What constitutes a quirky house and what about selling it on?

[Sellingstress]

Hoping for some advice. Been on the market since October last year with only 6 viewings to date. Everyone SEEMS to have loved the actual house (well maintained with good proportions) but negative feedback has generally been;

Garden too small
Lack of private driveway
Lack of formal front door (entrance is accessed via the back of the house, through the garden)

We went for the cheapest valuation with a local estate agent. He felt the price was very competitive for what he considers a lovely house (semi detached period cottage) but conceded may take a little longer to sell on account of the ‘quirks’ which were lack of front door and small garden. He felt marketed at a couple or single person, the right buyer would come along. And still does with no suggestions of dropping the price.

My question is would these issues put you off? And is it just a matter of waiting for the right buyer or is a price drop the only way to go.

Houses around here (village on Bedfordshire/Cambridgeshire border) haven’t been flying off the shelves of late unless very well priced although we are in a good catchment for schools and good links.

Will post link when feeling braver/any responses!

Strangely enough we are just looking at a house like this In North Yorkshire. We love the location and the feel of the property but in our case the lack of a formal entrance and some other quirky bits (some rooms with very low ceilingsalthough some have lovely dimensions ) means that if we do like it when we see it we will probably offer 10-15% below asking price. It's got a big footprint and is perfect in lots of ways for our family but we are wary of paying top dollar for something that may be difficult to sell on. It's not just about the square footage etc with valuations I think all those little things can take a bit off the value. It has been a strange year though so I would leave it until lockdown lifts abs see if you have a bit more interest then. If you don't you may need to lower the pric--e especially if the feedback has been good. Good luck. We are just about to put a quirky cottage with no back garden on the market and I am not looking forward to it!!

Sorry not sure why that has a strike through!!

None of those issues alone would put me off viewing a house. Personally I prefer a house with a bit of character and individuality.

All you can really do is ensure that the photos and descriptions on Rightmove make the issues mentioned very clear so that people who want a larger garden don't waste their time coming to view the property

If you've only had 6 views that may suggest that either price is too high or the online listing could be improved.

Thanks wanderlove - that’s what DH is saying, give a chance for spring and lockdown to end. Then reconsider price then. We love the lack of formal entrance btw - so private!! And of course, the houses we are looking at, are of course, QUIRKY 😖... I hope yours goes quickly - I know how you feel!

We went on the market in mid September and had an offer mid to end Oct and just completed.

We noticed as lockdowns got stricter viewing numbers decreased but those viewing seemed more serious and in our area sales stayed the same with less viewings, we were getting around one a week then.

We had a small garden and that was an issue even by London, more than usual due to lockdown and people spending more time at home and the value put on gardens seemed to increase - houses with 3 bedrooms and good sized gardens were selling in a couple of weeks, when you looked at what was sticking on market it was almost all those with small gardens or no garden or flats. I got the estate agent to cut the price of ours more than the estate agent thought and it then sold within days. The one a few houses up also with a small garden who didn't reduce as much and the one opposite with no garden still have not sold. So I think to sell quickly I would cut the price, if you are relaxed about selling quickly / want the highest price maybe hold on but not changing price since October seems a long time to stay at same price even in lockdown / with Christmas. I've heard 2 months in normal times.

I would still go for a house with all those quirks but for schools you would need to be big enough and marketed towards a family. Coming from London we were used to the no parking so got a house rurally with just on street parking but obviously it was cheaper than one with parking.

Where I live, everyone uses the back door. It’s very normal to walk past the front door and go around to the entrance at the back, even for visitors. After living in a city I find it very hard to get used to!

I love quirky and using the back door into a house wouldn't bother me in the slightest. My grandparents built their own house with a beautiful front door / porch set up but everyone always still used the back!

I am on the lookout for a quirky house...unfortunately yours is not in my search area. But someone will love it I'm sure.

Do you feel brave enough to post a link?

I don’t think your house has too many ‘quirks’ but then again the downstairs of my house has 6 different levels! On a flat plot The side extension was put in in one go and somehow you step up into one room and down into another. I also have non-standard door sizes, a spirit level is as much use as a chocolate teapot and even on the same wall, it’s hit and mix whether it makes a hollow sound or not (it shouldn’t make a hollow sound).

