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Property/DIY

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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 .

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BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/10/2007 22:48

You need a fruit bowl, with lots of long life fruit in it.

Lemons, Limes, Oranges. Lifestyle fruits, fruits you can see yourself whizzing up a marinade with.

Mix in some fast movers, but at least you won't be constantly worrying about the fruit bowl.

controlfreaky2 · 09/10/2007 22:48

well i can thoroughly reccomend some time off the hamster wheel world of work as you know....

hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 22:52

oh, that albion drive one linked to below hasn't sold despite being beautifully presented, so maybe it just is the market.........

i think i need everyone on this thread to come over & the weekend & sort the house out. you could all share the commission instead of the agents.

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BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/10/2007 22:57

The Albion drive one, is lots of kitchen shots from different angles. A gopping back garden, no curtains is my first impression.

Off back for a second look.

controlfreaky2 · 09/10/2007 22:58

careful what you wish for.....

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/10/2007 23:01

I am in Dublin,so must politely decline your invitation.

But feel free to MSN me or E mail me, I am ruthless but it pays dividends.

milge · 09/10/2007 23:04

Lovely house, but seriously dodgy photos. Are the agency really trying to sell it for you? And they are expecting a huge % whack?? Its about time they earned it. Serious House Doctoring needed.
Completely agree about "blanding" everything out - be there when they take the photos, follow them room to room, making sure the angle is right, eg they don't photograph into a mirror revealing piles of stuff on top of wardrobe etc.
Agree re white bedlinen, taupe cushions and throws on all beds - matching rooms are good!
Remove all kiddie memorabilia
Remove all bath bottles that are not full and made by molton brown. Make sure Foxtons photograph a pile of white towels ( folded a la Anthea, naturally), in your bathroom shots. Personally speaking, nothing puts me off a house more than half used shower bottles in the photos, makes me shudder and think of slimy soap and pubes in the shower {bleurrrghhh}.
Take down the washing line - its obscuring a lovely garden
Front shots need to be done when there are no cars outside blocking the entrance view.
Kitchen shots are terrible - why 2 different photos of the breakfast bar, and none of the whole kitchen length? The kitchen is painted a lovely shade and this hardly shows at all.

hth

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/10/2007 23:08

Loose the wheely bin, loose the vegetation near the bottom of the fence.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 09/10/2007 23:09

I bet you are sorry you asked now.

I am away to bed.

Take care.

hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 23:09

ok, we're definitely off to ikea tomorrow . white bed linen top of the list. and throws. we have some throws actually (pointless things...), so they all have to match? and i will ring agents & demand new photos after the weekend after we've had chance to sort things out. now, who's offering to look after the children...?!

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hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 23:11

you are a hard woman lgj .

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bran · 09/10/2007 23:14

See the bed in this picture. I would go with white pillowcases too. This is not a bed that you have just woken up from, note the big fluffy pillows standing up on their edges and the teeny square pillows in front of them. Also note the glassy smooth duvet cover - you may have to iron.

LaDiDaDi · 09/10/2007 23:19

Ok, I'm going to go through pics one at a time

Pic 1: Storage units at each side of the fireplace need tidying. No wirs should be seen. Clear mantelpiece completely. the fireplace is lovely and needs to be allowed to stand out. I don't know what's behind the door into the kitchen, family noticeboard?? but it needs to go. Speakers look a bit odd hanging from the wall, could they go or be moved? Simple fresh flowers in vase on table.

Pic 2: Lovely garden, perhaps remove washing thingy.

Pic 3: Remove pics/items from behind bed. If they leave holes perhaps buy one large ikea type print to cover them. Curtains need replacing as does duvet cover to match rest of decor. Perhaps paint walls a more neutral colour, have white bed linien and a bold psttern for curtains plus matching cushions on bed. I had my bedroom walls a similar colour in my old flat. It wasn't till I moved out that I realised how strong it was, I'd just got accustomed to it and hadn't really noticed it when I lived there. Remove rug.

