground floor at the front almost making It a reception rather than a bedroom. Prospective buyers will have to get round that, especially if the price is pitched up against 4 bed houses.

ThroughThick it is priced to reflect that. The cheapest 4 bed with all bedrooms upstairs is 410k.

I am hoping for a buyer a bit like us- someone who needs that additional bedroom for visitors, or an elderly relative, or to work from home.

Have yo done a lot of work to the house OP? As it looks like you’ve had it 3/4 years with a price hike of 60k?

sorry you feel that way. Despite what you read (especially on here), 17.4 million people aren't flat capped racists.

it looks a nice house but I concur with the last poster; why is it worth 60k more in such a short time?

What's that at the bottom of the garden? It looks like a converted outbuilding but I can't see what it actually is.

It is a nice house op. If I was being super critical, the garden and outside could do with a bit of tlc, but I don't see anything that seems like it would be a lot of work to the extent it would put me off.

The fourth bedroom is in a horrible position on the ground floor at the front almost making It a reception rather than a bedroom. Prospective buyers will have to get round that, especially if the price is pitched up against 4 bed houses.

I would absolutely love an en suite to my office, (which sometimes doubles as a second guest room anyway.) Every time I have to go to the loo, I get waylaid by dogs, teens, husband, kettle....

Equally handy for disabled relative.

Your main reception is so big anyway, I wouldn’t worry about that.

We replaced some windows, all the floors, updated the kitchen, replastered the whole house but mainly added 1 bedroom + bathroom.

We bought 4 years ago.
For comparison, a 3 bed house 3 doors down sold for 365k, 3 years ago.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-22909310.html

A

Just to add, from a buyer's point of view, we aren't looking properly until after the budget as it may affect what we can afford. Hoping it doesn't get delayed. We have a mortgage in principle, but we aren't going to waste anyone's time until we have seen the budget and know definitely that we are proceedable.

Good luck OP and obviously Brexit. So sorry it has made you feel this way. Me too.

Hi, I think it's clean and presentable.

You bought it in May 2016 for 325 and converted the garage to a bedroom?

For me, looking for a 4 bedroom house, I’d immediately discount it as it’s essentially a 3 bed with an additional study/reception room.

Although I do like the house overall OP.

If you were with an agent in a near by town then they would have a much larger reach than someone in your village.

When I sold my parents' house, I went with an agent who was part of a regional chain. They did all the Facebook stuff, and had an app to track viewings and comments. They were very good.

I'd reconsider agent if possible.