Help! Does anyone know someone who is looking to buy a lovely house in Suffolk? Or give helpful advice?

[Suffolkmouse]

We are trying to sell our lovely home in Suffolk. We went on the market in Feb and had an offer quite quickly which we accepted. The sale fell through due to covid ( someone in the chain was furloughed and needed to complete quickly which our buyer was worried about doing as they thought there would be another lockdown and they would've been stuck between houses). Since then, we are just not getting many viewings. We are a 3 bed semi detached stables conversion on historic parkland with amazing views. It feels like being in the midst of the countryside but is walking distance to Saxmundham which has a train station and a Waitrose as well as drs/dentists/schools/libraries etc. We are also mains everything so no oil tank or sewerage system to contend with! We are going to switch estate agents as we don't feel ours is proactive enough. Is anyone looking to move to Suffolk? Otherwise, how about constructive advice please? Thankyou.

Clearly we require a link!!

If it's the one I've found on Rightmove, then the fact it's offers in excess of would put me off. Also try getting fresher photos of the outside now we are in summer as the ones there now look like they were taken back in February, get the back garden set up with cushions on chairs, etc so it sells the idea of lovely outdoor space rather than a garden in the midst of a miserable February. Lovely lounge and nice big kitchen though!

The photos are pants. All I can see outside your sitting room window is a fence and not views. The garden looks drab and isn’t selling any lifestyle.

I agree that you need fresh photos. Drone photos would be ideal so that the house can be seen in the rural setting. If you’ve got this amazing parkland around you, have photos of it too - unless someone lives very locally, they won’t know you’re in a nice setting.

I’d also have a much shorter description so that the positives can stand out: amazing rural setting but short walk to a range of amenities.

PS underneath the awful listing, I can see that it could be a very sellable house.

I know this area pretty well, and often spend time browsing fantasy houses around there, although I haven't come across yours before. It's really nice but the photos are all a bit meh, which doesn't create much of an impression. They need some better angles and filters.

Also, the front view of the house shows 3 spectacular arched windows (which are a stunning but a little bit cold looking - could be taken at a nicer angle with a better photographer and the tired and algae-covered iron furniture needs to go - it would also benefit a lot from some stunning planting/pots and colour to add warmth) but there are no interior photos to show what they look like from the inside.

I agree that the back garden looks a bit drab and doesn't really bring to mind happy summers and lockdown space - could you update it now that it's summer with some spectactular pots, hanging baskets and 'dress it' with a stunning outdoor furniture set and kids' play area.

The description is a bit wordy as well, and not punchy enough for me to bother reading it. The wild orchard with hens sounds amazing, but it is hidden in the text and there are no photos of this.

I also agree that "offers over" is really off-putting.

Wow, so much help already! Thankyou. Having difficulty adding a link but it looks like you've found it. How do I add it please? It's on with Bedford's. Thankyou 🙂

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-77360182.html

JoJoSM2 thankyou!

We need inside photos which show the fabulous windows. At the moment I can’t marry up the front of the house with the rest of the pictures.

Are the tops of the big front windows blocked off from the inside, so they look square rather than arched? It’s quite hard to figure out the layout from the pictures. Is that glass door opening into the sitting room your front door?

And yes, you need to stage the back garden nicely so it looks appealing.

OP does the small bedroom have a window?

SuzieCarmichael, yes, the only inside archway is the hall. The ones to living room and kitchen look arched from outside but normal window inside.

Need to add pictures CNN of bathrooms, hall and landing too

The windows look fabulous from the outside but presuming the arches are covered up from the inside??

Just took some now

Much better
Can't believe the agent didn't take one of the staircase!

The view outside the window is lovely! And the staircase with the arched window adds a real wow factor. Honestly, you need to decent agent ASAP.

That’s a lovely house. I can’t give any advice, though.

Jackstini on the inside, apart from the hall arch, the others are part of normal inside so can't see them from inside. KTD 27 velux windows in smallest bedroom.

I think I've spotted your actual front door. Is it glass with a couple of empty plant containers near it?

I'd get the containers filled with plants to make it clear that it's the entrance.

I agree that outside photos of the view etc could be much better.

I love your living room.

jackstini just taken these ....

The photos aren’t that inspiring, sorry! They need to be lighter and brighter and show the house better.

The third bedroom looks really small in the photo, it needs taking from a different angle.

There’s an ironing board or something down the side of your dresser in one picture, find somewhere else to put it!

It’s beautiful! I agree with all the comments that the listing is awful. Terrible photos and I definitely think a drone photo would be great. It’s style, location and the private parkland (which I guess means highly unlikely ever to be built on?) are your property’s USPs and yet little has been done by the lazy EAs to flag these.

Good luck!

That said, I do think you need a bit of colour in places - it’s all a bit beige if I’m honest (but I still love it). I think colour even just cushions, flowers, towels etc would help to liven / cosy it up a bit.

The secondary schools round there aren't great, are they? Or do you make it into catchment for Farlingaye? I think I would consider that in how the house is pitched perhaps?

Agreed with new photos in the summer being a good idea, and photos of the hall window and staircase and the views.

Also that 3rd bedroom really does look tiny in the photos when in reality in quite a lot of new builds it would be marketed as a double. My second bedroom is only a little bigger than that and feels generously proportioned.

Also what's in the missing room downstairs - there are no photos.