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Original poster

How much of an issue is an aesthetic out of step with the local market?

27 replies

KelKachoze · 05/04/2021 09:51

My house is a decent size Edwardian terrace in an unfashionable bit of east London.

When we bought it was very tired (had a shonky DIY leam-to, 30 year old bathroom and kitchen etc.) and we've since sorted all that out.

We're now looking at selling. I think our house is nice - not in an instagram aspirational sort of way, but in a comfortable well looked after sort of way. Heritage colours, painted floorboards, some period furniture, lots of plants and art and books. If it was in a more fashionable area - say, Walthamstow - I think that it would sell quickly at a good price.

The thing I'm concerned about is that the popular aesthetic in this area is completely different to our house. What is desirable here is very much a high gloss kitchen, everything matching, ripped out period features in favour of modern sleek stuff, big TVs sort of look. I think that the buyer pool for our house is largely likely to hate the look, see ot as old fashioned and ugly, and want to redo everything: put in a new kitchen and bathroom, lay new flooring everywhere etc.

How much of an issue is this, do you think? Should we price to reflect the fact that the presentation is not what most buyers here are looking for? Or should we aim for a figure that reflects the fact that it's a well maintained, nice house?

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Andthenanothercupoftea · 05/04/2021 09:57

You can't second guess buyers.

You might find someone who likes the area but isn't into all of the high gloss stuff and finds your property a breath of fresh air!

Most people expect to redecorate, so I think price for the location, house, bedrooms, maintenance level etc.

Estate agents will likely give you a view as well.

LittleOverwhelmed · 05/04/2021 10:03

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster

KelKachoze · 05/04/2021 10:10

We haven't got it valued yet - still at very early stages of thinking about selling and therefore buying. Trying to get a feel for what we can afford! But yes, that's the obvious thing to do, but we aren't really ready to put things on motion for a few months yet.

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Original poster

KelKachoze · 05/04/2021 10:11

It's definitely not a 'good' area!

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SecretCiderCellar · 05/04/2021 10:14

Following with interest, as we’re in a similar situation. I don’t know the answer.

Teatoweltable · 05/04/2021 10:15

I'd try it as it is, you might find someone with nice area taste but crap area budget. There must've been a reason you bought it?

Original poster

KelKachoze · 05/04/2021 10:17

There are loads of properties on the market around heritage are in dreadful condition (HMOs etc) and our house is definitely way more desirable than those. But the 'done up' properties almost all look very different to mine! That's the thing really, the house would be at the expensive end of what's on the market for the size and location, but will really not look like what likely buyers here would consider 'done up'. So I worry they will balk at paying top-end prices for something they would consider not to top end at all.

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Original poster

KelKachoze · 05/04/2021 10:18

Sorry! *around here in

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Original poster

KelKachoze · 05/04/2021 10:23

@Teatoweltable

I'd try it as it is, you might find someone with nice area taste but crap area budget. There must've been a reason you bought it?

Well yes, we bought it because we wanted a four bedroom house (in a two bedroom maisonette before- in a much more desirable area). But in the time we've lived here, I haven't met many people 'like us'. Maybe we're just ahead of the pack and ths place will be awash with artisanal bakeries in a few years, but for now it's definitely not an aspirational area in any sense.

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Lightsabre · 05/04/2021 10:25

No point in speculating really - you need to get some Estate Agents in to value it. You might benefit from the trendy East London overspill. If it's more of an 'Essex'y' type area then you'll find someone who wants to 'modernise' it. Either way, I'm sure it will sell at the right price.

LitCrit · 08/04/2021 10:08

I agree - people are priced out of Walthamstow already so as long as you're asking less than E17 I think you will find people who need more space but don't want to do the work on an ex-HMO.

catsjammies · 09/04/2021 02:49

As someone who has a nice area taste and a shit area budget, I would love your house. I know the type of 'done up' house you're talking about and my immediate thoughts are always how expensive it would be to have to put all the period features back in! Very much suspect I'm not alone in that thinking.

Ypsilanti · 09/04/2021 08:43

Hi OP, firstly your house sounds lovely, and secondly I think you may live near me 😊 I would say that assuming your house is priced less than it would be in E10/11/7 etc, you will attract buyers looking in those areas who are either priced out or who realise how much more house they can get for their money in a less fashionable area. I say that as I did the same myself. Plus, the few houses near me that are finished as yours is, and have come up for sale recently, have sold in a flash. So I think you’ll find there’s a market there, especially if you choose an agent which can market it to clients losing out in the hotspots (there are a couple which have the market cornered in E17/11 etc). All the best for your move!

