No offers on our house

[housetales]

Our house has been on the market for 2 months - launching as the school holidays started which I think was a huge mistake - with what I'd describe as a handful of viewings (mostly right as it went live).

The price it's been listed at was the agent's price, not ours, and when compared with others locally, doesn't seem OTT. All the agents who came round gave similar valuations too. No viewers have said upon viewing it that it is overpriced either.

We had only one bit of negative feedback and it was only from a couple of viewers, not all - that we are overlooked from the side of our property - so we purchased some 10ft trees to allay that concern.

I'm putting myself out there with a link to see what you guys think so be gentle! Should we stay on the market or take it off for now? I should say we only went on the market as we fancied a project for our forever home and were told there was a massive opportunity in our price range as there is such limited supply.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110082437#/?channel=RES_BUY

Wow op. I'm less than a mile from you in a council flat

I think if you want that price you need to do a full renovation - my first impression is dated, mismatched and very tired, and minimum 50K work to do. It is faulty reasoning to think that the neighbouring houses are expensive so people want to spend more. I think you need to lower your price expectations.

It's nice, but expensive - in the very posh village near me, you can get a 7 bedroom with massive garden and pool for under £800k.
Also I'd have to redecorate - that shade of green is very meh and it's everywhere.

Why the coyness from the EA about whether it’s leasehold or freehold? That and the Shenstone and the private road would really worry me that it’s some kind of fleecehold lease with ever increasing ground rents.

If it’s freehold then say it. If it’s leasehold then that could be putting people off. If it is leasehold but not with Shenstone Properties then make that clear. At the moment cynics are going to assume it’s leasehold and it’s being hidden to game the RightMove searches and then at that point you start worrying what else is being hidden…

I think the problem for me would be that it's a huge, expensive house, but the interior and exterior look the same as the hundreds of fairly basic new builds on the new estate in my small town. If I had that budget and wanted a big house, I'd want something fancier - there's a wow factor missing. I don't look at the photos and think, "Wow, my life would be amazing if I lived there!" I hope you're not offended, it's obviously a lovely home and it's very clean and tidy and spacious.

It's beautiful and I know the area - it's fab. I would say that the kitchen and bathrooms are a tiny bit dated for that price point...lovely but I think buyers at this end of the market want absolute top end spec.

People who like new builds especially big new builds usually like totally up to date styling. New kitchens and bathrooms. Yours looks very smart but dated - beige not grey. Wood not painted.
Layout wise again the layout isn’t modern. I’d expect a kitchen/diner/family room all in one. You could knock through to separate dining room but bathroom in way.
Also agree that market is small in your price range so you won’t get lots of interest.

I think the outside is nicer than the inside. That's a bit of a disappointment tbh. It's lacking in character and warmth.

@Dfhugdhvdnjrs

I think if you want that price you need to do a full renovation - my first impression is dated, mismatched and very tired, and minimum 50K work to do. It is faulty reasoning to think that the neighbouring houses are expensive so people want to spend more. I think you need to lower your price expectations.

Renovation?? Doesn't it just need painting and a bit of restyling? Farrow and Ball colour consultation could be the way to go?

There isn't an annexe per se. It's a separate house we built on a separate title deed

Ok so that won’t affect anything. Great to have your parents next to you for so long - really good idea.

So, I think we’re back to the decor then. There will be who don’t mind it, and you just need to sit tight and wait for them. Even for a modern house it has very little character and the decor is dated (sorry).

For me - it’s a house that needs 200k+ spending on refurbishment, which you won’t necessarily make back unless you’re there a long time.

But the bones of it are good.

Being super picky (as I love your house!) on the walkthrough it makes it look like the sinks are peeling and there is a crack in some tiles, is this the case or is it bad photos in the walkthrough?

@housetales - this is a really interesting thread, and I am full of admiration how you have taken the criticism - constructive or otherwise.

I hope you get an excellent offer soon - good luck. for you because I think you deserve a glass or bottle or two!

