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!

I like it a lot. It’s a good price. I used to live in W2. Wish I still did! I like the bathroom too, but I appreciate that many won’t. I would be wary of any unexpected major works changes cropping up. That’s the thing that would put me off. How long is left on the lease? Who is the freeholder? The council?

I like your style! No grey either . Like the previous posters have said it’s probably a bit too eclectic for most tastes, just pack up a good bit of your stuff and put it into storage ready for your new home. A picture of the communal gardens would be good. I hope your son is doing okay at the moment

@borageforager that's amazing!

So there have been viewings - several people have said that they love the decor but don't love the estate/ think it's too small/ have offered us not enough money/ don't want to live on the 5th floor/ have decided not to buy right now after all due to job insecurity ..... etc. Etc.

I've had a look at what else is available, and this is by far the best for the best price IMO. I think you're just after extra advertising OP! I think it will sell soon.

This style needs a large period home. There's barely an inch of space on the walls and it's impossible to see anything. So declutter ruthlessly and put 60% of the photos and books in storage - just think how exciting it will be to get them out!

Also sometimes people put a map with a pin if its in a certain area. W2 can be very mixed - if it's on a street with nice surrounding houses or really well located see how you can convey that,

And OMG that bathroom. Great for kids but kids aren't buying it.

Firstly, may I just say that I think your home is beautiful, I love the bathroom, I think it's fabulous!

But I do think that there is so much of your 'stamp' on it that it would be hard for buyers to see how they would make there's.

There’s no tiles on the kitchen just bare exposed wall. So much clutter, the rugs obscure the floor so can’t tell if they are decent condition or not, looks like you would have to do a lot of work, new bathroom, etc etc. Just declutter for the pictures so it doesn’t look so obvious that there’s no storage.

Too much 'stuff' to see past it and imagine your own stuff. We have clutter so that wouldn't bother me as a friend but not as a buyer.

If you've nowhere to put it I'd hire a unit at a storage place and lob it there till you've sold.

Wow is your flat on insta?! I’d love to follow your page!!

I actually really like it.

Though, declutter. Chuck everything in storage - think about it like half packing to move.

Fix the tiles in the kitchen.

Can you clean the jungle off the bathroom? Paint removal oil or something will get it off.

I think it's really lovely. I also don't think it's the interior that is the problem. Most people can see past the existing decor and imagine what they would do with a house. The problem is the exterior. The photo of the balcony makes it look really tiny and grotty, and, I hate to say this, but the outside shot of the block is not appealing.

Maybe ask the estate agent to remove those, and hopefully people will be charmed enough by the interior to overlook those aspects when they come to view it.

People don't love the estate? There's your problem.

I really like your style OP but it definitely isn't helping sell it. Imagining what it will look like when you strip everything out is very difficult and worrying if the missing tiles in your kitchen are an indication. The pots on your 'balcony' are terrifying having lived somewhere they are forbidden and where you'd be imprisoned if they fell off/got knocked or blew off.

It looks very homey and welcoming (I would love a lounge like that and I actually kind of like the bathroom), but I agree, it's likely to put people off if they can't envisage it with their own mark on it.

The building is not to my personal taste and to be honest I wouldn't buy in a building which looked like that, but that's just my own preference.

On the basis of your house alone I would happily be your friend. A real friend who used to do up houses told me that she would be excited about the central heating system or new roof but sold her houses because people liked the sofa and curtains. I fear there are too many people wanting whatever the latest design trend is and not able to see past your stuff. People are fools

I think its lovely, the only things I'd change are no photos of the balcony, and dress it with decent window boxes for viewings stuff them with new plants. Also I'd change the bathroom. But the books, clutter, rugs, pictures I love and they make it feel like somewhere I could live.
Covid is screwing up the London Market.

@Puffykins I'm a bit baffled by why someone thought your OP wasn't genuine

Looking at Rightmove you are 0.1 miles from Westbourne Park. Can you hear the train? Or notice that you're near it (some places being too close to the station means feeling some vibrations etc from the trains passing etc.).

I have god knows how many books on decluttering.

there's no need to have books lying around in this day and age, they can be sent to the charity shops. Get rid of the rugs and take down down all the pictures on the walls

I assume you’re joking... The books should be on shelves, though, for neatness. You might have to thin them out for sake purposes. The rugs are fabulous.

@WashingMachineCrisis

Sorry, I have nothing to add but I’d love to know where you got the lamp shade in the bedroom. It’s the pink one with the moths/butterflies. I bloody love it!

The lamp shade looks like Timorous Beasties

I can see beyond the clutter, it's a lovely flat. No idea about price compared to nearby properties.

Unfortunately many people are very shortsighted.....

Most of it looks pretty nice to me. I realise there’s clutter but it’s not something I can’t see past and I like the style! Looks big. But the photo of the balcony and outside don’t do anything and the bathroom puts me off. I’d paint over the murals and tiles and ensure the photo didn’t include towels over the radiator and take out as many Shampoo bottles as possible,

There's 93 years left on the lease, leaseholder is Westminster Council (who I'm actually trying to sell it back to because there is a shortage of housing, for considerably less than it is listed at, but they're being SO SLOW even though there is a huge shortage of housing in the borough) there no major works in the pipeline (we've paid for new lifts and a new roof) and service charge is £1000 a year which includes buildings insurance and ground rent and all the cleaning and gardening (which is done to a very high standard.) And I'm not just saying this, but there genuinely is no anti-social behaviour on the estate.

It's only the garden which is Grade II listed - I've included it because it shows that it can't be built on.

Shit me there is a lot of stuff and funky decor isn't there.
It's hard to see what space you actually have because there is just so much stuff.
Appreciate that's your taste but if it were me buying I couldn't look past that. I like to see what I'm getting.

@PoorMansPaulaRadcliffe

I fear the only book some posters have in their house is 'Mrs Hinch's Life Lists' ir whatever the fuck it's called .

I don’t think anyone is suggesting making it look like a sterile new build and I loathe the Mrs Hinch ethos and look but it’s difficult to actually see the flat with all the clutter and it gives the instant impression that there is no storage.

OP, when we sold our house a few years ago we invested £150pm in a storage unit and took a load of stuff there. You don’t need daily access to piles of magazines or paintings for example. House was still ours and had lots of character but just minimalised. Was a brilliant investment as we got loads more interest and a much higher selling price than we would have otherwise.