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

Kitchens sell homes.

You’re marketing it as the finished article. But actually it needs new bathrooms and a kitchen.

You’ve not got offers. Drop the price or take it off the market redecorate and then relist.

Your house is beautiful, however I think your kitchen/diner lets you down! It looks a bit soulless and unfinished! What the deal above the oven? It looks bizarre!
I would also maybe change feb table in there and remove the sideboard to make it look grander!
Other than that beautiful home x

It's a lovely house. But as always if you aren't getting any offers it's because other people don't think that it is worth the money.

@MrsTiffin

The house is really well presented and the photos are good, but agree with a PP who said too many of the front of the house at first!

The kitchen and bathrooms are IMO what are letting you down. For that price most buyers would expect more of a high end finish for the kitchen, modern built in appliances and quality worktops/lighting etc.

The bathrooms are very similar to our old property built around the same time. Although the fittings are quality, the tiling and flooring could be updated. I'd maybe consider doing this to give it a more modern feel.

The space is great though and definitely appealing being on a private road

Thank you for such detailed feedback. I think everyone is singing the same tune and it's one hubby and I have also been humming but good to know the choir is with us!

I love being on the private gated road. Kids can play out front on their bikes and I know they are safe which is wonderful. Plus my (few) neighbours are the loveliest people. It won't be a bad thing if we stay a while longer! x

Re bathrooms it would be more modern to have a wet room & a free standing bath & not the built in toilets/sink thing

It's a lovely house but I was expecting you to say it had been staged for the photos and viewings.
There's something missing and after reading the thread I imagine that you have decluttered X 1 million 😁. But some areas look too stark compared with rooms such as your child's bedroom that looks great with the books and lights on the bed etc.
I can't imagine how hard you must be working to keep it looking like a show home whilst actually living in it as a family with small children. Do you get much notice before viewings - I hope so!
So, I think it could do with some art on the walls, the kitchen although spacious and obviously spotless does look dated and a bit stark. Can't remember if there's space above the cupboards but if so, some plants (even faux foliage will work - string of pearls and other trailing greenery would look good. Maybe a cook book or two or small areas of interest such as a decorative or wooden tray with a candle etc.
The photos are great for once - I love that you have included both day and evening time. Maybe some could be taken out altogether or just a reshuffle.
I think it's likely that the people who buy your house will be a similar family set up to yours so include the type of info in the ad that you'd want to know - local amenities, beauty spots, etc. You mentioned a few things in this thread that I must have missed in the listing that would sway me, such as the local park etc. I know the responsibility is on me as a potential buyer to research the area but you made it sound much more attractive than the estate agents blurb.
I think it just needs tweaking, Mel Robeson on YouTube has similar style to you OP and has lots of tips that may add to all the hard work you've already put in.
Are you getting feedback from the people viewing the house as to why they're not going forward? If it's the price and you're not prepared to reduce it then all you can do is wait and in the meantime add more warmth to what is already a lovely home. Good luck!

yes i agree you need art on the walls, photos & some knick knacks on the tops of things.

@TerribleCustomerCervix

Echoing what others have said- if I was in the market for a £1million plus, modern home, I’d be expecting an extremely high finish and a polished interior.

The two bedrooms belonging to the younger children are beautiful- neutral but still interesting. But the striking decor in the big lounge is a bit love it or hate it, and the bedrooms with the feature walls look a bit dated.

The bathrooms and kitchen are pretty standard- probably very premium when you bought the house, but as time has gone on the average three bed semi has similar but on a (much!) smaller scale.

You’re not going to want to start major work to the kitchen and bathrooms, so it looks like the only option would be to reconsider the price?

No we'll absolutely do the work! We don't want to drop the price significantly as we'd not be able to make the next jump ourselves with less money. So we'll stay and improve and enjoy it ourselves a while!

Can't believe you are not loving my ridiculously expensive lounge wallpaper! I'm hurt! I had to save and save for that!

africa2go

I also clicked on the schools data. Unless you're Catholic, your two nearest primaries are only "good" and the nearest state secondary requires improvement. I don't know the area but certainly if I had £1.3 million to spend, I would be looking for a more individual house, not on an estate-type development, in a better area (good state schools).

