Will we EVER sell our house?

[TroublesomeTownHouse]

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?

I think it's lovely. Way over my budget but just my style. I think it could look a little warmer and more welcoming though.

Just checked and yes lots of the rooms aren't pictured - also you have 4 pictures of the same living room from different angles! Why?

You have 5 bathrooms but only one is pictured!

Also you have a laundry room, boot room, breakfast room all not pictured I think.

Make sure you get images of the hallways, really show off how much space you have.

I think your home looks lovely

I was confused by the photos and layout until you explained that the basement was self-contained. Maybe that could be better shown with a photo of the entrance and the basement photos kept obviously together?

If there's a park nearby perhaps that could be mentioned to offset the outdoor space concerns?

[quote TroublesomeTownHouse]@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![/quote]
That's your problem. Who's going to take on a let know? Can you reconfigure somehow?

Meant to add that it might be cheaper to re-design the courtyard then to drop yet another £50 grand. In my experience, most people have no imagination and struggle to see how something could be improved. I think the troughs around the edge make your garden look smaller than it is and I would be inclined to get rid.

I want to say too that on Rightmove and Zillow etc, there is always a counter saying how long a property has been on the market. If it’s been on for over 100days that will put buyers off. They’ll wonder why hasn’t it sold yet? You’ve lowered the price twice by significant amounts and the second time generated no interest.

What I would do, honestly, and if you are in no hurry to move is take the property off the market until after Christmas. Say March 2021 and then put it back on then. Maybe without dropping price again. Although I agree delete the “offers over” blurb, that’s good advice.

Taking a break for a few months will reset the clock on the websites and your house will look like a new offering, just come to market for sale and you’ll get that initial interest boost all over again. The market slows down anyway during this time of year as most people don’t want to be potentially moving over Christmas or right in middle of a school year/changing schools. Etc.

I think the negatives of your house - small garden, busy road are less likely to be overlooked in the current covid climate. Outside space has become a lot more valuable whilst being better connected/nearer city centres is not as highly prized as it once was.

The photos are bad.

And get the photographer to come back at a time of day when your courtyard is in the sun, not in shade. It looks pretty depressing tbh.

I think it's the photos. The layout isn't clear at all and really makes it look smaller than it is, and it's not obvious which room is which. Also, the photo of the garden is not great. Get photos redone and see what happens?

It's a beautiful house but the sticking points are the garden and the main road. I would look at other agents and find an up market one that does really good photography, i think that's important at this price point. I would also drop another 20 grand if you can.

I’d take out the photo of the back garden altogether. People might come and fall in love with the house before they see the garden. I’d also have the separate basement flat listed in capitals in the first sentence as GRANNY ANNEX. Don’t be apologetic about it, there are people looking for something with space for an older relative or au pair. It’s niche but those people are out there. I’d also take down all the curtain valances, which make the house look dated, and retake the photos.

[quote TroublesomeTownHouse]@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?[/quote]
Yes I meant the second kitchen in the basement. I'm guilty of looking at only pictures and the layout on Rightmove and not reading the agent's blurb and your post clarifying that the basement is a self contained flat crossed with mine.

Honestly it's a lovely house (particularly love your lounge - those windows are fab) but I don't think your agent is doing it justice with the pictures - both the quality, order or ease of visualising the layout of the house.

What was it that made you buy it?

For me it's a beautiful house but the outside space so disappointing.

We are in the South so cant really compare TBH.The house looks nice but dosent seem to "flow very well" somehow .I also think that reducing the price more than once may make people a little wary .Perhaps wait (if you can) until New Year and see if more luck by then

I would want a garden with a house that size, not just a little patio.

I would also want original or sympathetic features. A toilet for square bums just doesn't fit with a beautiful period property for example.
.

Apologies, I am supposed to be working so I am probably about to repeat what everyone has said and will be told to RTFT (but we have just sold and are about to buy so this is a topic close to my heart at the moment!) - for me, it is a big house so will appeal to a large family - but there is no garden! Huge negative at the moment. Also not clear, can you access the back garden from the side of the house? Where do you store the huge amount of bikes, sports stuff etc which inevitably comes with the large family?

Also agree with everyone else who said that the photos are confusing and not in a good order. The downstairs flat is lovely but won't necessarily appeal to everyone - lots of families want a home, not an investment so the income potential is more of a hassle than anything else. Also on a quick look I got confused with the photos and wondered why it was necessary to have a study set up in the kitchen - didn't realise that was the flat downstairs!

It's also a very vertical house which isn't necessarily what people with small children (or lots of children) want.

I also think spending money on courtyard design and making most of front garden in pictures might help?

Thanks for all the comments.

We did the back yard 2 years ago - putting in courtyard and parking so not really up for spending more on it. I've taken 2 more photos are these any better?

The garden is small - its a town house near town and not at all unusual for the area.

Getting close to just taking it off until next year to be honest.

In terms of things you can actually change, I think there’s scope to improve the pictures and also to put them into a much more logical order. I had to flick through multiple times before I found what I believe to be the master bedroom. The average buyer won’t make it that far. You need to wow them with your first 3-5 photos, which currently are a not particularly great photo of the front, a photo of the garden which may put people off, and then multiple photos of the same room (some of which look almost identical).

You’ve clearly have a lovely house, but the photos don’t currently reflect that

OMG, your photo of your back yard is MUCH better than the EA's! It looks tiny on the particulars!

There should be a photo of the parking area as well.

Honestly, given how much your house is on for, those are some of the worst EA photos I've ever seen!

These are our 3rd attempt and way better than the first agent took!

I'll just echo everyone else, get a better photographer to come around, wide angle pictures. The courtyard pictures you posted are entirely different and show a much bigger space.

The house is beautiful btw, only one comment is I think I'm one picture it looks like an office desk int he kitchen? I'd just move that. The house is huge, and maybe dress a home office?

Yes, the desk in the utility room (is that what it is) looks weird.

Those photos aren’t great at all, and duplicates? New photos, including a close up of the front garden area, in the correct order.
Definitely get a wider view of the garden, it’s twice as big as it looks.
I’d get some outdoor rugs and cushions and lights