Please can someone tell me why my flat isn't selling?!

[Puffykins]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-84873916.html

Price-wise, it's appropriate - even cheap - for the area. I know that it hasn't got it's own garden, but there is a huge communal garden which, in central-ish London, I'd argue is better than a tiny garden.

Admittedly I don't like the estate agents pictures much. It's really light in real life, but they always seem obsessed with turning on all the lights.

Anyway, any tips would be hugely appreciated. Thank you!

Yes they're still in toddler beds. They've almost grown out of them but I don't want to get new beds til we've moved.

You're right, I need to disassociate my feelings. We've lived here for far longer than we thought we would because DS was diagnosed with cancer 4 years ago - he finished treatment this summer - and we didn't want to move hospitals etc.

To be honest, I'm terrified of moving - it's my DH who wants to, but I'm also bored of our flat being on the market. And it's mostly his clutter 🙈🙈. Like the two paintings that are leaning against the cabinets....

Oh my gosh. I couldn’t imagine buying this place because there’s obviously no room for anything given how much stuff you have everywhere. What’s going on with all the clutter in the kitchen?!

Agree about the clutter but I love your style. Especially the amazing Babar picture. I love Babar

I quite like it, it's a lovely flat, but I suspect it's the clutter that puts people off.

Wow. It’s a cross between a library and an art gallery. I can’t really tell from the photos how someone lives there.

I like your style, but too many books. Also I would want to know the service charge costs and also see the communal garden. I wouldn’t need the balcony shot either. The point about the storage space is a good one - pare everything back until it sells.

The only bit the really put me off was the picture of the tiny outside... gully? Just, why??
It’s also a very ugly building but there isn’t much you can do about that and maybe it’s normal for London?
Tbh I think it’s a pretty slow market at the moment, especially for gardenless flats.

It's a bit busy

Oh your poor DS, OP - hope he’s doing ok. At the very least I’d fix the tiles in the kitchen and remove that bookcase on the right hand side. It makes your small kitchen look tiny!

De clutter books, remove at least half the artwork from the walls and remove the two massive stack of magazines from either side of your bed.

Tidy the balcony or remove the photo from the listing.

I agree maybe switch the bedrooms around so the master has the balcony. The bathroom is lovely for the kids but it would put me off, sorry!

Good luck!

I think it’s really lovely and I can tell that you’ve had a happy life there. But most people don’t have that imagination so will want to see it stripped back to its bare bones, painted all white (or grey, eugghhh) everything, and not a shred of personality on show.

There is a slight juxtaposition between some of the chintz fabrics and the bright, bold, more modern accessories, perhaps you could strip back some of the chintz to plain white cotton bedding and curtains to give it a bit of a simpler feel, whilst keeping your personality there in the form of your newer brighter rugs and fabrics?

Also think you could do with some more bookshelves if you can squeeze them in anywhere, just to clear some of the surfaces of stacked books.

I’d find some cute storage solution for the bedroom dressing table to keep the beauty stuff contained and also maybe try to clear the bed side tables a little in the children’s room so it’s a bit less cluttered.

I actually love it. It's the kind of place I'd love to view -- until I got to the exterior pic. Not a fan, but I appreciate there's nothing you can do about that!

I think your flat looks amazing, and I think that's because of you and your stuff. I think that makes it hard for others to imagine themselves in this space.

The clutter doesn’t bother me - when looking at a house you have after all to totally ignore everything that’s not staying.
The photo of the balcony is not good. Either empty it and clean it or don’t use that photo.
Quick view I can’t tell which is yours from the exterior photo.
Why isn’t there a photo of the shared garden ??

I'd tidy the clutter it just gives the impression you've run out of space , tiles for kitchen needed , balcony wall could do with painting, replace plants on wall(outside) . Don't hang anything on doors , main issue would be bathroom,

I’ve also never heard of your agent, are they any good? Have you tried The Modern House? They have lots of interesting modern flats so might find your buyer that way? I doubt they’ll be cheap though.

I think it’s a lovely home and nothing in the pics would put me off. Maybe it’s due to the pandemic and uncertainty? I hope your son is doing okay

I'll get the balcony picture taken down immediately. It's not actually a balcony, technically - it's a fire escape. But one can grow tomatoes on it.

And there are actually built in cupboards in every room, but we still have too many books. I will put more in storage. And the Vogue stacks beside the bed....

The kitchen - yes - it never really got finished because I liked the colour of the plaster. But again, I realise not to everyone's taste.

Thank you all again.

OP if I go to Rightmove and search via the map in the area your flat is marked as being in your listing, it doesn't appear.

Is there a fault with the listing? Maybe that's why? If it's not coming up when searched.

I love your decor, I think it looks great. Having said that, it would probably look more spacious and sale ready with less in it.

I agree that the price is modest for W2, but the building is ugly and tbh looks rough. There are also risks to buying ex council in terms of maintenance costs. These things will put off many buyers, and you may have to wait longer for the right one (and declutter).

What everyone else said. It isn’t a nice looking building but you can’t change that. It absolutely screams lack of storage. Declutter mercilessly and put things in storage - I can’t get a proper sense of how big the rooms really are with it all. Bin the balcony picture. Sort the bathroom - would make me assume it needs ripping out and I’m not going to do that. Kitchen does look like tiles and missing.

Picture 9 is godawful and I'd honestly assume I was being punk'd by the EA if they included it in the listing. It looks as they they're touting to a prospective killer: "Could be months before the body is found . . . ".
I don't mind the books, although I agree the photo where they're front and centre is bizarre. I have books everywhere. Wouldn't put me off. The number of pictures not on the walls is pretty weird, though.
'Clutter' is an annoying word after a while, I've discovered.

STUFF!!!

it never really got finished because I liked the colour of the plaster. But again, I realise not to everyone's taste.

I really want to believe you're genuine, but comments like this aren't helping.

I think it looks beautiful and very warm and welcoming. Love it.....can you come and decorate mine

I noticed from the pics there are a few scrappy looking door frames, and the curtains are falling down in second bedroom. The outside pictures are off-putting. The bathroom is cute but would not appeal to most people, unless they have small people. What is happening on the wall behind the cooker? it looks like it needs tiling or something. The windows are not attractive, I would find a way of disguising the PVC windows, but then I hate modern windows.

I disagree about the clutter, its not scruffy, dusty messy looking clutter. I don't like stark empty spaces, and the bright colours combined with traditional looking furniture and books gives the otherwise modern space lots of character, it compensates for what is essentially a modern box. So don't go too far with the declutter, it might work against you.

The clutter is giving me a sore head, you’re not selling ‘your home’ it needs to become someone else’s.
On another note I’m as always that this would be nearly half a million, it’s insane.
Come North!
62 Grange Terrace, Bo’ness, EH51 9DU
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74397054.html
Commuting distance to Edinburgh 😉🙂