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 would love to visit you, your home is lovely!

But to sell this flat you have to turn it into a lifeless shell, sterile and empty for buyers without imagination.

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

I was one such poster. I honestly thought the OP was posting to take the piss out of someone elses flat, as the reasons it might not be selling: the clutter, bathroom, outisde space etc seemed too obvious to need pointing out.

It's a lovely flat, and v good value for that area, which I am familiar with.

However, declutter ruthlessly, keep mural in bathroom, some shots of communal garden, would be more likely to appeal to someone without kids so play down the kids stuff. People with dogs and kids..what will attract them? Shots of hall, shots of communal garden nearby park perhaps or coffeeshops etc neighbour hood vibe. And the balcony looks awful..you need a view from bedroom onto the pots with green in them, or remove.

It is a ideal flat for first time buyer of 30, single bohemian who is already familiar with area..so turn it back into a cosy first time pad. Doesn't have to be stylish but must be airy and spacious..possibilities etc.

Also, service charges, lease, repairs, fire cladding issues, be v clear in upfront info

Yes storage is your friend here. You can’t do anything about the outside but for the location the price is good for a two bedroom flat with communal outside space.

All the books and stuff need to go into storage as you are just highlighting the fact there isn’t enough storage space. However, nobody would have enough space for all those books unless they have a huge country pile with massive study!

I would actually love being in your home it is so interesting. It is the kind of interesting, comfortable home that would attract me to view if I were looking in your area. However the outside would put me off so I'd need to know the area or be convinced by the EA that it is worth looking at. I'd position the beds to show that there is actually room for full size singles. I'd sort out the chipped bookcase as it jumps out and makes you wonder if under everything is a tired home in need of repair and yes the bathroom door. We all have a need for more hanging space in bathroom but clear it for the photos and viewings. Definitely remove the "balcony" pic. Such a shame various media has stopped people from being able to see anything but swish or fake homes that are bog standard instead of looking at room sizes and flow of rooms.

@Puffykins

Regarding the comments on clutter: yes, for selling purposes you need to maybe take a brochure approach and keep it minimalist.

As it is, however, it's obvious to me that it's a creative type's home. It has an arty vibe! That's lovely, but maybe too quirky for the business of trying to attract a wider pool of buyers. Creativity is by definition subjective, so your style my not be to everyone's taste.

I like it, but you have to sell the house/flat not the home so as has been said a few times you need to declutter.

Clear out into storage about 80% of your stuff. Then paint over the more personal decorating.

Also, wheredes your horse live? 😃

@Ickabog

If this is genuiniely your property, then my advice would be

Get rid of the clutter
Paint over the awful mural in the toilet
Remove the photo of the tiny balcony
And once again get rid of the clutter.

Although i'm not entire convined the post is genuine.

This

I love your decor, I think it’s gorgeous! Probably sounds weird, but I get such a feeling of love looking at the pics, as though it’s a really happy home with fun people living there.

Same as everyone else has said, I’d ditch the balcony picture, add pics of the communal gardens, put in the details the actual cost of the ground rent/service charges, paint over the bathroom forest (which I love) and go minimalist clutter but not too much that you lose your look.

I love it but... have a look at similar properties to see what your flat should look like for sale. Yours is so cluttered, there's even toothpaste etc on the sink, all of it needs to go (and the tiles that you do have in the kitchen are not nice)

It looks really homely. 😊 But I agree with others, for selling, it’s too cluttered and the bathroom needs to be ‘less personal’.

I hope your son is ok. Xx

There's too much clutter for my liking and the bathroom would be quite off putting to me.

I don't like to feel I'm paying over the odds because someone else has already nearly done the whole property in grey or magnolia or whatever other neutral is in fashion at the time, but I do like to be able to visualise my belongings in a house.

@washingmachinecrisis yes it is Timorous Beasties! But from years ago. It's actually not brilliantly practical though - it makes the whole room glow a sort of bordello-pink. I thus took out the lightbulb and it is now purely decorative....

I love your style but you've had loads of people say thin it out.
The only thing that might put me off is whether or not I liked the area. But you can't change that. However if you have some selling points about the location up your sleeve that might help.

I would declutter the kitchen, sort the bathroom and do something about that awful side view/outdoor photo with the empty plant pots. Ok,so yes,the house is very full/maximalist interiors, I actually like the styling. Perhaps pare it back a little, but on this occasion I wouldn't tell you to strip it back too much because it has a certain charm.

But to sell this flat you have to turn it into a lifeless shell, sterile and empty for buyers without imagination.

🤣 So true !

This is a tough one OP

I’m a .londoner, I think it looks a good place, correctly priced.

I was wanting to sell up too but the reality of it has been problematic, partly because I am also in a position where I’d have to pay for storage and have things missing from my home that I actually need.

I have opted to stay put for now, but my place has nothing like the clutter yours has and even then, two EAs said to me “can you put some furniture in storage”? I really can’t while working at home. It’s a one bed with a small lounge that leads to open plan galley kitchen.

Then I did a couple of viewings and both places were like bloody show homes - I had a thread but it’s run out, so to speak.

So yes - declutter. I think one other issue with clutter is people can’t see the condition of the place.

I love your Acid House poster!

@Puffykins

I can see what everyone is saying but I love the bathroom mural, and the books everywhere. It feels a home!
I wouldn't go for the pictures on the walls, but that wouldn't put me off it as I'd assume you'd take them with you.

Too much clutter. It is hard to see the space and general condition .

@Ickabog

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

I was one such poster. I honestly thought the OP was posting to take the piss out of someone elses flat, as the reasons it might not be selling: the clutter, bathroom, outisde space etc seemed too obvious to need pointing out.

Ah right. I can see where you're coming from.

Hmm... I think sometimes sellers can't see the wood from the trees so that's why I didn't really question it tbh. If it's their normal and they can't see what's wrong with it, then that's the reason they're posting here for feedback to improve their listing.

I'm surprised the EA didn't make suggestions for wider market appeal tbh.

In all fairness there's a huge chasm between the OPs property and a grey sterile home

I agree. I like the lounge, but it just has too much "stuff".

Mine looks quite minimal compared to yours, but I still have pictures on the walls, photos, books, DVDs, CDs and plants, just not nearly as many. And everything has a home. Nothing is just stacked on the floor.

I would suggest that you keep it looking like a home rather than a sterile flat, but put anything that can't go in a cupboard or on a shelf into storage.

I would concentrate on the kitchen first. The work surface on the right is unusable because it is so full of clutter. I would remove all the cards from the cupboard doors because it just makes the place look claustrophobic and untidy, and put the books in the kitchen into storage and put the dishes on the worksurface on the shelves. Then I would paint the wall.

Your issue is that you have too many books and pictures for the space you currently have.

And what was the estate agent thinking of when they took a photo of an outside area full of rubbish?

And, sorry, but the bathroom just hurts my eyes.

I'm glad that your DS has completed his treatment, and I hope he stays well. Good luck with your decluttering and eventual sale.

I would like to add that it looks a really happy flat and I love your style but it is too hard to see the space and condition. Definitely ditch the balcony pic .

People don’t want flats with no outdoor space in a pandemic. There’s a washing machine in the bathroom.

Clutter and the pic of the balcony is awful

Seriously declutter and stage using neutral tones. There's so much going on it's hard to see the actual space. Don't get me started on the bathroom....