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!

You basically need to turn it on it’s head as a pp said. You need to view the street facing side as the back of th house.

So in the blurb write entrance via x street, gated property, secure parking space, post a pic of a car parked on the paved area, then a pic of the “front door” with a name plague/number and plants either side.

I’d also if money was available, put some cheap screening up between thr garden and the parking area. With an entrance to the garden and up to the “front door”

Then make this your first pictures.

Your house is gorgeous! As for the black tiled bathroom dress it up with some red towels and a plant. A lovely first home or a downsized. Good luck.

downsizer (fat fingers)

Ive just looked on street view, I'd see about either doing an aerial view or a photo that includes the access to the right of next door. The ability to possibly put parking at the end of your garden makes a huge difference imo

post a pic of a car parked on the paved area

While the private parking area is definitely worth mentioning in the details, I'd disagree with this - the advise when selling houses is nearly always to keep your drive/parking area clear for photos and viewing. I would say it's particularly important in this case since the garden/parking area is small (having a car there will make it looked more cramped - no point highlighting that to buyers!)

Similarly while screening the area off is a lovely idea, again I'd worry it could make the garden area look even smaller - I'd leave it to the new buyers to make that decision.

From your description the parking sounds like it would be an issue for me, having looked at the arrangement it's likely that potential buyers might also scroll on past. The gate to the left is nothing to do with you? I agree with a previous poster that it might be making people think the entrance is down a narrow passageway.

I think in the current climate with Covid people are likely to be more particular about places they're viewing, so the listing has become more important.

The property history has it listed at 415000 in August 2019, and 375000 in March 2020. This sort of history might make people suspicious

I think it’s lovely, but not particularly quirky enough to make it a feature (if you know what I mean).

Some of the modernisation in the past has not been particularly sympathetic, so for me the disadvantages of being grade 2 listed are not countered by being a charming period property.

For me having only street parking would be a big issue, as well as being on the road - is it a quiet or busy road? Many village properties are like this though.
It’s not clear how you normally access the property, is there a gate in the back garden? Maybe a photo of the utility room door would make it clear that you don’t need to access through the kitchen patio doors.
Size of gardens is a personal thing - many people don’t mind - I would pave the garden myself and turn it into a courtyard style area.
Finally I would be put off by the artex ceilings - but that’s a personal thing.
Someone will buy it, if the price is right - you only need 1 person to love it and see the potential, but the market is weird at the moment.

It really is a lovely house! So to get to it you have to go down a back lane? Or is that little gate yours?

I doubt if the lack of a front door is putting people off. My DGPs had a front door but we always used the back one. In one of my houses we always used the back door.

Unfortunately, it is usually the price. I am sure if it was reduced it would sell.

@TangerineGenie

The property history has it listed at 415000 in August 2019, and 375000 in March 2020. This sort of history might make people suspicious

Is this right? Have you been trying to sell if for nearly two years?

I know Gamlingay OP lived not too far away, but we sold up in July last year. I think the right person will come along, it’s a bit of a funny area if you don’t know it, especially for say a Londoner (which we were when we moved that way) because you have to drive to get to most things, and often need 2 cars, but Gamlingay has quite a lot to offer in the village.
I agree with others about doing more with your garden and styling the bathroom, I’m not a fan of the Airtex on the ceilings, but it wouldn’t put me off.
I wouldn’t go multi agency either. Good luck, hopefully when lockdown ends you will get more viewings.

Thanks everyone - to answer a couple of questions. Narrow gate at side belongs to another house so no access through there, though everyone thinks it does!

Re on the market - we’ve been on and off - first time in 2019 it was on too high a price then the brexit thing really slowed the house market so we removed it, then put on in March 2020 at a cheaper cost. Then 3 weeks later first lockdown (argh) so we took it off until October 2020 at a fair price and this is us. Nothing sinister although could look dodgy!

@Sellingstress

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)

I would mention the parking and access in the advert- possibly include a picture of the access at the back? From an initial glance at the advert, I would assume parking would be a nightmare! I also can't work out quite how the access works!

I think Grade II listed will also put people off.

It might be worth adding a picture of your garden with your car parked in it to show its possible to park there. I would also add the age of the house to the advert as people interested in grade II like history.

Pricing wise the closest similar house I can find is number 13 Church Street which sold for just under £300k in 2015 and is grade II listed. So would suggest pricing isn't too far off. The odd thing about that house though is it went back on the market in 2016 for £300k which would make me wonder a bit though would probably assume issue with that house or a personal issue. They also have the same picture as you with the letters in.

It may be worth making clear what is walkable for people out of area so if someone is say in London looking they will see easily there's a primary school, coop etc and some green spaces nearby and maybe how far train line is and how long takes to London. More people are wfh now part-time and looking at further out.

I also think the lead photo should be the back, which is really the front. It would highlight the charming cottage feel.

It's a lovely house and I haven't read all the thread but these questions have occurred to me - is there any lighting by the gate? Does the gate lock or have a bolt?

@Bluntness100

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

This is a good idea

Agree with PP regarding making entrance and parking much clearer - in photos if you can. If people can't work it out from the listing they're not going to book a viewing out of sheer curiosity.

Also think the living room would be better arranged with the sofas facing each other. I think leather sofas can look cold especially with all the stone.

Also not a fan of the black/grey bathroom. Can you soften it with some light - coloured towels, a bath mat or duck board, plants.

It's very tidy which is great but lots of hard floors. Combined with shade and shutters rather than curtains this makes some rooms look cold rather than cosy (and i think people buying cottages are looking for cosy).

If you're doing a new photo of the garden in sunshine (as suggested by PP) can you mow the lawn first?

Fwiw, as you've had lots of helpful comments, some people will be put off by the house being directly next to the pavement, then you've got low ceilings and the very dark tiling in the bathroom and the Grade II listing. How busy the road is will also be a concern. I think yours is the kind of house that may just take longer to sell - it needs someone to fall for its charms.

Just removing old threads I was watching and notice it looks like OPs house is under offer without having changed a single thing in the listing. Just shows eh? Good luck with your move OP!