Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

What’s not appealing?

79 replies

AJB120 · 24/08/2020 12:54

So our house has been up for sale for about 6 weeks and we’ve only had one viewing. We reduced the price last week.

Please could you give me some tips and advice how I can it make it better? I’ve got some new pics of down stairs loo and utility room to send them already.

Any suggestions?

www.thirlwell-estates.co.uk/properties-for-sale/property/10367268-baron-close-middlesbrough

OP posts:
sneekypeeky · 25/08/2020 11:16

And I love the nursery especially, it's beautiful!

Lockdownseperation · 25/08/2020 11:22

Master bedroom looks crammed. Take the TV and chest of drawers out. Remove the next to me cot even if just for photos. The 3 bedroom needs a purpose - can you borrow a bed from someone for the photos. A 3/4 double would be ideal for photos.

Woodendollymix · 25/08/2020 11:29

Agree with many on here and some good suggestions, but can you not move the dining table further out it looks just pushed into the corner making it look very cramped. I would also get rid of the dog bowls for the photographs.

Bit colour in the downstairs wc, even just changing towels.

Fingers crossed it will sell

AJB120 · 25/08/2020 14:23

The dining table is in the corner as is it’s a corner dining set, the same fence in the garden is there as we sectioned a small part off for a dog run so when we have guests etc the dog can be out but not jumping all over everyone, thanks again for all of your help!

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 25/08/2020 15:23

I had to go and look at it on Right Move as the scrolling photos on your link were going too fast for me to look properly.

I think it looks pretty good. There are little things like the microwave and the basket in the bathroom that make you think there isn't enough space and the TV wire that makes you think of not enough sockets.

12309845653ghydrvj · 25/08/2020 16:49

Wow your house is so clean and tidy! Impressive!

My thoughts would be: I think there are opportunities to make it look bigger, brighter and in some places more charming. Are all your light bulbs quite low, and were these taken on a dark day? I feel like the light is off, and that’s also affecting the sense of space.

Kitchen: I think there is an issue with the website on this photo? I can load it sometimes but most of the time it is showing as blank white space. The bit of colour around the window confused me, and I don’t think it does much for the light (at all)—if you want to do a feature here, you could install a mirror that would bounce the light around? The kitchen looks fine but maybe a little bare: I’d get rid rid of the plant on the windowsill and look at a big glass vase of tall, slim white flowers maybe in the left corner instead? Any way to up the light in the room?

The kitchen/microwave photo: this is very confusing and very unappealing to me, that would probably put me off viewing as it looks crammed and like you would always be short of space. Is this a seperate utility space? Actually after looking I’m guessing it’s part of the kitchen we couldn’t see beige? if so make that clear visually, currently it looks like you’re saying the kitchen is too small to use so you have an overflow area. Also lighting is weird: looks like a very dark corner here?

Front garden: nothing wrong with it, very clean and tidy, but also not screaming curb appeal. Personally think a red door would look fab, also some plant pots along the front wall (maybe red pots with big white flowers?). Also the weather looks grim, it’s would be way nicer on a bright sunny day, I think nice yellow sun makes brick look great.

Back garden: I think this would put me off most of all, it looks like the weather is pretty grim? Garden also doesn’t look like it’s loved, or like a place where you would want to spend time. Have you considered doing something with the fences—they look a bit grim, and am confused by the 2 fence situation? If they were painted a nice light cream, with trellises and climbing plants, they would look great. Also a couple of big plant pots, a couple of shrubs, anything to add a bit of life and suggest it’s an area you would use. A bench with fairy lights over it, or set the table up for use as entertaining. Anything you can do to sort out there grass too. And make sure it’s a gorgeous day too, I think my instant reaction do not wanting to go into the garden is at least partially a subconscious response to the weather!

Dining area: I like your decor but I think it is coming across very cramped. If you had the doors thrown open on a bright, late afternoon it would look quite jolly. The furniture arrangement is like an optical illusion that makes it look cramped—there doesn’t appear to be enough space between chairs and table for people to sit? Remove the freestanding bench and pull table out to give sense of spaciousness. Maybe try a new angle without the stairs, they are like a visual barrier giving a sense of enclosed space. Try tunrjng the table around the other way (hard to tell from photo of this would fit or not) and how about a big clear vase full of white roses, to give a sense of brining the outside in? Have you tried that lamp in the other corner of the room, where it looks very dark? If it still looks cramped, you could consider also going for a lighter and smaller lampshade on the ceiling (it is currently lowering the room height), and a mirror instead of the clock. Spare bench here dog food goes and cut edge of slightly, to give sense the room continues beyond the photo. Also a big mirror on the wall opposite the wallpaper could bring Moreno light across to there.

Sitting room: very neat, but is there any way to inject a bit more soul and sense of purpose for the room: furniture arrangement too much based on items around the edges, also couches might look good if covered with simple cream linen quilts? Backlight them with a floor lamp too to help light. Room needs a focal point, and a clear glass coffe tanle in front of couch (ideally with easy brass frame) would be a great adjditon: wouldn’t take away from space, but would give a sense of purpose to the couch, with a book or magazine on it? New cushions would be great: big plump ones not thin flat ones, and preferably quite interesting ones with a sense of character. Consider depositing the couch too, and look for photos of how to create a focal pout for a sitting room.

Bathrooms: I think you already said you are dealing with these.

