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!

Bluntness, if you don’t desist, people might think you are feeling a bit...erm...out of it. The haemorrhaging of 🤣 is just adding to that impression.
🤭

I think the key with the possessions is to do just what you are now doing Puffykins. Pare it back so that some surfaces and floor space are a bit clearer, but don't strip it all out down to the bare bones as your style actually brilliantly disguises some of the boxiness/less appealing aspects of the flat.

As a London flat dweller I notice that there is quite a lot of built in storage, and clearly it provides you a lot of space because the things on display are not clothes, shoes, coats, utility items etc. Often in flats of a similar size you would have nowhere for any of those things and in rooms of a similar size would have to fit in chests of drawers, free standing wardrobes etc. I think paring back even just a little of the things on surfaces will help make that clearer.

I have found this thread fascinating actually! I agree with a poster upthread that I would love to see what you do with your next place Puffy. I hope you find somewhere you really like, even if it is after delaying the sale of the flat.

I can see some logic to delaying because the reason it hasn't sold could be largely down to factors outside your control, including the current market. You want to get the most out of your investment in this flat to use for your future, so perhaps waiting for some market improvement and having time to sort out some repair issues/look into lease extension etc could be worth it. There is a risk though that the market could get worse for some time, or that if prices do spring back up they will also do so in the place you move to. That might be less of an issue since you are leaving the city.

@DefinitelyPossiblyMaybe

They come indoors and can’t think, can’t imagine themselves living there, and can’t see beyond all the stuff, which is bordering on squalor aaand we have a winner for the most ridiculous comment of the day award!

Don't we just.

Cluttered and the outside looks rough.

The road would put me off and the fact that it backs onto a train line. I can see past the clutter and it would not put me off. The location is a deal breaker though.

Bluntness, if you don’t desist, people might think you are feeling a bit...erm...out of it.
They won't at all.

Your seemingly insatiable desire to appear infinitely more cultured and artistic than everyone else on the thread is quite entertaining though. I'm looking forward to the next interior feature you'll be ready to enlighten us on.

Bluntness, I don't think anyone's trying to be superior. What a bizarre idea.

I like the OP's taste, but have said - as have loads of other people, who also like it - that she would need to hide some stuff away for selling purposes. How's that being superior or not helping?

People have to be able to imagine themselves living in the space. You have to consider how to remove most of your personal items such as books, paintings and maybe even rugs. You may even have to paint a wall or two. What you want to give People area blank enough canvas.

Hire a storage unit and move out all of your (very lovely btw) personal effects, I think it may be stopping
people seeing te space and seeing themselves there

Well not out of it yet, but considering switching my work lap top off and cracking open the Prosecco. The night is still young...😃

If you really want to shift it ,hire some temporary storage ,strip back all the colour re paint all off white, update the kitchen maybe modern
doors etc , think clean lines sharp and modern
thats what buyers want
its very charming and sure you love your stuff, but trust me others won't
Ido this for a living ,and your style is yours , but most buyers can't
see though the stuff , also heard london is a tougher sell at the mo
so yours needs to stand out......maybe worth hiring someone to help

Because for the same price I've seen bigger lovely modern two beds with gardens of their own in Camberwell and four bed in lewisham. In houses not ex authority flats.
Right now lots of people have lost their jobs or / and moving to areas they can have more space and gardens.
Timing isn't going to be ideal for you to sell this flat. You can try to modernise it a bit or lower the price. Otherwise wait a few years when timing should be better or rent out the flat instead of sell it?

Plus all the closed storage in the bathroom..and....is that an airing cupboard opposite the bathroom? Ex LA are brilliant for stuff like that. People who don't live in London flats may not realise the excitement of a cupboard like that

Definitely the clutter, as lovely as it looks people would struggle to imagine where to put their stuff if they moved in and also see how much space there is as each room is too packed. I'd bung a load of stuff in storage, keep it neutrally decorated, maybe only one piece of art per wall .

OP on another matter, why are you moving to Hastings if you say the secondary schools are dire?

(NB Hastings people, I have no idea if this is true...)

Speaking as someone with children of secondary age, I promise that living near good secondary schools is absolutely VITAL. Maybe you know that and have other plans or rich relatives who'll pay private school fees, but honestly if not, really REALLY look at your options before you land yourself in a different sticky situation.

Also I've been so impressed by how lovely you've been with posters being (some of them) bloody rude about your lovely flat. You taken all criticism on the chin and been so nice to everyone.

And I'm shocked by those saying you have too much stuff! I have three times as much stuff as you, I just live in a bigger house so it doesn't show.

And finaly PMSL about the poster who found a sort of concrete garage in the Californian desert for the same price. I know where I'd rather be!

Pull up the rugs for the photos so you can see more of what looks like really nice flooring and the rooms will look more spacious
Get rid of clutter esp the unhung pictures
Do something about the bathroom ie paint over the tree things with tile paint
Other than that it's gorgeous

Janegrey, you are absolutely hilarious. I wonder if anybody takes you seriously. You’re so.......earnest😂. You’ve made me chuckle those last couple of days anyway. Keep commenting please!

I quiet like it! Reminds me of a dolls house the problem is the decor doesn’t match the outside of the property. A buyer who appreciates your still will not be picking an ex council flat

I love it. Great area too. Maybe it’s just the property market right now. Good luck!

I think it looks nice and homely

Because prices in that sector are falling and people expect them to fall more.

Personally I have no problem with the books but pictures on every inch of wall would be just too much for my taste. And the bathroom would have to be sorted out

This has become a competition........who is most erudite? Those with books on the floor or those with books on bookshelves? 😂😂😂

@Literallynoidea thank you! And re the schools, because Ark have recently taken over three primaries and a secondary, and so I therefore have total faith that the school is about to become brilliant. The children are at an Ark primary now, and I love it so much - partly for the ethos. However part of me is thinking that waiting a couple of years for Ark Alexandra to go from Ofsted 3 to Ofsted 1 might be no bad thing, and in the mean time DS can a couple of years at a secondary here. That's if we decide to take it off the market and wait for a couple of years, which is certainly what I'm now leaning towards. It would give me time to fix the kitchen etc.

However I have ordered full sized single beds for the children which I have no doubt will greatly relieve some posters....

OP I just wanted to say I love your aesthetic. As a home, it's lovely and looks so comfortable.

Aside from packing away a few things (and that is only to show just how much space there is) I'd consider painting the bathroom. Very few people will keep that the way it is unless they also have small children who fancy it, and it will end up high on a mental list of things they'll have to do when they move in.

Etc. I have read the thread, I'm glad you're getting a lot of positive feedback. I'd love it if you could keep the place tbh as it's clearly a loved home, but I understand needing more space!