This is a similar size new build near me. It just looks a lot more modern than yours.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/112711193#/?channel=RES_BUY

Can you remodel the front door and porch to give a wider entrance into the hall, maybe with a double door or door with full length window either side? Buyers round my way bloody love a grand entrance and you’ve got a good hall in the other side of it

It's a gorgeous house op, I'm not sure on the area so can't really say why it's not selling.

Renovation?? Doesn't it just need painting and a bit of restyling? Farrow and Ball colour consultation could be the way to go?

It needs new bathrooms, new kitchen, new flooring, new radiators, decorating throughout, landscaping. Ground floor and kitchen remodelling by removing internal walls.

Thats a renovation in my books. I would say £100-£150k, more if you are adding bifold etc.

Great job decluttering OP, I know how much of a challenge it can be and you've done a wonderful job. Everything looks very neat and tidy, not overdone in my opinion.

I live in London, so here's my two cents worth as to why it could possibly not be flying off the shelf:

• is it the first property when you enter the gates on the private road? I would be put off as I would see/hear(?) the gates opening and closing...also the headlights at night would annoy me.
• is your property a new build? I would pay less for a new build property vs a period one. But that's just my personal preference
• if it is a new build, I would expect it to be really new and crisp. However, judging from the photos, I would need to replace the kitchen and bathroom. It looks a bit tired.
• the garden is absolutely lovely. However, the champagne in the garden is a bit much for me. Gives me the impression the house is at a price premium even if it isn't.

You have a lovely house though, I love your garden.

@Dixiechickonhols

People who like new builds especially big new builds usually like totally up to date styling. New kitchens and bathrooms. Yours looks very smart but dated - beige not grey. Wood not painted. Layout wise again the layout isn’t modern. I’d expect a kitchen/diner/family room all in one. You could knock through to separate dining room but bathroom in way. Also agree that market is small in your price range so you won’t get lots of interest.

Yes I agree.

If I were a buyer I would extend the wall of kitchen out to the level of the dining room to the west, and out to level of the wall of garage to the north. Then put RSJs in and take away the existing exterior walls of that part of tne house. That would create a big kitchen-dining room, and the existing dining room could be a snug/tv room.

Totally disagree with the comments around de cluttering. People buying hoses in this price bracket will not appreciate personal trinkets all over the place. It just looks like junk. OP, you did great on the de clutter front.

I have a tiny comment on the exterior photos - if it was me, I would want them zoomed and cropped to cut out what I presume is next doors double garage on the left. This is the first view potential buyers are seeing when they open the link and a garage that close would make me put a question mark against it and I might not even look through the rest of the photos. Obviously they’ll see the garage it if they come to view, but they will be a bit more invested overall by that point and might be able to dismiss it.

Similarly pic 6, is of a tree with the house behind it. Get the photo redone at a different angle without the tree in the way or delete if if you can’t - looks like you are trying to hide something.

It's lovely. Not much you can do to improve really.
The only picture I don't like is the first of the back of house looking straight on. It's very stark and the others are all better.
Does it have much of a lawn? Couldn't see anything looking the opposite way out of the back

My opinion is it’s a little dated, especially the kitchen. I think for the money Id prefer something like this although it’s not your area.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?searchType=SALE&locationIdentifier=REGION%5E24389&insId=1&radius=15.0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&minBedrooms=&maxBedrooms=&displayPropertyType=&maxDaysSinceAdded=3&includeSSTC=true&_includeSSTC=on&sortByPriceDescending=&primaryDisplayPropertyType=&secondaryDisplayPropertyType=&oldDisplayPropertyType=&oldPrimaryDisplayPropertyType=&newHome=&auction=false

Sorry just meant to post the house in Taverham at £950k

It's not a wow house but it's a solid prospect and is well presented for sale.

Three options here, spend considerable money money making it into a wow house, do nothing and wait it out for the right buyer or reduce the price. If you want to sell quickly then reduce the price.

is the garden a bit small?