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Original poster

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:
lunalulu · 10/10/2020 07:20

Excuse typos

I don't like blue

Put some planters out

Paving of some sort

The whole lot currently looks and reads as v depressing. You need a proper listing and pics and it will sell no prob as it is a super house with bags of potential.

YukoandHiro · 10/10/2020 07:29

I have to say, speaking as someone who owns a strange layout maisonette we're planning to sell soon (albeit in London) I think the price is too high for the odd arrangement. As others have said, classic family homes with big gardens are going for £75-100k less in your area, and they are always going to be more attractive to a prospective buyer who needs the amount of space you have. The size already limits the market.

ShesMadeATwatOfMePam · 10/10/2020 07:35

Your only problem op is the listing. The photo of the front made me go "wow". Id love to live somewhere like that. But the rest of the photos were a confusing jumble and the description didn't clear things up. The rooms all look stunning, but i couldn't tell what they were. I thought I've seen a photo of the kitchen, why is there another kitchen and why does it have a desk in it? Turns out it was the utility. Why is there a desk in the utility? Especially if as you say the annexe is currently being used as an office?

I think you need to clearly define each room, take new photos and get a better description that really sells it. Lots of people don't want anything more than a courtyard, and having an annexe is a great feature. Honestly i don't think you need to do a thing to the house or garden in terms of decor, just shift some furniture around and give every room a clear purpose. I don't know if the EA can label the photos with what the room is - that would help when you've got so many rooms. I think it's gorgeous and it's just not being presented as well as it should be by the EA. Maybe Pay extra for a proper photographer to take the photos and you'll see a massive difference.

ShesMadeATwatOfMePam · 10/10/2020 07:38

In your house's case, someone needs to be so enchanted that they brush over the parking on the road issue and don't mind the paved garden.

Perfect example of how bad the listing is - this poster has picked up on loads of stuff but has missed that there is off road parking.

Dailyhandtowelwash · 10/10/2020 07:58

Having looked through a few this morning, OP, I agree entirely that the your house isn’t an 800k house in that area in the current market. It’s a tricky one because it’s looking to me like the £650-675k competitors on decor but they DON’T have the basement flat. I totally think you’re throwing that feature away in the current listing. As much as Covid has made people keener on outdoor space, it’s also made people aware of the value of being able to house relatives. There are people who want space because they have older children, who are less likely to want to run around a garden all day, who would love the ability to have a parent living with them.

Yes, it’s a smaller market than people who want a big garden but it’s there. You just need to be visible to it!

ShesMadeATwatOfMePam · 10/10/2020 08:00

I wouldn't call the garden a patio either. Id call it a low maintenance garden laid to patio or something like that.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 10/10/2020 08:06

I’ve read through this whole thread this morning, and I think the most helpful comment was from a poster earlier on saying that a large house should have plenty of single purpose rooms. I would re model by moving things you already have around. Include at least one home office, maybe two with one being a home office / guest room. Cinema room and formal dining room also v good calls. Make each room distinctive and the size will work for your house, rather than against it.
Also, spend £50 on a lot of spring bulbs now and plant them into the containers. They’ll look brilliant in the spring! It’ll be money well spent!

Good luck.

MsKeats · 10/10/2020 08:13

I looked and went what no garden ? Pictures of front garden needed. More planters. The rest of it is fine the description is very very poor

chopc · 10/10/2020 08:21

It took us over two years to sell our first home! Yes two years! It was a small five bed with a terraced garden. The size of house that would appeal to young families however young families would need a child friendly garden which this was not.
We did like living there but when we realised the problem started cursing the fact we never envisaged the issue (we bought it before we were married so didn't think of child friendliness).

It will eventually sell and you have had offers already which means it's saleable. But you don't have a huge market I feel because the garden doesn't "go" with the house.

