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!

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

Personally I think it looks lovely. There’s clutter and clutter - I don’t object at all to yours, but then I’m not a fan of stark minimalism. Many MNers are obsessed with decluttering but I really don’t think yours would put a serious buyer off.

I do wonder about length of lease - it looks amazingly cheap for a 2 bed in that area. I’ve seen smaller 2 beds in Tooting for the same price, or more! Is that a factor?

[Bodynegative]

I love your home, its absolutely gorgeous! If I had half a million and needed a London house I'd grab it with both hands and fill it with my books, pictures, kitch kitchenalia, late partner's music collection and general stuff. It's fab!

[user1471538283]

The problem is with having lots of stuff out is that it makes the space look smaller and people with assume there is no storage. The jungle bathroom is lovely for your children but people might assume it's a big job to sort it out. So unless the price is reduced significantly you will not get offers I think.

[ShirleyPhallus]

This thread is brilliant. Peak Mumsnet

[Ginfordinner]

I used to love watching House Doctor. To be fair she did have some horrific houses to “dress” or undress in many cases. However, I don’t think the OP needs to go to the extremes that YogiBearcub suggested. The settee is fine except for the fact that there are so many cushions. How does anyone find room to sit on it?. That said the number of cushions on a settee wouldn’t affect my decision on whether to buy a house.

It basically boils down to potential purchasers being put off by things that they would have to spend time and money on doing any repairs or making good anything that is unfinished or unsightly. So, this would involve covering the pipe in the kitchen, tiling the walls, taking down most of the pictures (sorry) because the wall will look like a second-hand dartboard, painting over the “marmite” bathroom murals (sorry) and just putting things into storage that can’t go into a cupboard or on a shelf.

She doesn’t need to put plain bedlinen on the beds or take up the rugs, and why are people so put off by a washing machine in the bathroom? I would rather have more storage space in the kitchen.

Re the books – our house used to be a collection point for books to donate to Oxfam, and we all used to read them before donating them. I remember as a teen reading some pretty “interesting” books. We are a bookish household as well and have lots of books, although our recent purchases have all been on kindle, except for recipe books. But, all of our books are on bookshelves, not the floor or piled up randomly.

[Ginfordinner]

I may or may not be over invested in this thread BTW
I find it very interesting, and would love someone like the OP to "dress" my house (with less "stuff" though)

[Puffykins]

@jcurve thank you for alerting me to something potentially off putting - it's actually mainly poetry that I read in the bath/ books I read to my children while they're in the bath - but I'll make sure they're moved before the house goes on the market again.

[Puffykins]

And I love everything that everyone has said, so thank you. Rest assured, a LOT will be in storage before we attempt to sell again, and the kitchen will look a lot better.

Thank you so much for all the lovely things people have said. And @chocotrio your rug sounds lovely (and mine is Ikea, so!)

[LolaSmiles]

Petlover9
I disagree as someone upthread linked to another property in that block and it was more neutral/minimal and it looked dark and small. Even with the Op's clutter, her flat looks much more bright and homely.

Making the kitchen clearer, toning down the bathroom and removing some of the excess stuff (eg art standing on the floor, additional piles of books and things) would give her a light and bright property to sell, but one that doesn't seem overcrowded.

[ConquestEmpireHungerPlague]

Your next home needs a study/library with proper bookcases on one wall, floor to ceiling, so that the home appears tidier.

lol, the cheek!

[Rhubardandcustard]

Just too much in every room. Too many pictures on the walls - you seem to have covered every bit of spare space on walls with pictures. Too many books. You need to put a lot of this in storage if you intend to keep it all and want to sell. The bathroom will not appeal to the majority so you should consider a quick make over to make it appeal to the masses. Less is more op.

[Ginfordinner]

Ignore the trolls

[Puffykins]

Right so I slightly take back what I said about loving everyone's comments - the area is not trash and our neighbours are AMAZING. I'll take any criticism of my personal style but assuming the people who live here are "scummy" is just mean, horribly prejudiced, and untrue. And I am writing this because there are already people on this thread who have identified the estate/ live locally. The community around me is the hardest thing to contemplate leaving behind.

[SignOnTheWindow]

@Puffykins I think your home is gorgeous, and I love all your books and pictures!

I think that putting lots of stuff in storage will help viewers see the space better. Some people love living with lots of things on show, but lots don't and will be quite unable to imagine their stuff in a space that is so in-your-face personal to you.