AOwlAOwlAOwl · 09/04/2021 08:51

I think you live in a similar kind of area to me. Not rich is putting it kindly. Lovely period houses, lots haven't been touched since the 80s but where they have been modernised, it's in a shiny bland way - floor lights in the kitchen, shiny black bathroom tiles, gardens paved over with water features sort of aesthetic.

Our house is very different, but it was like that when we bought it, it was 'our' sort of style and instantly could see ourselves living there. We've done some redecoration and things, but it has wooden floors, period features and so on.

I think you just need the right buyer, I am sure they are out there for you!

senua · 09/04/2021 08:58

Let me guess. You don't work in sales, do you?
Big-up the positives, gloss over the negatives. It's what everyone else does!

ThanksItHasPockets · 09/04/2021 09:20

No point trying to second-guess it. You bought in the area and decorated to your own tastes; you don’t know who else might feel the same.

Original poster

KelKachoze · 09/04/2021 09:27

Thank you for the reassurance! Yes, I'm hoping that economic migrants from E17 (as we were, when we moved here!) will be attracted to our house... we're only about a ten minute drive to Wanstead, so maybe buyers wanting that area might be prepared to consider the E12/E6 borders too.

Good idea to see if Stow Brothers or Estates 17 might take us on. We sold our last place with Estates 17 and they did a great job.

No, definitely not a saleswoman!

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PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat · 09/04/2021 09:28

If you have preserved / restored a lot of period features you might consider Inigo, who are the period property sister agents to The Modern House. They had a very lovely but quite ordinary Victorian terrace in Leytonstone somewhere on a while ago so it’s not just arts and crafts mansions.

Puppylucky · 09/04/2021 09:46

Ha how strange - we had exactly the same dilemma in a very similar part of London. We did sell in the end but I quickly realised that what I thought was a period aesthetic just looked old fashioned to a lot of buyers, who consequently viewed the house as a project rather than something they could just move into. We also had a non eat in kitchen which I don't think helped as that is also out of step with current trends. As I said we did sell but for a discount on the properties which had had the full Essex style makeover. You mention Stow Brothers, who we also went with originally, but to be honest although they were very keen and professional, I'm not sure that they brought in the right type of buyer. Most of their clients were young (pre family) couples who had made a killing on a flat in Hackney and were looking for a modern aesthetic trophy home, rather than a period house. We eventually sold through a more established firm to a slightly older couple who wanted a more traditional family home.

Ypsilanti · 09/04/2021 10:02

@KelKachoze

Good idea to see if Stow Brothers or Estates 17 might take us on. We sold our last place with Estates 17 and they did a great job.

No, definitely not a saleswoman!

Yep, we are definitely in the same area! I live in hope things are changing, albeit slowly! I sold my old place in (what was then) the deeply unpopular bit of Leytonstone through SB and they did a very good job persuading potential buyers to broaden their criteria beyond 100m of Francis Rd and Wanstead High St and come and see how much further their money would go. Good luck!

Woodlandbelle · 09/04/2021 10:11

Your home sounds beautiful and might just attract the eye of someone who doesn't want the Mrs Hinch grey (no offence as I actually like the clean minimal look too)
But something loved and arty / homely with appeal 100percent.

Original poster

KelKachoze · 09/04/2021 18:17

Ypsilanti - hi neighbour! 👋

Yes, I too am hopeful that the area is on the rise...we have a vegan cafe by Plashet Park now!

Thanks for the SB tip!

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Original poster

KelKachoze · 09/04/2021 18:18

Appreciate all the encouragement and tips from PPs!

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seaiscallingme · 09/04/2021 21:23

@kelkachoze we're just up the road from you as in other side of Green Street! My ears pricked up at "unfashionable part of east London" and I thought "bound to be round here"

Totally understand what you mean by the local aesthetic - dodgy front porches, black upvc window frames, sleek shiny kitchens etc. Shame cos there are beautiful houses in our area. They've just been ruined.

That said, I think there are many families who will appreciate your aesthetic looking for a larger property - moving from Hackney, Bethnal Green etc etc. They can't afford where they are now and if anything like me, are encouraged to see nicely decorated houses in the area so they know there'll be like-minded people around, if that makes sense? All round E12 / E6 / E13 there are gorgeous places mixed in with the questionable.

Hope that's the case as we'll be listing ours soon!!

Original poster

KelKachoze · 09/04/2021 23:05

Nice to hear from all the fellow Wanstead/Walthamstow refugees!

Feeling a bit guilty for slating my endz now! Deeply unfashionable though it is round here, it's actually a very friendly place to live and I generally feel pretty safe - most of the area isn't actually sketchy (which, actually, some parts of E17 near where I used to live really were!) it's just that lots of people who live here are quite poor, so it feels a bit run down - it's an important difference, I think. And, you know, the vegan cafes and the like are starting to to arrive (albeit slowly)!

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