Main bedroom: this would also be something that would put me off the house. Currently it looks cramped. Get rid of tv, get rid of whatever’s that item is crammed in next to bed (?), get rid of items on top of wardrobe. I would also get rid of the chest of drawers too, it would make a better sense of space. Better light needed in bedroom too, and could make the bed itself look more inviting.

Nursery: oh my god it’s stunning!!!! I want to live there!! You’ve clearly got a great eye, the room is full of light, charm and purpose.

The spare room: this is visually very confusing! The red rug confuses the eye and has no purpose, likewise the dressing table/gaming desk (?!) with the huge chair? I think you need to decide a clear purpose and present it, don’t include anything that adds confusion.

12309845653ghydrvj · 25/08/2020 16:54

www.thespruce.com/creating-and-defining-a-focal-point-452316 This article has some great info about establishing a focal point in a sitting room

12309845653ghydrvj · 25/08/2020 16:59

My favourite part of your house is actually the little nook by the window in the sitting room: could be a gorgeous little space to sit with tea and read, enjoy the gorgeous light. I would re-orient chair and look to cover it with a showstopper fabric, have the lamp giving light over the shoulder. Have you consideeed turning the couch around to the L is the other side, then making a proper focal point in the wallpaper wall?

AJB120 · 25/08/2020 23:32

@12309845653ghydrvjthank you so much for all of your tips! I really appreciate it Smile

OP posts:
Porridgeoat · 26/08/2020 08:01

I like the fencing as it is. Looks good and suits your style. Please don’t paint it as that would mean repainting every few years to maintain

Porridgeoat · 26/08/2020 08:09

Yes pull dining table out or swing it round the other way. Nice display of flowers on table. Where did you get your dining furniture set? It’s great!

Nice sofa. Suits space. The colour scheme needs something but I’m not sure what. Look on Pinterest maybe.

Bathroom/loo. Remove clutter. Nice cheerful hand towel.

I think the photos need retaking on a sunnier day

Porridgeoat · 26/08/2020 08:11

I like the garden but just before the photographer comes zoom down to the garden centre and some flowering plants to dot around in pots. Will add colour

Climbingallthetrees · 26/08/2020 10:16

You’ve had some great tips about making the house look more appealing, but tbh there’s nothing there that would hugely put off viewers. It’s the price. It’s a relatively new build and you’re asking more than you paid for it. People won’t pay that when they can get completely new with help to buy.

Pootles34 · 26/08/2020 10:27

I agree with Climbingallthetrees I'm afraid - it's very nicely presented, nothing that would put me off - it's the price.

lastqueenofscotland · 26/08/2020 10:35

I think your issue might be the area, it’s a lovely house but if you put your address in and in just a quarter of a mile there are over thirty houses available, a lot of them new builds which will have incentives for buyers.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 26/08/2020 10:48

There is a floor plan - I don’t know why some pps are saying there isn’t - but it doesn’t give room sizes, which it certainly should. That does make me wonder about your EA - a bit lax?

Front and back gardens could certainly do with a bit of prettying-up, they look very bare, and personally I don’t like the feature wallpaper.

However these are superficial things and wouldn’t put me off, but an awful lot of buyers nowadays seem to be put off by the most superficial things/unable to use their imagination.
Or it’s the price - is it properly competitive with similar local properties?

AJB120 · 26/08/2020 14:54

@BasiliskStare do you mean like this about the dining table? The link lines show where the corner set would go?

What’s not appealing?
OP posts:
AJB120 · 26/08/2020 14:59

@Porridgeoat do you mean like this? I can’t picture it in my head Confused

What’s not appealing?
OP posts:
bumbleb33s · 26/08/2020 15:13

Op, my house is going on the market today, I'm a minimalist and I've still managed to declutter loads. What I did was a big tidy/declutter then went around the house and took photos of every room and scrutinised them to see if there was anything out of place, wires/curtains not straight, that kind of thing that I was missing, it really worked as things stood out that I'd not noticed.

Also, make your changes and speak to your EA and ask him to come back and take fresh pictures

user1471538283 · 26/08/2020 18:44

It needs to be on Rightmove and it needs a floor plan and/or dimensions. You may be able to go with another estate agent now but you would need to ask your existing one. It may however, be the price so I would reduce it as well

BasiliskStare · 26/08/2020 22:10

Ah so not sure I have explained well - what I meant - the dining table looks rectangular - and at the moment the longest way is between the french windows and the stairs - could you swivel it so that it is longer between the clock and the rest of the room and shorter width between the stairs and the windows ( does that help at all - help @porridgeoat - I think I am saying the same as you - can you explain it better. ) Grin

Porridgeoat · 27/08/2020 00:10

Yes pull it out slightly and turn the table so the longer length runs parallel with french doors .

I think it might sit better under the lampshade either way

AJB120 · 27/08/2020 08:06

@BasiliskStare and @Porridgeoat ah I understand now! Thanks I’ll give it go 😃

OP posts:
AJB120 · 27/08/2020 14:41

Thank you all so much. I’ve sent some new pictures for them to put on and a better overview. it was already on right move and there was already a floor plan there. I’ve done the best I can - it’s hard with a 6 month old! Thanks again everyone!!

OP posts:
optimisticpessimist01 · 27/08/2020 17:23

I don't view houses without floor plans. I like to see the potential from the floor plan more than I want to see photos

Swipe left for the next trending thread