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!

Op, your house is beautiful but so, so tiny. I think it's more like a retirement home than a family house. Absolutely gorgeous though.

@Weepingwillow22

I am not sure the additional £30k is justified over this semi opposite www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/72404301#/ Your room sizes are better but the more modern semi has an off street parking space, walled garden and the benefit of not being listed and more space and light on the non attached side.

I would be put off by the artex ceilings and pipework that is not concealed as to justify the extra I would want a perfect finish.

They're not really comparable, the sort of buyers who'd want OP's cottage are not going to want a newish 3 bed semi.

I’m sure you’ll find your buyer. It’s a gorgeous property, just my cup of tea. Even with 3 growing kids we chose charm & period features over practicalities like a private drive & large garden (can’t miss what you’ve never had!). The rear access wouldn’t deter me either. As has been mentioned here, perhaps a few more plants/vases of flowers & potted plants outside to ham up the cute ‘cottagey’ vibe. Do you have a nice local park? Ensure viewers know that if they prefer extra space. I’d hold tight a while longer though - I’m still kicking myself for underselling our last gorgeous house just so I could buy the next one!

I like yours much more than the semi detached posted by weeping willow.

I hate bkackwater bathrooms, so lightening to show that it's grey would make a big difference to me. I really like your kitchen and I'd be happy with your garden that I could make my own.

You definitely need to highlight that in street parking is plentiful. It looks like a no parking type of road. Plus the off street parking! Just because you don't use it, doesn't mean others won't.

If you redo the bathroom photos, put a mat down where the tiles are discoloured/have salt on them.

I think your bedroom photos could be better done too.

I think it's just a matter of being patient & putting some pots of spring flowers out there in the spring

Might also be sensible to say how you access the house, it's not obvious & looks like you need to open the 'car' gates.

It's a lovely cottage though, it'll sell!!

Lovely cottage OP. Your kitchen and lounge are beautiful and the house façade is lovely. Agree with pp that you need to mention the off-road parking (even if you don't use it).

Your lounge and kitchen look so well staged for selling, I'd do the same for the other areas - think about maybe adding some colourful pots to the rear patio to make it more of a feature and opening up your white patio furniture more - perhaps pop a couple of bright waterproof/outdoor cushions on the chairs.

You could also brighten up the master bedroom by adding a vase of flowers on the dresser closest to the door (and thus is prominent in the photo) and a colourful scatter cushion on the bed to tone with the bedding - tiny things to help make the room look prettier/more luxurious the way your kitchen diner does.

The main thing I'd change is to add some colour/light to the dark (but well fitted!) bathroom - a big fluffy white bathmat on the floor, a potted plant on the windowsill, a big candle or 3 smaller ones at the end of the bath, a couple of coloured designer style soap bottles at the sink/on the ledge above (basically things to add interest/texture to visually lift and break up the big expanse of dark grey tile on the walls and floor and again add a feel of luxury).

Hope this helps - I'm sure the right buyers will come along!

I am your buyer. I waited a long time to find the house I have just bought and the vendor waited a long time to sell it. Old, damp, constant up-keep to maintain charm. The right buyer will come along, they are few and far between, but they will. I went into this purchase with a realistic attitude and know that when I sell in 10-15 years time I'll have the same woes as you. Some people do buy quirks/charm over problem free.

@Sellingstress beautiful house. I would have definitely viewed that when I was looking and would have been excited to see it in person.

The photo of the back of the house makes it look like the only door is the french doors - the description says reception lobby but floorplan says utility.

Could you ask your estate agent to include a photo of this (at least from the outside!) and use the same name on both floorplan and description... I suggest reception lobby!

Ps I think your home is gorgeous!

Your house is really lovely OP, but I do think the listing would benefit from making clear how you do actually access and show a proper door. Do you come through the parking gates or is that another gate next to the big gates, if so do you have to walk across the grass? If you can show clearly how the access all works it might help get a second look from those viewing online put off looking into further by the lack of a front door.

it looks lovely but I would find the odd access to be very off-putting. If you park outside your front window but then have to walk all the way around the back with your parcels to get in, that is annoying. Or you drive to the back, unload stuff and then have to move the car again?

If planning permission were granted to turn one of the front windows onto the street into a door, that would be a major improvement.

OP I’ve been thinking about your charming cottage which I looked at earlier. I haven’t read all the posts since so forgive me if someone else has already raised this point. To answer your question: you DO have a “front door”; it’s just not on the street. It’s accessed from your garden. What you don’t have is a back door.

You house has bags of character, great size rooms and a lovely kitchen; but as a potential buyer when I arrive at my lovely new house I want to have a sense of arrival, and at the moment you don’t get that from your house. It looks as if you enter through the kitchen double doors. I may have got that wrong, because on the plan there is also a door to the side into what’s marked as a utility room. Is that actually what you use as a front door? Whether you do or don’t, I’d dress one of those doors as a main entrance with the usual aspirational, cottage appropriate accessories. Perhaps a pair of lovely matching pots with spring planting or standard shrub, a new mat; you get the idea. Take a photo and include in your listing. You could even label your utility room as a porch/ utility.

Food for thought?

Yes it looks like it’s entered by a door into the utility. Maybe through thr patio doors, it’s hard to tell. But dressing one as the main door is a great idea. It’s really hard to see how you get to it, is it via the big gate at the bottom of the garden?

Thanks again for some brilliant suggestions and comments - I really appreciate it and will be springing into action on a lot of these!

To get into the actual house, yes it’s either the French doors or there’s a stable door (not visible from pix) to the right straight into the lobby. Main access is via a large shared driveway between 3 of us, then through the double gates and across the lawn to get in. Which was so hideously complicated to even write down i see now is going to be tough for any potential viewers to understand looking at the rightmove page - even though when you see it it in person it isn’t so bad!! And hopefully not too off-putting. Urgh!

Love the idea of dressing up the door! It’s a stable door so it’s pretty and I could dress it further. Just to let people know that it EXISTS!

Then put a photo of it up, wth a nice name plaque or number and some pots either side, make it your front door. Also a pic of the gate from the other side, maybe with the same name /number on.

Many peoooe have a gate to get into their property, it’s not unusual

So glad you liked my idea OP! Do show us the pic when you’ve done- it sounds as if it will work really well. Stable doors are so attractive and fit beautifully with the whole cottage vibe.

Looks lovely. I wouldn’t be put off by anything, although I know some people are less keen on listed housing.

A stable door is definitely another point in this house's favour - they're gorgeous. You must have a pic of it!

Yes, definitely show the ‘front’ door, especially if it’s pretty.

The two other things I would change are the sofa arrangement and the corner of your bedroom which looks mouldy.

I love your house!

I think it's lovely, if I was buying in your area it would be on my list. My one thing that is me off is the artex in the living room and having to test it for asbestos and the potential mess and cost of removing.

It's pretty but I wouldn't buy a house without any front door or garden to be honest. I also avoided listed buildings

It's a lovely house, OP. Someone will come along who loves it just as much as you do.

It looks like the only access is via the alley to the side of the house (accessed via a side gate) and I would not feel safe going there at night. I think you're saying there is another, safer, way in. That needs bigging up I think.

Where is the photo of the wood burning stove? It’s cute! Door would be odd but something to get used to.