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Original poster

waaah, no one wants to buy my house

265 replies

hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 21:21

i know selling your house is meant to be one of the most stressful things to do, but whenever we've done it before it's been very straightforward....

we've only been on the market for 6 weeks, had a fair few viewers & 1 lot had a 2nd viewing, but no offers yet. i am the most impatient person in the world, but we need a quick sale as have found dream house & need to sell ours asap as other people have offers on it too.

we're with the pushiest agents, & have already dropped the price by £50k. dp & i were just discussing going multi agency and sacking the first lot if they don't sell it by the end of the week.

all advice/commiserations/gin welcome .

OP posts:
kid · 09/10/2007 21:54

I would have thought you would get more money for a 4 bed, 1 reception rather than a 3 bed, 2 receptions.
But, if its advertised as a 4 bed, surely it should be staged as a 4 bed?

blazingsandals · 09/10/2007 21:54

Hey, how did you get Stephen Hawking to do the audio commentary?

aramintavanhamstring · 09/10/2007 21:55

That looks like a lovey home.

To circumvent other peoples lack of imagination I would move that sofa that looks wedged into a corner and ensure that your bed looks gorgeous and sumptuous.

The curtains are a bit big in the kids bedrooms which might make people just think 'clutter' rather than 'neat' and the thing on the wall looks a bit droopy.

Your garden looks lovely but I would take out the washing line which makes it look narrow and get the agent to take new pics with it gone and the things I mentioned changed.

As I said, lovely lovely house....but you want it gone so you might as well put yourself in the mindset of a buyer.

Where in Devon are you buying?

Original poster
hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 21:57

your mum's house looks gorgeous m&j. am just downloading the brochure to have a proper nosey!

bran we are going to have ponies & chickens. and i am going to make pesto & sell it at farmers' markets. dp is going to make bio-diesel & our fortune. mostly we'll be doing up barns i think!

OP posts:
blazingsandals · 09/10/2007 21:57

HC - you might want to get them to rephotograph the bedroom, the duvet is not in it's cover properly and also hide the wires to the radio/cd next to the fire - looks messy (I have the exact same unit myself).

Also, I know it's not going to help but the shower room has very 'busy' tiles doesn't it? Have you considered painting them out or something? Sorry you probably love it but some people might not.

hifi · 09/10/2007 21:57

not even a few grand, re do your carpets, tidy paint work and gut kids rooms. we are looking north london. walked straight out of one other day because kitchen was filthy, sound mad but its first impressions. sold ours in two days,looks very sterile compared to how it normally looks, lots of things in neighbours garage, i also borrowed friends lovely furniture pieces and pictures.

Original poster
hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 21:58

ooooh, great advice araminta, thanks.

are you sure you can't afford it kid ?

OP posts:
BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/10/2007 21:59

Arminta saved me a post.

The only other thing that struck me was and this is a double edged sword, IMO the front of the house are the windows to the soul of the house.

You can not see your windows due to the tree,however once you are in you would be glad of the privacy. Double edged sword.

Original poster
hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 22:00

ok, this is all very good feedback. i am not a details person.... do you think changing small things would really make a difference?

OP posts:
Original poster
hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 22:01

also, & i'm aware i might sound a bit mad here, but we love this house & i'm almost offended that people don't want to buy it. is that weird?

OP posts:
hifi · 09/10/2007 22:02

also foxtons are notorious for overpricing and having highest commission.

blazingsandals · 09/10/2007 22:03

Yes, you need to get some distance from this - it's like a car. It has a few dints and it's not perfect. You have enjoyed it, now it's time to sell it and move on. Pack up your personal stuff and make it more impersonal. It'll help you get some perspective

bran · 09/10/2007 22:03

Actually, I think the curtains in photo 5 are fine, but they could do with the stuff on the floor being removed so they can hang properly, and tie-backs would look smart and let in a bit more light.

In photo 3, could you borrow long curtains and tie-backs and center that lovely cabinet under the window. Also, make the bed, you slattern and use new bedlinen that doesn't clash with the wall colour. Also when you put the duvet cover on close the buttons/poppers at the bottom. What type of flooring is under the rug? I think the rug is more suited to a sitting-room/study than a bedroom as it's a bit dark. Could you store it and replace it with something pretty that picks up the blue of the wall or not have a rug at all?

Original poster
hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 22:03

yes, f*ing foxtons....

OP posts:
hifi · 09/10/2007 22:04

abosolutly small things matter, my dh wouldnt go into a house because of dustbins outside!

blazingsandals · 09/10/2007 22:04

Agree with hifi - and I've heard the worst kind of blarney from them about why they hadn't found a buyer yet.

bumposaurus · 09/10/2007 22:04

We have exactly the same issue with our house in SW London - lots of viewings, no offers. I have pondered this and am actually glad that we haven't even had an insultingly low offer, because it suggests to me that the problem is the market, rather than our house (and hopefully means that the house we have fallen in love with will still be there when we do get an offer). Gorgeous house by the way

aramintavanhamstring · 09/10/2007 22:04

My dh is a feeeeelthy property developer in Devon. I go in and bland everything down before we sell on.

You cannot under-estimate the average British house purchasers desire for beige.

You need good pics. People won't even bother to look without them.

Original poster
hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 22:05

we have a blue & green duvet cover bran ...

OP posts:
margoandjerry · 09/10/2007 22:05

such a lovely garden! I think I would just doctor your second bedroom a bit so the pic looks a bit more plush.

It is amazing what puts people off when buying a house. Tiny things that you would overlook - even things they won't get to keep like a duvet cover they don't like! I would just get a throw on there so it all gives the impression of being very neutral and boutique hotely. That seems to be the preferred look these days.

Original poster
hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 22:05

oh good bumposaurus, it's not just me!

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Original poster
hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 22:07

ok, am going to declutter madly.

dd is however awake, so don't be too harsh in my absence .

OP posts:
kid · 09/10/2007 22:07

I am so jealous of you moving to Devon. But now I can drive long distances, we might just come and gatecrash!

I'm sure I can't afford it, but I am still happy to come and live there!

Did you tell M I saw him chatting up the girls?

bran · 09/10/2007 22:08

Could you splash out on some plain white bedlinen and a sumptuous throw to go across the bottom of the bed perhaps? White linen will always fit in whatever the bedroom is like in the new house.

margoandjerry · 09/10/2007 22:08

no hoxtonchick, you are not weird. I would love that house too. Gorgeous .

But you might want to take the opportunity to mentally begin your move. That means packing up stuff already and putting it in storage and preparing the house for people who are not you with lots of beige and smart but dullness everywhere.

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