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!

There is no such thing as neutral!!!!

You look at magnolia walls and Next Catalogue furniture and think neutral and I think no! I actively hate that look. It actively prevents me from viewing.

The idea that there is a neutral interior comes from makeover TV programmes circa 2004. There's no neutral decor in the same way as there are no neutral accents or clothes.

If you shop at Next or Dunhelm and you live outside London you are not the kind of person who would ever live in OPs flat and therefore have no idea what she needs to do to style it.

What do you store in the bathroom cupboards OP? Is it even more books?

Nice flat! You’re right to declutter to get the same though.

People saying 'they like the brutalist look' are just trying to be cool!

What a peculiar thing to say. Brutalist architecture has become very fashionable and OP's area is known for a number of world famous examples.

Lots of snobbery about Next and Dunelm (I'm sitting on a Next settee). Maybe I should leave this thread as I am not worthy to contribute to it.

@TicTacTwo no that's my linen cupboard! On one side... the other side has got all the medical stuff I need when DS was being treated for cancer. I could get rid of it but also it feels like it would be tempting fate and I'm not secure enough to be able to do that. Give me a couple of years, by which time his relapse rates are almost negated....

@inkpaperstars it was super easy to put up but there are of course holes. Might your landlord see it as an improvement though? They're very ecologically sound. I got rid of the tumble dryer and now only have that, plus I effectively steam all my clothes every time I have a bath, so I've also cut down on ironing.

When you are selling you need to look at it from the point of view of the buyer. Your place is too cluttered and overwhelming. I love your eclectic colourful home but few will.

You want to sell. You have to take your stamp out of it.

This is a really good website link below for helping you prepare your home to sell..

I also suggest you take it off the market for a few weeks whilst you sort it. Then get a new agent and new pictures.

Its hard! Especially with Covid19 now you have to work even harder to sell. Good luck

www.theadvisory.co.uk/house-selling/prepare-to-sell-your-house/

@CharlieBIB thank you so much! That is amazing! XXXX

Too many cushions (why so many, why?) too many books piled everywhere (and I have too many books piled everywhere) and too many pictures on the wall and piled up, leaning on things.

@CharlieBIB thank you so much! That is amazing!

@Ginfordinner

Lots of snobbery about Next and Dunelm (I'm sitting on a Next settee). Maybe I should leave this thread as I am not worthy to contribute to it.

Actually I was thinking about that earlier. It is very bitchy to say “well you must decorate your home in next in dunelm” like it’s shameful.

I have a friend who has some gorgeous leather kitchen bar stools from dunelm. I don’t think it’s ok to put down others taste to big yourself up.

When selling, that home is gone. You will move on.

Thank you Puffykins, sounds like a win win with the steaming!
Yes, my landlord might be ok with it staying although it is an unusual set up in that the flat is rented from a private estate with many many properties in the area, so they have a slightly different approach. I prefer it to usual private landlords though.

I think it sounds like you and DH have made a good decision re taking the time before going back to market. Wishing the very best for your little boy, I know he's ten but still your little boy x

@Ginfordinner

Lots of snobbery about Next and Dunelm (I'm sitting on a Next settee). Maybe I should leave this thread as I am not worthy to contribute to it.

I have [whispers] a few rooms which are painted grey. Don't let anyone on MN know, they all assume that grey = Mrs.Hinch style homes.

I had genuinely never heard of Dunelm before starting this thread. They've got some really nice velvet chairs. For the next house. As I'm meant to be decluttering this one 🙈🙈🙈.

It’s lovely 😊
I don’t really know?

Also our whole downstairs is actually painted grey. Not that you can see much of the walls for the art - but underneath that it's Farrow & Ball Cornforth White (though actually I wouldn't do it again. I'm desperate to repaint it in Edward Bulmer's Invisible Green, but that might not aid the selling cause.

I love this flat, looks so inviting and interesting.

No snobbery about Next and Dunhelm it's just there are several hundred posts from people telling OP how awful, squalid and inept she is simply because they have a totally different way of looking at interiors. There is no naice, neutral way to style a home.Problem is that just because they have never seen interiors like this before they conclude they are 'wrong' or 'bad'

It's laughable to insist that everybody should sort their storage out and paint the walls magnolia. If you don't live like that is not what you are looking for. It won't sell your flat!

I love what your husband has done to the bathroom for your children and while it might not be to some people's taste, it's easily painted over and it's hardly an eyesore.

I sort of disagree with a lot of people here. Yes, it is cluttered but you can still see that it's a big flat and I'm really not sure where you'd put all the stuff that is yours, although you could rent a small bit of storage for a while to put as many as your books as you could bear to be without. I know I'd find it hard.

Overall it's bright and looks inviting. Seriously, for the price, it's amazing value for money.

@Nikhedonia I think about 60 percent or more of all homes now have grey rooms

It’s the fashion

[quote Pikachubaby]@Nikhedonia I think about 60 percent or more of all homes now have grey rooms

It’s the fashion[/quote]

I think it's fashionable on here to complain about grey. Some greys are following a trend and others are timeless. Depends on the shade and the decor around the grey walls.

I love it ( apart from bathroom!)
It is a bit cluttered so might be good to store some of your books and maybe clear kitchen work surfaces, take down kids artwork on cupboards ( at least for photos and viewings) . Its looks like it has big rooms and is light. Just repaint bathroom, declutter and get agent to take new photos. Good luck