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

Why is saying it’s been removed?

@WhistPie

OP - I commiserate with you for all the "Birmingham" comments, I used to live in Solihull

Don't. I'm a very proud Brummie!

@TableFlowerss

Why is saying it’s been removed?

Taken it off the market today to action feedback.

Opinions aren’t facts.

The finish probably IS putting some buyers off, people tend to either want a total do-er upper or a turn-key perfect property. A moderately dated property is somewhere in the middle and isn’t enough for the renovators but is too much for the ‘turn key’ buyers. In some areas you pay 7 figures for a dated property, that’s the way it is. Whatever the point you were trying to make, you were unnecessarily rude in your delivery, @BlackTee40. There was no need for it.

[quote BalladOfBarryAndFreda]@TatianaBis, that’s much more my speed too in terms of architecture but the mismatched look of this interior wouldn’t work in the OP’s house. It needs a bit more of the WAG glam, perhaps a little less glitz than WAG though. It needs MORE hot tub champagne chic, not less. It’s footballer land (or close by), play up to that.[/quote]
I don’t think it’s mismatched. It’s got that country house eclectic look, but they are clear colour schemes in each room.

I completely disagree on the WAG thing, I know this is footballer land, but even footballers recognise high end when they see it. And OP also need to appeal to Birmingham professionals - doctors, lawyers, accountants who specifically don’t want tacky bling.

@flibberyjibbery8 Sutton Coldfield or places round there are posh/expensive.

@housetales (I'm in Brum, I went to college in Sutton and had a boyfriend who lived in Little Aston.) The decor appears deliberately bland but someone will like it.

Maybe it is a bit overpriced IDK. Maybe relist?

Thinking about it more - and obviously I can only comment on what I would do - I’m thinking I’d stay there.

It sounds like you do really like your house. Do you REALLY need to take the next step up? I’d be inclined to stay, saving a huge chunk on stamp duty and all the fees. Invest instead in renovating and updating. New bathrooms and a cracking kitchen/diner. Some landscaping to the garden. And, as others have said, if you’ve got a great new kitchen diner, then turn the dining room into a library/snug.

Any further money you “save”, both by not moving or paying a larger mortgage, then use it to pay your current mortgage off quicker. House done completely to your taste and mortgage cleared much earlier in life would definitely be my dream (never going to happen, but it’s nice to daydream 😂).

@WhistPie Solihull is not-Birmingham, don't you know and Sutton is 'the Royal Town of'.

I agree with Furries what exactly is it that you want from a move? Great tenants in the garden, lovely house is it worth moving?

What if you just flipped it for yourself? That is, decided to stay but put £100-£150k in it to make it perfect for you? You could turn the downstairs office into a real library, maybe, or even put bookshelves in the far end of your kitchen. You could make the kitchen gorgeous -- go full Plain English if you wanted to. And you could redo the bathrooms entirely.

You'd save a huge amount just on things like moving costs, agent fees, and stamp duties--maybe half of the cost of renovation or more. And you could stay in a place you like and turn the house into a place you love.

I think it is show home style op should go for. That’s what new build buyers like. It’s not tacky bling it’s about selling lifestyle. It’s more the style of boutique hotel like other posters have said.
House is freshly decorated and uncluttered. OP could make a big difference with only small tweaks.
Dining room is 95% there op has had decorated, new dining set, mirror and the curtains look new. Just needs Instagram style centrepiece to finish not the garage flowers.
Master bedroom. £250 in Home-sense would get 2 bedside cabinets, 2 big lamps and some bigger cushions to dress bed. If OP wanted to spend more then laminate wardrobe spraying is a thing, new wall colour to tie in with grey bed, more modern bigger light overhead.

Sitting room, ditching pelmets and striped cushions, add on trend cushions, big lamp and rug. The room itself is lovely just a few bits are dated.
Bathrooms add fake plant, posh bath oil and a luxurious towel.
Good luck whatever you decide op.

@NorthLodgeAvenue

Mindblowing. Absolutely mindblowing to me that people have this kind of money.

Honestly, you wouldn't believe how normal they look as well.

Wish I could afford a three bed 😂

@Furries

Thinking about it more - and obviously I can only comment on what I would do - I’m thinking I’d stay there.