Pic 4: Completely declutter mantelpiece. Decide if this room should be dressed as a receptioin room or a bedroom. Ask your agent's opinion, they should know which will be better for the value of your home.

Pic 5: Tidy up! Drawers should all be closed and hiding stuff. window length curtains, remove paintings from walls. Ask for better angle of photo. This one gives me no real sense of the proportions of the room.

Pic 6: Remove rug.

Pic 7: bin should not be in pic. Clean surface of vanity unit. Hide any toiletries that cost less than £20/bottle.

Pic 8: Hide wheely bin. Move cars esp white one.

Pic 9: ditto pic 8 comments

Pic 10: Again move noiticeboard. Get rid of item to the left with different shaped holes in it. Bin should not be in shot in kitchen nor should those little pots on the floor.

Pic 11: Remove magnets from side of fridge frezer. Remove rack thing from bench and handlotiion from window sill. Oil worktops. Is it possible to open back door into garden completely so that you can see into garden without seeing dorr itself? That would look better.

Pic 12: Again remove noticeboard thing. I would be tempted to declutter the pots and pans hanging in the ktichen but not remove them entirely, give people the idea of how it could be but don't let them think you've got no storage for these items.

Pic 13: Nice pic. Remove child's stripey chair.

Pic 14: Nice pic.

Pic 15: Nice pic. Is there any way that you could add some more colour to the garden?

Can't believe how long this post is but I hope it's helpful. I'm trying to be helpful and dispassionate as I don't really "know" you iyswim. Good luck!

controlfreaky2 · 09/10/2007 23:20

......well you did ask!

hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 23:24

wow ladidida, thanks, that must have taken ages. i am quaking at the thought of redecorating, but if needs must... may take the children away for the weekend & let dp do it.

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hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 23:26

bran, i will buy new bedlinen & put it on immediately before the photo rather than iron it .

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hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 23:26

bran, i will buy new bedlinen & put it on immediately before the photo rather than iron it .

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bubblepop · 09/10/2007 23:33

hiya, i wish you lots of luck in selling your house..it looks fab!

first thing that struck me was the 2 trees in the front garden-get rid.

the next thing i noticed was your colours on the walls, repaint everything in magnolia/cream, get rid of any greens/lilacs.

bathroom looks fab!
also, it looks a little scruffy in your 3rd bedroom,whats that pile of stuff inbetween your 2 chests of drawers? get rid of it and then use some neat tie backs to make your curtains nice and neat!

good luck once again. your house looks better than mine anyway!

bran · 09/10/2007 23:34

But then it will have fold marks on it - normally I would be the last person in the world to advocate ironing bedlinen, but (in the words of Mrs Doyle) g'wan g'wan g'wan g'wan g'wan g'wan go on.

aramintavanhamstring · 09/10/2007 23:35

I think you have been remarkably good humoured about all out critiques so far.....for all you know we all live in hovels.

Interesting that that nicely presented house hasn't sold so far...it was just the first one I saw in your postcode.

I'd love to go to ikea with you to choose bland shite but the nearest is Brizzle.

Have fun this weekend!

marthamoo · 09/10/2007 23:36

I don't own any toiletries that cost more than £20 a bottle...

I think it's a lovely house, hc - but it does need a bit of house doctoring, as suggested above. And as for the one in Devon...

hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 23:40

i am being good humoured aren't i . am going to get huge boxes from a storage place tomorrow & start filling them with abandon!

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hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 23:43

can i leave my bumble & bumble conditioner in the shower??

really can't face painting. surely removing all the crap will be enough.

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bran · 09/10/2007 23:45

While you're at Ikea keep an eye open for pretty dispensers in the bathroom section, then you can empty all your shampoos/conditioners/liquid soap/shower gel into them and line them up attractively.

hoxtonchick · 09/10/2007 23:49

honestly, i have very expensive toiletries .

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