Biting the bullet - what’s wrong with my house?

[ClaraLane]

Hi folks, I’m hoping you lovely bunch can help me work out why my house isn’t selling. We’ve been on the market since 14th October and have only had one viewing. Their feedback was that they didn’t think our balcony would get enough sun despite the estate agent doing the viewing telling them that the sun sets on that side of the house so gets full sun from about 2/3pm until sunset.

There is no picture of the 3rd room because we’ve got to do a bit of work on the bulkhead over the stairs and lockdown is making this tricky. We currently have storage heaters but have had central heating being installed in 2 weeks time.

We’re not desperate to sell as haven’t found anything we like yet but I’m starting to get concerned about why we’ve had so little interest and wonder if I’m missing anything obvious so would appreciate feedback.

Here’s the link if anyone fancies helping out: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/98430179

I'd repaint the blue bedroom wall and show the other bedroom. It's nice on the inside but the building lacks charm.

It's a lovely home! The downside of buying a flat (or a maisonette in your case) is that it is nearly always leasehold not freehold. If I saw your ad and nothing was mentioned about it I'd assume that was the catch. 950 years remaining is brilliant... also the fact that building insurance and service charges are both included in the ground rent. Definitely put these on your ad they are both massive selling points... also definitely mention the increase is usually only around £20 per year👍

I wouldn't view it because the arrangement of rooms really wouldn't suit our lifestyle - I couldn't be doing with lugging a buggy or toddler up and down the steps 20 times a day. Sorry, OP, I agree that inside is really nice especially the 2nd bedroom and as such I don't know if you can do much to attract viewers, I think it's just quite niche. The outside picture isn't great though - maybe ask for the main photo to be a different one

It’s lovely! I really like the colours. Only things I can suggest are to deal with the balcony & not to have the exterior as the first picture as it does not do the interior justice at all.

@LolalovesLondon

I would plant a bit of a garden! Some hedging and flowers! I might have gone a bit OTT with my rubbish drawing (see pic) but you get the idea! 😅

Sadly that’s communal space so we can’t plant anything there but I agree it would look lovely if we could!

@Africa2go I haven’t a clue about RPI, sorry. They just put it up by a small amount every year.

Can’t remember who mentioned a toddler but we’ve got two kids and no lugging the buggy up the stairs, it lives inside downstairs. Plus DD likes to go downstairs in the mornings to get the post.

It is lovely and good value. I would jazz up the balcony a bit and perhaps borrow a double bed to go into the second bedroom for new photos - just so people can see its big enough for a double bed.

I had no idea the roof wasn’t flat till you said that. Clicked on street view to understand- Maybe a photo from this sort of angle?

OP Sorry to bang on about it but look into the ground rent and the basis for the increase before you waste money trying to jazz up your house/ patio. That's far more likely to be the sticking point.

The bathroom is nice but I think people will be put off by the exterior, no garden (especially now - lots of threads on flats not selling due to lack of outside space) and the fact that it's on the first floor (lugging shopping, kids etc up and down) and the wariness about leasehold. I don't know this area but other posters have said there are houses for around £10k more.

You've said there isn't wriggle room on the price but I'd drop it as with the stamp duty ending and a big recession on its way, things may not improve for the housing market next year.

I think the storage heaters are the biggest problem. But it seems to be very reasonably priced and the rooms seem spacious.

As a buyer it would really annoy me that it is advertised as being 3 storey. It is not if the only thing on ground floor is the hallway and stairs.
Otherwise it does look nice inside and with some plants on the balcony the outside can look nicer too.

Get a nicer photo of the front of flat if possible

I think it's the balcony as lovely inside. Bistro table, storm lanterns, pots etc, all of which you can take with you. Really dress it up so it looks like somewhere you'd want to spend time.

Ground floor has the front door, coat hooks, fuse box and a Kallax unit we use for shoe storage. Also enough space to squish the pushchair in. We do get lovely sunsets there, will see if I can find any pictures to add.

Sorry to sound a bit obsessed, but it's a whole ground floor. What are the windows for and what's at the back?

The rest of the ground floor is someone else's flat.
I guess if the estate agent wants to keep up the 3-storey idea then they should include a floor plan of the part of the ground floor which is yours. Buyers would probably find that extra little bit of storage space useful.

I think it needs marketing for young professionals rather than as a family home.

@MiddlesexGirl

The rest of the ground floor is someone else's flat. I guess if the estate agent wants to keep up the 3-storey idea then they should include a floor plan of the part of the ground floor which is yours. Buyers would probably find that extra little bit of storage space useful.

Ah, of course! I was imagining the garage was at the back.

Blimey, that street view pic of the front of the house makes it look so much more appealing. You need to re-do op.

Is the garden yours? If so then I would put a fence between you and your neighbour as it's not very private. It's lovely inside.

do posters bother to read OP's responses, or read the listing on the link?
There is NO private garden but communal lawned greass, as OP said.

There IS the ground floor bit on the floorplan - small hall and stairs. It's to show there is a private entrance, not communal entrance like in many flats, that's a selling point!

OP what about immediate amenities? I think it's the position by the ring road that makes people think you have to traipse a long way to shops or a nice park? how good/quick are the buses?

*grass

The exterior maybe. Not that you can do much about that. Fwiw, I'd buy it as it has a really nice kitchen & bathroom and those are the things I focus on most when buying houses. Most other things can be fixed without too much expense.

If you can get a good photo of the hall I would include that. It's a plus point for a flat that you can leave coats, buggy and shoes downstairs.

I didn't notice the artex at all. The negative I had was the term maisonette as I don't want to live above another home but it looks like yours is more a town house than a maisonette ? That and that you need to brighten up and stage the balcony as the rest is decorated beautifully but the balcony is dull. Paint the wall a nice colour and get some pots up there.

I think you’ve listed it too soon. I’d pull it from the market so that once it’s ready, it won’t look like it’s been languishing in the market for too long.
The storage heaters are really off-putting, so I would have discounted it as soon as I saw them. I’d get that sorted and spruce up the balcony, and then relist. Good luck!