We had our 45th viewing today

[NappyChange]

House been on for 4 months, 2 offers - one lasted 2 days before woman changed her mind and one was so ridiculously low we laughed. Price had dropped £35k, we are now in real danger of losing "dream home" and I am so sick sick sick of tidying, cleaning and not being able to hang my bloody washing up to dry.

Sooo,IF we lose the house, can someone please remind me that you CAN have one, possibly two children in a very small 3 bedroom house and you don't need MASSES of space? Please.

Colour, splashes of colour around the house would be good. Your house is bland with all the cream, ideal as a blank canvass but to my mind a little bland.

With Christmas coming up could you decorate really well - get the estate agent back in to do some more photograps - even just the lounge and dinning area then up load these for a couple of months and then switch back (you dont want photographs to date how long the house has been up for sale)

This would make the house seem more like a home, as I feel it has been de cluttered just a tad to much

I would live there though [happy]

What is the feedback from viewers ? Do they find it smaller than it appears in photos perhaps? Hard to imagine themseleves living in it ? Have you perhaps overdone the decluttering such that it no longer feels like it could be a first family home ?

Something when they come in is putting potential buyers off. If it were that you weren't getting viewings I'd say the front garden might look a bit dull and tree overpowering but the fact that so many have decided to view yet don't follow up makes me suspect there is mismatch of expectation and reality.

I don't think I'd change agents as they're getting a lot of viewings which is good with the current market/time of year.

Rather than a new kitchen could you just get new cupboard doors. We did this with our last house - cost £700 and we sold to the first viewer who said he loved the kitchen.

Also agree with the people buying a story idea. When I bought my 1st house the owner took me into the bathroom and said how cosy it was (low ceiling) and it was lovely having long baths with scented candles in the evening. I was stood there imagining myself having nice relaxing baths and bought the house. Ok, so I'm sure it wasn't the main reason I bought the house but it probably subconciously helped.

It is all very well the Agents sending lots of people round but if the house doesn't fundamentally match their criteria (perhaps the dining area seems too separate from kitchen than it suggests or they need 3 double bedrooms) they won't buy and it is a waste of the op's time. Perhaps they need to be more specific in targetting genuine possible purchasers .

i agree with ivykaty...and can i be brutally honest?... and say that i dont think it has any character. i appreciate that its not a period property, but i'd be put off by a house with so few personal touches/ lack of colour.

in a way, i think this kind of house is a tricky one, as its 'perfect' in terms of being well maintained and beautifully clean- but its actually too perfect. in order to give it a 'personality', one would have to spend alot.

sorry, dont want to sound mean, but agree that some colour would be good xx

It IS immaculate! And highly desitable and I can see why ou've had so many viewings.
I didn't believe the market was bad until I recently heard THREE friends, one in Chiswick, one in Richmnd, and one in Wiltshire have had the same experience.
The market is bad.
Two are taking off market, one (divorcing) has to sell and is ropping the price to ridiculaous level to get rid.

Is the only reason you are moving because you are panicking about space? do you like your house? The area? Schools etc?

If so, then don't move. You're not selling it, its a bad time of year etc etc.

Each child will have a bedroom, it will be fine

Maybe you'll be happier if you can just say "ok, we're staying here"

Nappy change - I think your huse looks absolutely lovely, just how it would in a showhouse, and I agree with most that it is a terrible time to sell. Can you keep going until after christmas, when traditionally the marktet picks up for spring?

I thnk the large tree would put me off - I looked at it and thought - eek what will the roots be doing to the foundations, what is there's a huge storm - sorry I know that's not very helpful or positive for you - but it's what first came to mind

I honestly think that your house looks lovely, and that it is not selling has nothing to do with decor or clutter or even the heating system!

After so many viewings your agent should really be making follow up calls with the people who are not interested and passing on any constructive feedback.

Being brutally honest, I would guess that those who visit are not that impressed with the area or there is something else that you have not mentioned. For example a friend of mine just bought her dream house, which backs on to a motorway. The constant noise and dust don't bother her at all but they would be offputting to most people.

I just did a free search for the prices of recently sold houses in your postcode, and I am guessing you are basing your selling price on a similar house that sold last year? Perhaps the people who bought that one paid over the odds. Otherwise that house somehow increased in "value" by about 45% in three years. That's not impossible but it might just reflect serious investment in the property.

I haven't read all the posts so sorry if this is repetition. Have you thought about getting plans drawn for an extension (it might even tempt you to stay )? That way, people who say it's a bit small could see its potentia. There is a company called Architect Your Home that specialise in maximising domestic space - they offer a (relatively) cheap initial visit and will tell you ways that you could improve layout/extend to get extra space.

I think the kitchen is a bit small and dated and there doesn't seem to be a lot of storage which might put people with children off - but it is very nice . Do you absolutely HAVE to move? If you lose your dream house, might you be better off staying put?

Hello all, back again and thank you for your comments. I am not in the slightest bit offended by your opinions and views and I wouldnt of posted if I didnt want a bit of honesty.
I agree, house doesn't seem to have much character, though when we are not viewing, there are toys strewn everywhere and it looks no where near perfect - it looks like a real home. Agree also it looks a bit like the cream dream and needs a bit of colour but it is small so the blank canvas is maybe a good idea and there is art in every room but you just cant see it in the pics.

Finally - FINALLY .... we got an offer in this morning and we are seriously considering it. I will keep you posted. If we can't / don't sell we will stay put - it has been and still is a lovely home for us but just lacking a bit of living space rather than number of bedrooms.

Thank you for all your suggestions/honesty

Yay for you - let us know how it goes. Was it the 45th viewing that made the offer?

We've got 4 children in a small 3 bed open plan terrace and it's fine (squashed & noisy but fine)