If we bought this place, someone will be along shortly to buy yours! Although I would like to say our other options included a garage that was sinking into the pond, a random boot print burned into the middle of a carpet and a garden filled with dirty needles... Even in a lockdown, people wouldn’t be looking really between October and Christmas but through in lockdown, job insecurity and I just don’t think it’s a good time for people to be looking.

I think it has a lot going for it, the kitchen etc is lovely. I wonder if the Grade 2 listing could be putting some people off?

The only things that would put me off are things that can’t be changed, the small garden and lack of driveway. But then I have small dc and a dog so they factor in quite high on my requirements.

I hope you find a buyer like you say once lockdown eases and spring is here then hopefully more people will be out viewing.

I really like your cottage. Do you ever have problems getting deliveries though, with access at the back?

I wouldn’t have said your house is quirky, it’s a typical village house and would appeal to many young families. Do you have parking at the rear at all? As I would say that will be the major sticking point for your target market. And the garden is actually a decent size too.

I think it looks like a beautiful cottage and big enough for a family and set out for a family. The grade II can put people off - we own a grade II and it wouldn't be me off but it can be a pain.

I think a lot of people due to stamp duty brought purchases forward though I would be tempted to reduce to £325k and see if that shifts it (or wait it out).

It's lovely, OP.

There's not much you can change about it as the quirks are pretty much built in.

I personally wouldn't want a Grade II listed so that would rule it out for me.

I'm not keen on black for a bathroom but it looks well done (not very cottagey though)?

If you could dress on of the other bedrooms as a double, that could help too.

You will probably find spring brings out more buyers - if you're aiming at the older / younger couple market, maybe try and go for that sort of layout angle as a temporary measure?

I don’t think price is an issue. I would expect to pay that for a decent 3 bed anywhere in Cambridgeshire, actually more in some areas. For this house I would want to know how secure/fiddly the gate is to get into the garden. I would also want to know where the parking was. Do you park out the front and then walk down the side, all the way to the back then come in with the shopping? The garden isn’t suitable for me but that’s because I’ve got dogs and couldn’t risk them getting out if Amazon comes and I wasn’t expecting them.

Thanks a lot for comments, helpful and reassuring too!

Deliveries have never been a problem as there is a big driveway at the back BUT only the houses either side of us have parks on there - we only have access (a hangover from around 50 years ago and a whole other thread)

Oh and on street parking at front which is never a problem. There is room in the garden to park the car - paved area towards back fence but such a faff I’ve never bothered and it’s never been convincing enough to pitch it as an actual space.

It looks really nice to me. I don't think the lack of front door is an issue.

The black bathroom is a bit off-putting though and would be a big job to get all that tile off. It doesn't fit with the rest of the decor at all. Could you do anything to break it up, a big plant maybe or something and get a new photo.

It's a lovely house and none of the things you mention would put me off although having looked at the photos I can't work out how you actually get into it - there's obviously a back door into the utility room but do you have to come in from the back and across the lawn or is there a passageway from the front down the side of the house?
And parking would be concern me as I don't know the area to know what on-street options are like.

Is Cambridge an area where London couples may move to, OP?

If so, they could possibly buy your house for the price of a studio in the City.

Maybe consider some garden furniture / aspects too, and add in 'potential for vehicle access' if there is some?

It's a really lovely house, OP. I really, really like the downstairs rooms in particular.

The Grade II listing may be an issue for some. I agree that if you can fit the 2nd bedroom out as a double that could help. And if there is off-street parking provision you should have that in the listing, otherwise some might look at the listing and just think, eeek where will I park??

And yes the all-black bathroom is a bit incongruous and could do with brightening up a bit - plants, some expensive-looking bath oil etc?

Apart from that, I'd buy it . Someone will come along and love it I'm sure.

I agree on rear access and parking. It needed to be clearer on the description. Also on the bathroom perhaps it might be worth looking into getting it re-tiled if it still doesn’t shift.

Thanks again - all invaluable stuff. Definitely hearing you on the bathroom (it’s grey but if it’s looking black on photos that’s neither here or there). Interim I might get parking and access better described and add some pot plants and nice bathroom products for bathroom. Try and brighten it up 😬...
Yes it’s commutable for the city - about 40 mins to kings x from nearest station which is about a 10 min drive.