There are grammar schools in Walsall and in Sutton Coldfield but I agree the comprehensive schools are fairly ordinary.

Gosh, what type of house are you moving to if this is what you're selling?!

@cockneysparra1

I live in the area and I agree it is lovely! Personally, if I had the money to spend I would want Four Oaks! Think it's just a tricky market!

And guess where we are looking to move to? Everything there of a similar size is £2-3m as you will know! There is one property on for under £1.5m on the park at the moment and I've heard some horror stories about it!

I think the garden is a bit of a let down compared to some of the other beautiful ones around you but as you say you have advantage of the private road. I come from London though where gardens are tiny & overlooked so I dream of the big rambling tree filled garden.

What a shithole.

#jokes!

Looks lovely @housetales It's usually the price when a house isn't selling. Can't see any other reason. It's fab!

@Iamthewombat

You’ve got good taste in champagne, OP.

Back on topic, the hot tub would actually put me off. Let’s say that that applied to 50% of the potential buyers. Your market is small anyway: not that many people outside London have £1.3m to spend on a house plus £70k stamp duty, plus the people with that budget often want ‘character’ houses. So that reduces your pool of people who have the right amount of cash, like new houses and want a hot tub!

If they hate it, I can take it with me? I bloody love it. Where do you think I drink the champagne?

I only got to the kitchen and thought for the price it was dated, I’d expect a bit more wow.

If you think it's priced correctly hold on and it will sell eventually. It's a beautiful home and unless you live out in the sticks it is difficult not to be overlooked at least from one side. Be patient. You will find a buyer and it only takes one buyer

I didn’t want to say price because it is a beautiful home. I can’t find much fault with it accept for the garden. It’s well above what we could afford, I’m only a little bit jealous :)

Had a quick snoop and Zoopla thinks it’s worth £1.1m www.zoopla.co.uk/property/4-elford-close/streetly/sutton-coldfield/b74-3lz/915086/

@TheCraicDealer

Being completely honest, when you said it was sixteen years old that made a lot of sense. There's no doubt that the bathrooms and kitchen are in good condition, but there's something very mid-00's about the style and design of them. Same with the ash/maple veneer wardrobes. It looks like a lovely house, but on closer inspection you start seeing more and more that you think looks slightly dated and "oh well I'd have to change that". I don't know about the area or prices locally, but certainly if I were paying that sort of money for a property I would expect more up to date fixtures and fittings.

I'd agree that the delcuttering has gone a bit too far; when I first flicked through I thought the house was vacant!

The exterior is beautiful though, it's a very attractive looking house!

It's so interesting to see our house through other people's eyes. Some things, like the wardrobes, I've not given a second thought to. I best had now!

You could buy 15 of the house I currently have on the market for the same price as yours OP

I love it! Love the artwork in one of the first few pics is it gummy bears?

id get rid of pics 36-39 (the ones that show any houses overlooking!)

your house is beautiful and yes i would expect money knocked off for the kitchen as it is "old".

I guess the price is too high too but i do not know the area. In the north id get a mansion and 20 + acres for that!

@housetales
I am not a fan of modern houses-or modern estates/gated.
I have lived in a 1950's house on a gated estate and currently am in a Victorian and much prefer period.
Yours is a perfectly nice house in a certain type of taste and you need to be a bit patient.

@Atalune

Would you landscape the garden?

We've had the lawn taken up a year ago and completely aerated, scarified and reseeded. My husband then built the composite deck etc. What would you suggest in regards to landscaping? I'm certainly open to doing more of course!

I don't know much about the price but I'm going to say that it's the kitchen too. It's so underwhelming for a house of that size and price.

Re building work surely if you did any kind of extension & new kitchen you'd easily be looking at 100k plus due to size & spec?

In the schools check the state secondary Streetly Academy Requires Improvement. That will put put people off if they want a state secondary school. Do children get into Arthur Terry from you'd house?