Advice Welcomed on Sale of My House

[goodbyestranger]

I get on well with the agent who says he doesn't think a price reduction is a good idea; that the price is right. His view seems to be that the house may take a while to sell because I just need 'the right person'. The obvious problem is no on site parking but there's plenty on street parking nearby: I've parked on the street opposite for forty years (for the last twenty with a large VW nine seat people carrier) and there are a number of other spaces just a few steps up the road. A similar house with parking sold for £200k more a couple of years ago and another where parking could be created, assuming planning permission and c. £20k to create, sold for £50k more this summer. A smaller house with a small garden and no comparable views and no parking and much, much further from the beach sold for £125 less a few weeks ago. It's a ten minute flat walk along a National Trust path to the incredibly beautiful beach and the buses to both local schools (one a comp, the other a top co-ed grammar) stop at the door. I've brought my eight DC up in this house - admittedly a bit of a squash, but they love the house even so. I can't create any on-site parking, it just isn't there. The other possible issue is the extension I had to build in 2006 to accommodate the family as they grew. It's not the best looking extension ever but all that could be done within the confines of very strict planning controls in the area (AONB - Jurassic Coast) and is a really lovely room inside. The village community is vibrant and welcoming. Advice on how to proceed welcomed.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73186305#/

They mention the school but not the bus, that would be good to include. It's also crazy they talk about the fireplace and window seats but don't show them.

Agree MustDust. The agent knows all the stuff about school bus etc but says they'll say it when people ring/ view. I have to say the agent is uber positive, so that's fairly winning.

I don't want the agent to sack me for making unreasonable demands. How far can one push it with agents?

Fireplace is gorgeous. Also Beer stone. Lovely fire in front of me as I type.

@goodbyestranger all the best to you. You’ve endured some quite blunt criticism 😳 so I hope everything works out for you and your children. It’s been a shitty year for most but it sounds like you’ve had some added difficulties to deal with. I do hope everything work out for you. Try and make the house as appealing to as wide a market as possible by taking on board the more constructive comments . You will find your buyer! House sales are always just a numbers game and you’ll improve your chances by putting it back onto the market afresh when physical viewings are possible . Don’t be afraid to sack the current agent and get one that works for you best. Bon Chance!!

Cheers Yesbutisittouching. I guess blunt criticism is what I asked for!

Havent read the whole thread.
Lovely house and gardens/views.
I would change the kitchen table and use lower backed chairs or move it out of the kitchen.
Also change the three bed room it loosk crowded.
I would also add pots of winter pansies to the outside (pic 1) to make it look more welcoming.
I think these small things would make a big difference.

Goodbyestranger I suppose how far you can push it is whether there's another agent. I'm assuming they're in for a pretty pay out on that price of property when it sells. They may be super positive but they're not super proactive in selling your house, if a bunch of randoms on the internet can see where they are going wrong then they're not worth what you're paying them, sorry.

Haven’t RTFT.

Your house is beautiful but not presented in a way that easily appeals to the ideal buyer. The ideal buyer is a young couple with a young child, at a push 2 young children.

I totally agree with the agent (not a phrase I’ve uttered much in my life). Don’t budge on your price. It just needs the right buyer. Doesn’t sound like you need to move within a year or so - just hide your time. Get rid of some beds, stage a home office or playroom in the extension, make your children use sleeping bags/blow up beds, get rid of the large kitchen table. Then wait.

I’m sure it’ll happen for you. Don’t be discouraged. Your house is very appealing to someone who’s looking for the Devon dream. Parking won’t be a deal breaker.

I totally agree with pp about including the bus info. You're not asking too much. The thing is, if someone decides they want to move to Devon and so aren't familiar with your location, you might find that they think "off-road parking = lifetime of parking wars, rural area = nightmare for public transport". If you spell it out for people, they are less likely to cross you off the list before they've even rung up to enquire.

Context is everything with money. £40k would be a 60% deposit in my area. But I know that in some areas you'd be laughed out of the bank for even considering a mortgage with "only" £40k. It's a lovely house OP and a nice area that I have happy memories of.

Another vote to say the house is beautiful and I agree with the comments re staging of the kitchen and bedroom with 3 beds

The agents are working for you, you’re paying them! So don’t think in terms of reasonable demands or not, you’re the client & they need to keep you happy.

I can't see it. Neither of the links work for me.

OP, your summer house looks like a garden shed in the pictures. If it’s actually got building regulations required to use it as an extra bedroom, you should be highlighting this! It’s potential income for someone who might want to rent it out during high season.

I stand by my “rude” comment that the white tiles look dirt cheap. If they’re in fact overpriced Fired Earth, then you should have a think about why something so expensive is looking so cheap on the photos. For goodness sake, the least the description could state that.

Nekoness literally everything is Fired Earth in the house. Tiles, showers, bathroom taps etc. I don't - or didn't - find Fired Earth especially overpriced. I think the company has possibly had its heyday but the quality of all the wall tiles and the floor tiles is excellent. The photos haven't picked up the detail that's all. I wouldn't say it was a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. Isn't there an argument that because the whole house is top spec everything pretty much, to isolate the kitchen wall tiles would make it look as though those were somehow special?

As far as the garden studio goes, I did need to get planning permission and the permission for its uses is broad, but it doesn't have washing facilities so clearly it couldn't be let out to paying guests.

I don't think the tiles look cheap at all - you can tell by the wonky edges that they're the hand-fired style.

The only thing I don't like is the visible divan bases - I'd always cover with a valance. (The gathered ones can perhaps look a bit twee, but you can get plainer ones with box pleats.)

Good luck OP - it's a gorgeous house and I'm sure someone will fall in love with it!

The RattleBag I dislike divans too. They were practical when I had three beds to squish into rooms! Several are already being offered locally to anyone who wants them and I'll sort valances for the others as soon as I can. I've emailed the agent already about various photos and changing of the wording to include school buses etc etc and said I'll try to re-gig the garden studio/ extension/ kitchen according to the suggestions here, after which could he arrange for new photos. So very, very useful input from the combined efforts of MN and actioned/ starting to be actioned in less than 48 hrs :)

Great house with lots of flexible options.

I think the estate agent should be working harder to get to know and understand your house and know and understand their customers, your potential buyer. Matching the two is key (coming from an estate agent family), it doesn't matter how many people view it if it isn't what they want, you need just one perfectly matched buyer.

Do the details highlight the possibilities for this house. The extension could be a great short term let, with a kitchen area added or an annex for older relatives, adult children.

Who does the viewings - you or the agent?

I think lots of information shared at the viewing is key to unlocking the potential of the house...'this room could be an annex, a let, a cinema room etc. ...linked to knowing what the particular prospective buyer is looking for.

Good luck.

@goodbyestranger the real answer is to massively reduce it and sell it to me!!! 😂

Seriously tempting RandomMess.

I could swap with you for my home in Lancaster then you do the last leg up to Scotland!

Alas our house is only worth about £250k it's got lots of single bedrooms though and a very very one drive...

Well I do like the bloke in the Thai restaurant/ take away in Lancaster - very friendly - so something to think about I guess :)

Eden Project North coming too 😆

I think the front room furniture looks a bit odd squished in the middle. You're not making the most of the big room. And definitely show the potential of the extension as a holiday let

I would definitely try styling the extension as a dining room. Your big kitchen table is beautiful if there is space to move it down?
Alternatively definitely a garden room with a sofa bed so you still have the sleeping space you need...