It sounds like you do really like your house. Do you REALLY need to take the next step up? I’d be inclined to stay, saving a huge chunk on stamp duty and all the fees. Invest instead in renovating and updating. New bathrooms and a cracking kitchen/diner. Some landscaping to the garden. And, as others have said, if you’ve got a great new kitchen diner, then turn the dining room into a library/snug.

Any further money you “save”, both by not moving or paying a larger mortgage, then use it to pay your current mortgage off quicker. House done completely to your taste and mortgage cleared much earlier in life would definitely be my dream (never going to happen, but it’s nice to daydream 😂).

You may well be onto something. We don't have much of a mortgage so it could be time to just pay the last bit off whilst upgrading!

It's been eye-opening. And I'm quickly developing a thick skin

You need it OP, there's some spiteful rude fuckers on this thread.

yep - another here for the love it rather than list it!

[quote me4real]@WhistPie Solihull is not-Birmingham, don't you know and Sutton is 'the Royal Town of'. [/quote]
I know very well - and Knowle isn't really Solihull, it's Warwickshire as I was frequently told 🤣

We don't have much of a mortgage so it could be time to just pay the last bit off whilst upgrading

When it's possible to borrow money at less than 1%, most people will have far better options available to them than paying off the mortgage.

@housetales - id seriously consider it. For me, I’m just imagining:

House that I already like, renovated to exactly what I’d like. Mortgage cleared. Which gives you freedom in so many ways and earlier in life - want to reduce work stress, increase work/life balance then you’re in a much better position to do so. More funds for some great travel (both with kids and when they’ve left home). Seeing others around you still grinding away with stupid hours to achieve/keep up their lifestyle.

God, the thought of that financial freedom makes me feel warm and fuzzy!

Whatever you do decide, keep us posted. If you do renovate, it would be lovely to see the “after” pictures. And if you do move, it would be interesting to see where you end up. Yup, I’m always nosy when it comes to houses, I love looking at them!

@userxx

It's been eye-opening. And I'm quickly developing a thick skin

You need it OP, there's some spiteful rude fuckers on this thread.

True dat.

grin I know very well - and Knowle isn't really Solihull, it's Warwickshire as I was frequently told 🤣

I grew up in Knowle. The obsessive snobbery about being not Solihull and Solihull being not Birmingham was so tedious.

Pros: Looks really clean and well maintained
nothing outlandish that isnt livable with for a buyer IMO. Buyers will want to put own stamp on the property anyway with paint etc
nice quiet road and gated private community
decent size garden
good location with good schools
good sized rooms
plenty of bathrooms vs number of bedrooms
useful separate study in these WFH times!

cons:
Kitchen and bathrooms need updating and some buyers will not want the expense and hassle of doing it
No real wow factor for a house of this size and price e.g. a lot of people will want things like a cinema room, gym etc
These days a massive selling point for houses of this size/price is a "family room" which combines kitchen, dining and living. Yours doesn't have this as the lounge and kitchen are separate.
Looking at the floorplan, and if you are going to stay, then I would add an extension to the kitchen diner area - just take it out to be in line with dining room and have that area as a WOW open plan area with kitchen, breakfast bar/dining area and comfy sofa area softened with nice rugs, good lighting etc. People tend to live in this area of the house most of the time, so its worth considering. You will find loads of inspiration online. I would not go to the expense of doing this to sell though, only if you decide to stay. As a pp has suggested, you could consider getting planning for this as part of the sale?

Good luck with it all!

Couple of examples of painted laminated fitted furniture. They aren’t mind blowing but they are more contemporary. I don’t know if they are just wrong for the market though and more something you do when you are sick of the wardrobes you’ve had for 20 years in a house you are keeping.

It's beautiful OP! Not in my budget sadly.

My only comment is that many of the rooms are in the same colour scheme so it makes it feel a bit 'bland'. I love the look of the nursery.
Could you maybe paint the walls in a couple of the rooms and/or do wall panelling? Relatively cheap and easy options that can make a lot of difference.

We paid £1,250,000 (albeit 5 years ago) for a similar sized house, but with 1.5 acres and we are within commuting distance (circa 1 hour by train) of London - down south. We are on the fringes of the New Forest and within catchment for two grammar schools - so a sought after location. I suspect that you are over priced. I love the finish in your house - immaculate

Of course it could just be that expensive houses take longer to sell due to fewer potential buyers with the purchasing power to buy them

That price for Birmingham seems INSANE Sorry.*

yes those upstart oiks in the provinces with their shiny, big homes and ideas above their station.