When we sold our place, we rented a storage unit and put a huge amount of books, knick-knacks, clothes and toys in it. We even bought a guinea pig hutch and a temporary run so that whenever a potential buyer came round we could fold up the indoor run and put our house guinea pigs outside for the duration (it was summer!).

It took less than a week to get a good offer and we kept the stuff in storage until exchange. The house felt a bit empty for about 8 weeks, but it was worth it.

Good luck with your sale.

[VinylDetective]

It’s absolutely beautiful - would you come and style my house @Puffykins?

This thread tells you all you need to know, which is that most people have no imagination. They’re unable to see anything unless it’s spelt out to them. So, sadly, it looks as if you’re going to have to dismantle your gorgeous, stylish little jewel box and turn it into a bland, characterless box if you want to sell it.

I hope you’re cheered that some of us “get” it and think it’s lovely.

[Goingdooolally]

@Puffykins just ignore the trolling weirdos. Notting Hill is an amazing part of London 💗

[Goingdooolally]

@VinylDetective jewel box is a perfect way to describe it!

Ignore the negatives OP and focus on devouttering and tarting up a bit for sake. Style is a personal thing. Please don’t take the comments to heart. More than anytime now our homes are our sanctuaries and I’d hate to feel than mean spirited comments on here affect how you feel about your wonderful home. 💗

[Goingdooolally]

Decluttering not devouttering (haha- what even is that!)

[LightDrizzle]

I love your flat and I’m green with envy that you got that rug from Ikea! You have amazing art.
You definitely do not need to turn it into a pale grey box.
To sell I would:

• replace the UPVC door with a good quality composite or engineered wood door that looks nice from the inside as well as outside.
  
• remove all artwork from the floor
  
• consider reducing artwork on walls and rearranging for impact, but only if it doesn’t leave marks that you can’t cheaply eradicate.
  
• cull and store cushions, leave a few beauties only
  
• remove anything hanging off something else, - antlers, towels on bathroom door and store elsewhere
  
• store all piles of books and magazines offsite.
  
• tile or paint bare plaster in the kitchen and touch up or repair any degrade.
  
• declutter all surfaces throughout on at least something like a 70:30 ratio of surface to object. Make very object count because it is either very beautiful and complements the room, or signals the area's use in an aspirational way (eg yes to an antique scent bottle on a dressing table but no to a trinket box decorated by DCs for Christmas)
  
• cull some rugs where the floor is nice, leaving only one or two.
  
• repaint bathroom and aim for a paired down lux feel.
  
• ensure utility for potential buyers is clearly signposted; where do they sit to watch TV? - adequate seating arranged clearly to show them, this table is big enough for family dinners and dinner parties because look! Here’s a photo of the table set looking gorgeous.
  
• clean, clean, clean all windows, frames, and second fixings until they gleam. Touch up where needed.
  
• blitz balcony
  
• new photos
  
• have you any summer photos of the communal garden that you could give to the agent to use?
  

Paying for storage is a no-brainer.
I’m sure it will sell, it has a lot going for it for the price but currently it looks like there is no storage and your family is literally making it burst at the seams.
Buyers need to be able to see the space and the bones of what they are buying. They need to be able to visualise their cool stuff in the flat. It may appeal to the many fans of mid 20th century design out there, but they need to be able to see beyond your more artsy, boho accretions.
Don’t cram available storage in the flat to declutter. Move to offsite storage so that when people open your cupboards, which despite Estate Agent rules they may well, they see lots of storage for them, not inadequate storage you and therefore presumably also for them.

[JoJoSM2]

@Goingdooolally

Notting Hill is very well liked and exceptionally expensive but not quite the same as a grim-looking and very deprived estate by a carriageway and train tracks down the road...

The council will hopefully buy OP’s property back

[Nikhedonia]

[quote JoJoSM2]@Goingdooolally

Notting Hill is very well liked and exceptionally expensive but not quite the same as a grim-looking and very deprived estate by a carriageway and train tracks down the road...

The council will hopefully buy OP’s property back[/quote]


That is just so rude. You realise that this is actually the OP's home? And her children's home? The snobbery is just awful.

[LightDrizzle]

I can’t see a TV, I know lots of people just watch what they want on devices, but I’d borrow or buy a 2nd hand 36” or similar flat screen, it doesn’t even have to work or be plugged in, and put it opposite the sofa on the red unit. It won’t dominate the room as your pictures will distract from it, but it will reassure potential buyers that they won’t be compelled to read, paint or do worthy activities all the time if they live in your flat