FredaFox · 10/10/2020 08:26

For me the house looks soulless, not warm and inviting, rooms are a great size but not styled particularly well
Original listing photos much better
Garden needs jet washing and a bit of colour and life injecting, it looks dull and unloved, you said you’ve had great family time outside, show it
The price, if you can afford to knock £100k off already you know you’ve overpriced it and if I’m honest are a bit greedy, it will sell with better photos, a bit of love and a realistic price. Just cos a house on your street sold for £800k doesn’t mean yours will

Original poster
TroublesomeTownHouse · 10/10/2020 09:04

Thanks everyone. I'm going to ask mumsnet to take the link off now - I think I've reached maximum feedback. We are going to come off the market for a while.

@FredaFox intresting you think I'm greedy for listing my house at the price it was valued.

OP posts:
Dailyhandtowelwash · 10/10/2020 09:59

I think that’s a sensible decision, OP. Best of luck with selling when the time comes. You have a beautiful home.

toffeekiwi · 10/10/2020 10:02

@TroublesomeTownHouse

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.

I'd paint the fence and add some bright pots.
FraterculaArctica · 10/10/2020 10:28

One further comment - not quite sure how you should word this, but it might be worth emphasising that you are not just "in the HGS catchment" you are CERTAIN to get in in that location. We were looking at Harrogate houses and while many of them are 'in catchment' in theory, as you know the distance needed to be sure of a place is ridiculously small! Obviously you can't guarantee a place as the vendor, but something that emphasizes 0.25 miles or whatever to HGS in the description would be important to some clued up buyers.

Persipan · 10/10/2020 10:39

From the floorplan it's exactly the kind of house I'd find really exciting (could never afford it, but hey-ho!) but it's difficult to associate the photos with which rooms they are - especially given there's a basement flat, so some duplication of functions. Labelling the pictures would be really helpful, I think.

AndromedaPerseus · 10/10/2020 10:56

The problem is your market is quite niche basically It’ll appeal to a large/extended family who don’t want the bother of a garden but would like to sit outside for a bbq occasionally

lunalulu · 10/10/2020 10:58

Hi OP yes I'm sure you've had enough comments! 😬

Just wanted to say sorry as I hadn't looked closely enough at your garden - you do have lovely planters, timber benches and planting built in, really nice stones, etc.

I do wish you all the best and I'm sure everything will be great and a buyer will fall in love with the house. But yes I think just make sure the listing is super attractive.

All the best 💐

lunalulu · 10/10/2020 11:00

@AndromedaPerseus

The problem is your market is quite niche basically It’ll appeal to a large/extended family who don’t want the bother of a garden but would like to sit outside for a bbq occasionally
Yes I thought the same. Quite a small pool of buyers. In Harrogate you can go a bit out and have a palace with swimming pool for £700k. So your buyers have to be dedicated city-dwellers who are absolutely set on getting into the grammar schools
VinylDetective · 10/10/2020 11:11

I’ve just looked at your competition. It might be worth your doing the same.

Oneandzero · 10/10/2020 11:55

@TroublesomeTownHouse

Thanks everyone. I'm going to ask mumsnet to take the link off now - I think I've reached maximum feedback. We are going to come off the market for a while.

@FredaFox intresting you think I'm greedy for listing my house at the price it was valued.

Why don’t you just hide it from your watch list? Doesn’t need to be deleted
Oneandzero · 10/10/2020 11:57

I’m curious re what situation was like when you purchased.... did it go very quickly and high competition for it? Did it languish?

NewHouseNewMe · 10/10/2020 12:07

OP please don't be offended.. I love the house especially a boot room (swoons).

I think MN can be harsh on those who post their houses. They seem to forget that while you can get a 4 bed in some areas for £250k, the market is very different across major cities and towns.

Original poster
TroublesomeTownHouse · 10/11/2020 20:49

Just popping back to say thanks for the feedback we've SOLD.

And also we've had an offer accepted on a place so hopefully we are on the move.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

OP posts:
Chipsahoy · 11/11/2020 09:20

So pleased for you op!

Penalty · 11/11/2020 20:37

Really pleased from you! As someone in a similar position - on since mid September, no offers, 7 viewings in first 4 weeks but none since, I would love to know what you think made the difference in the end?? Did you take it off and back on again? Tweak the listing?