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Will we EVER sell our house?

228 replies

TroublesomeTownHouse · 09/10/2020 11:23

We have been on the market since Feb. Basically sold and then lockdown hit and they pulled out. Sold again in the summer but they also pulled out having found somewhere they preferred.

Switched agents mid-September because we'd been on so long and hoped for some new interest but got 1 solitary viewing.

Then did a fairly big price drop 2 weeks ago and NOTHING.

I know we should probably just take it off the market until next year but everything around us is selling. Cons are we are on a main road and we don't have much garden but we (and both sets of agents) are really genuinely puzzled about what's going on because otherwise its pretty good!

Does anyone have any miracle stories about buyers appearing suddenly after months?

OP posts:
VictoriaBun · 09/10/2020 12:36

I know the area , and love Harrogate, it would be a lovely place to live.
I had high expectations of your house from the outside, but looking at your photos, and for me , it lacks original features. Some of your rooms are very nice, but again it lacks the character of the promise of the outside. I also agree with others about the lack of outside space.

Roowig2020 · 09/10/2020 12:38

It's a beautiful house and it's huge! The limited back garden would be a big no no for most families needing a house that big as they probably have a few children. What's your front garden like? Can you sit/ play out there?

Have you ever rented out the basement? That could be a selling point if you knew how much you could charge.

Did you buy it in 2014 for 612k?

Cookiedough123 · 09/10/2020 12:38

What a beautiful house but like you said the garden... dont lose hope. We had a 2 bed cottage on the market. Went up in October last year. Had loads of interest. Various buyers pulled out. We are on buyer number 4 who have been so nice and everything has been straightforward. Due to complete in 10 days.

Bathroom12345 · 09/10/2020 12:41

I dont really have much to add add but its a brave person to put their house up there and really nice to see such helpful replies.

I agree with others though, that garden is a deal breaker for lots I would suspect and having to go through a bedroom to get to the kitchen isnt great. Some people just cannot imagine moving things around themselves and need it spelt out to them. Also, dare I say the other bedrooms look a bit student like.

What about staging? I had a friend who did this and it really helped.

When we sold our house a few years ago it was quirky, overlooked woods. EA asked me right out how quickly I wanted to sell, whether I would wait for the right buyer, we priced to sell and did with 6 weeks.

I like the second link (sorry better than yours and its £75k cheaper and that hasnt sold either). I know its SO painful when its the price isnt it.

BuddyRun · 09/10/2020 12:44

I agree with PP about looking at the competition. Other houses of the same size in the same area are on for much less. The garden is very small. It's also worth noting that many mortgage lenders won't lend on a house with more than one kitchen so you may only be looking at cash buyers. I'd remove "offers over" - it always looks hostile and no one will ever offer over, why would they?

PlanDeRaccordement · 09/10/2020 12:47

The pictures are all jumbled up and jump back and forth so you see a room and then it pops back up three pictures later. So reorder the pictures so it’s like you are touring the house. Start on ground floor, and go up to top then do basement and garden/courtyard last.

It’s a lot of house to heat and the EPC is average at a low C

Photos are not very good. (Going by title of photo with numbers...titles should be updated to say “reception room 1” “main kitchen” “second kitchen” and not just be numbers.)

Picture 3 (or 2 of 19) shows your small and not very cheerful courtyard garden. Don’t lead with this! This is not a selling point. It’s a can you live with it aspect that is detracting from the value. This should be very last photo. Try and get a better one on a sunny day.

Pictures 4 and 5 swap order. The beautiful window in that reception room is way more attractive than a corner TV.

Picture 6. Right in the center of the photo you have your cheap folding metal chairs upstaging what is a lovely kitchen. This should be replaced with two photos centering the best features of your kitchen.

Picture 7. I’d remove the mismatching chairs and take photo without them if I were you. Delete picture 8.

Pictures 9 and 10 are repeats of 4 and 5, delete.

Picture 11.....retake centering what looks like might be a large luxury bathtub & the window. Right now your picture is of an average shower and toilet, very ho hum.

Picture 12. This child’s room is very mismatched furniture. Can you remove the dresser that is blocking the awesome window feature? Try rearranging the furniture in here so it looks more polished.

picture 13 you have a desk in the second kitchen- remove it. Looks awful and the picture doesn’t show what’s in that kitchen. You can’t even tell if there’s a hob or sink. Also very jarring to go from child’s bedroom to another kitchen...I have no idea now where I am in floorplan. Upstairs? Down stairs? So this is why naming the pictures as to where the room is and what it is is so important.

Picture 14. Nice big bedroom...if master you got it, label the picture. My only comment is by putting things in front of the window it gives impression you have no wall space. It looks cluttered. Try moving away from window even if just for photo. If master, consider doing two photos from different angles so can see all four walls of room.

Picture 15 another massive bedroom! Give that two photos so can see all of it.

Picture 16. Yes, same here. Do two photos so can see whole room. Also that tan mattress/dog bed? on the floor in bottom left corner? Remove it.

Picture 17 delete. It’s front of house again.

Picture 18 & 18. Great room. Just label where it is?

Picture 19 another bedroom! Are we upstairs again or downstairs? Is this the master? Label the picture. Do two as it’s a lovely bedroom.

So it’s a 6 bedroom house and there are only 5 bedrooms shown in pictures...where is #6? Even if is storage and you have to empty it to take a picture of an empty room. Do it. Then put stuff back after photo is taken.

