Can anyone give us ideas about why our house isn’t selling?

[Hisisteritsmeeee]

Would anyone be willing to have a look at our house and tell us why it isn’t selling. @Iamthesister and I need help pretty please?

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/55938744

Sorry, just saw the toddler bed isn't quite unmade, but it could look better. But also, the potty seat in the bathroom is pretty ugh for anyone who doesn't have a toddler!

I personally don't think you need to modernise, because most people want to decorate to their own taste. But you need to make it as blank and neutral as possible so they can think about that instead of your family - and the need for modernisation also needs to be reflected in the price.

Maybe if it was sold in terms of ‘needs some cosmetic updating’ people would be more aware of what they were going to see.

Weird mix of old fashioned and very modern furniture.

@Anniissa

It’s a bit confusing matching up pictures with the floor plan - I think the picture of the dining room is actually the play room on the plan with the dining room on the plan having a random assortment of furniture which appears to be part child’s play area and part old furniture. Only one bathroom pictured but not clear which one. Otherwise I echo others - clear all the stuff out of the kitchen so it looks tidier, tidy up the outside areas etc.

I agree, and when I saw that the dining room furniture actually fits in the room marked as 'playroom' then I really think that room needs to be sold as the dining room

Then you have dining room and kitchen side by side, which is much more attractive. One thing that puts me off completely is the layout, the floor plan makes it looks as if that room next to the kitchen is tiny, but knowing that it is dining room sized makes a huge difference.
It also makes me think it is possible to knock kitchen and dining room together.

Main bathroom needs a picture.

I never think it is worth spending a lot to sell a house, but I agree with a pp who said paint the artex ceiling matt white, and rephotograph so that the ceiling isn't so obvious.

also, small things, sweep the back patio!

All these people saying plant flowers and grass - it is November?
At most you might get some winter pansies, but nothing else.

also, I could live with the kitchen, I think most people could. But the bathroom would have to go.

Oh dear. When I see a front garden that awful I immediately think the owners probably don't take proper care of the home, either. I'm sure I'm not the only one. That picture alone would make it a hard pass for me.

Op I’m sorry but it looks like it’s not been maintained. The front garden with the pot oddly placed at the end, and the back garden looks shabby and run down.

First impressions count and that would make a lot of people think what else haven’t they maintained, the bathroom needs replacing and the red carpet in the bedroom is ill fitting and clashes sith the yellow paint.

The sofa looks like a child or dogs sofa, and rhe blue chair looks dirty.

I think if you can’t tidy up the gardens at least you need to reduce the price.

I think it’s a good house, but the way it’s presented smacks of it not being cared for.

Op have you looked At other properties on the market? It’s significantly over priced.

It's the gardens, I think - both front and back look really uncared for and would put me off looking closer.

The bedrooms seem quite small, but not uniquely so.

If you can pressure wash the patio in the back garden, it will scrub up marvellous. Definitely agree to neutralise the red/yellow room. Rug over the red carpet bumpy bits and paint walls white if on a tight budget.

Like others have said, the front garden looks unkempt and unloved. No curb appeal.
The decor looks abit tired and dated inside.

Have you got a budget to decorate? Just some neutral colours on the walls would massively help. The pics also make the house look quite dark and cold.

Theres alot of potential with the house but I think some people would be put off as it it would potentially need a fair bit of money spent modernising it. I'm not being nasty, just giving you an honest opinion.

I think it would only suit someone who is interested in a project. The kitchen isn't too bad but the bathroom needs replacing, the artex ceiling needs to go, both gardens need lots of work and henerally needs painting and probably new flooring throughout.

Having read the the thread and seen the comments from the ops sister that This is their departed mothers home which the op is staying in temporarily, it makes sense of the unusual mix of furniture and the condition.

I don’t really understand what happened with the front garden, it seems to be grass someone chucked random gravel over for some reason, which has made it look awful, and then weirdly positioned a potted plant at the end of it, but past that, if you’re out of funds drop the price. Even good condition properties locally are on for much less than this.

Likely the price should be no more than 190k. Over pricing it is never going to sell it,

I have a pet and need a garden for that reason. If you wanted a big garden for your pets or kids, or just because you like gardening, you’d want fewer pebbles and less concrete and more grass and plants. The artex and wrinkly carpet would put me off, as would a single reception room in a house that side.

Oops sorry I see there are two reception rooms but the listing says one.

@Tigger03

Being very picky / blunt:

The front garden looks shabby
The second photo of the living room makes the sofa look very small - I’d worry about getting a proper cosy one in.
Remove the tea towels from the oven and the clutter from the work surface.
The bedroom red carpet isn’t laid properly - maybe get a rug?
Remove the dog bed

I agree with all this, close the kitchen door as well for the next photo. Both the kitchen and dining room look dark. The dog bed and bowls in the utility room makes me think the house will smell of dog (sorry). The front and back gardens need tidying up and some pots of flowers at the front as a minimum. The child’s bed needs making properly too.

Sorry for your loss, both of you.

You’ve been let down by the agent. I’m so annoyed for you. I’d pull it off the market, take the PPs’ advice re smartening it up, and relist with a decent agent. Best wishes.

My first though on clicking your link was it looks awful, no curb appeal. You actually have a picture of the front of the house towards the end of the photos which looks better so ditch the first photo. After that it’s up to you whether you want to do lots of work or sell it as ‘in need of’ but don’t kid yourself that the lick of paint you have given it means it is modernised.

Best of luck OP and OP’s Sister.

PP have covered all the bases I think, and you’re very sporting taking the critiques as they’re intended!

Bit dated and tired. Needs

Front exterior sorted. Gravel needs to be weed free.

Double bedroom. Yellow walls need to be painted cream

Lounge made homely

Kitchen. Have new coloured/pattered t towels just for the photos and house viewers

Thank you all, this is really helpful. It's both of our first time selling a house or dealing with estate agents in this way.

We've gone through the listing again and noticed so many errors by the agent, we are planning to write a list of things that need changing and send that across to them, as well as take our own pictures. We are thinking about writing our own descriptions as well so that they are accurate.

The front garden is gravel, but the weeds/ grass has grown through it. The house does need a bit of extra love, our mum wasn't able to keep on top of things like the garden for the last couple of years of her life as she wasn't well enough, so unfortunately that part did get neglected and does need more work on it than we can do ourselves.

@Iamthesister and I need different perspectives please

What do you think when you see the following picture? My sister will be here later to take photos with a better phone so we can work on the brightness then, we’re not sure about the candles

P.s under the firebreak rules she’s allowed to be here because I live alone

It does look quite dark.

The candles look fine.