Also floorplan says you have a boot room? Where is photo?
Laundry room too- add photo for that. Your other two bathrooms/en suites- need photos of them too. People need to visualise actually living there.

Picture of staircase from top floor looking down might be a good add as you seem to have a skylight in floorplan.

Any nice views from those windows? Say looking into front garden? If so, add that in too. People like pictures from bedroom windows that show greenery and whether they’d be overlooked/looked into by neighbours or from road traffic or if it’s somewhat private/screen by a tree or hedge.

NewHouseNewMe · 09/10/2020 12:47

I love your house! I can see the garden would put some people off but not everyone wants a garden. Is it overlooked in some way that isn't evident on your photos?

I know want a boot room!

gigi556 · 09/10/2020 12:48

I don't think the photos do anything for it. I'd stage the house better (yourself or professionally) and I would get professional photos done.

AriettyHomily · 09/10/2020 12:49

The photo angles are awful.

The garden is tiny, is that the norm for the area? I don't know it.

Ultimately, it will be price. It's always price.

TroublesomeTownHouse · 09/10/2020 12:49

@ramblingsonthego it's not marketed as 7bedroom? Also there's no bedroom near the kitchen so I'm not sure what you mean?

@NanooCov I'm not sure what you mean about going through a bedroom to get to the kitchen?? DO you mean in the flat in the basement?

OP posts:
Arrowcat · 09/10/2020 12:50

You need a pic of the parking (if it's off road) and some more pics of both the front and rear garden. If the rear is small make the most of the front.

NewHouseNewMe · 09/10/2020 12:51

They mean the basement flat. It looks like you go through a bedroom to the kitchen. Might be wrong on the plans.

CostaCosta · 09/10/2020 12:52

It is beautiful!

AriettyHomily · 09/10/2020 12:53

Sorry, just realised about the independently accessed apartment, and the bedroom in the basement. that would put me off as cost £ to put back to a normal family home.

RationalOne · 09/10/2020 12:54

Price

RationalOne · 09/10/2020 12:55

I meant to add for the price I would want more outdoor space. I have had a quick look at can get more for your money so that for me at least would put me off.

Hedgehog123 · 09/10/2020 12:56

It’s a lovely house and you can’t do much if people want a bigger garden. My input would be that I found the photos quite confusing. I would make clear that the flat is separate and market it as a great rental opportunity or for a ‘granny flat’ - that could be a big plus for some people. Good luck!

TroublesomeTownHouse · 09/10/2020 12:56

@AriettyHomily it has been a source of income as it can be let separately on Airbnb or similar. Used to be a selling point but not at the moment!

OP posts:
mummabubs · 09/10/2020 12:56

Looks like a beautiful house, I'm sorry to say the garden would be the reason I wouldn't view, for that price especially up north I'd be wanting more garden. Can the agent get a picture of the garden when it's in the sunlight as well- might help some to overlook the size?

PlanDeRaccordement · 09/10/2020 12:58

That’s why I’d do front of house, front garden, entry hall, then main house rooms ground floor, then first floor, then second floor (with picture of stairway viewed from top looking down with the pictures. Then do the photos for the basement annex, and finally finish with courtyard garden and parking last. Properly labelling the photos will help with navigating.

Joeytribbianiz · 09/10/2020 12:59

Absolutely beautiful house. However the pictures don't match up - found it really hard to visualize moving through the space. I don't think you have pictures of every room? Get some more pics up, in a logical order, and get a video tour done too.

Unfortunately with a small garden and being on a main road it's not going to be on the list of lots of people straight off. Especially with people working from home more, people are looking for quiet areas with outside space. Tons of people have gotten pets in lockdown too.

The right buyer will come along, it always takes longer with big houses so don't worry too much. Is the price reflective of what other people have paid for direct comparison houses around you? What did the last house on the street sell for?

coronabeer · 09/10/2020 12:59

I think the mai problem is the garden. If you Google "small courtyard garden ideas" you might get some ideas of what you could do with the space to make it look bigger, greener and more inviting. Haven't had time to check, but is there some nice area of open space nearby that could be highlighted to help increase the appeal to families with children and/ or dogs?

Spell out the fact that you have a basement flat suitable as a granny flat or for an au pair. It's not at all obvious from the description.

Get the photos in order, so that the viewer sees the in the same order they would if they actually looked around.

toffeekiwi · 09/10/2020 13:00

Before I see any photos of the interior the tiny garden puts me off and I wouldn't look any further if I was looking to buy. Get that photo put at the end to give the chance for the interior to get viewers through the door.

Parkandride · 09/10/2020 13:01

I'm not far from you, though sadly not in this price bracket. Its a lovely home

I agree you need to separate out the annex somehow in main details and floor plan, is that where the office in a kitchen is? That confused me. With all that space isn't there a better place to stage an office.

Photos are very stretched out, unless your bathroom door and piano are really that long! I think you could take nicer ones.

Jazz up the garden photo and put it at the end, that would be a concern for me with a large house so don't lead with it.

Good luck

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 09/10/2020 13:01

It’s lovely. It’s ‘niche’ though. Most people with enough children to require a house that size will want a bigger garden. You’d also either have to be in a position where you need a ‘granny flat’ type arrangement or have the appetite for managing letting it out.
It is actually the sort of house DH and I are looking for for our next move as we have 3 children and are hoping to be able to house my mum when she can no longer manage alone, but we wouldn’t view due to the lack of garden.