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Original poster

No offers on our house

810 replies

housetales · 12/09/2021 21:21

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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DappledThings · 12/09/2021 23:14

Yellow?
I see attached too, yellow accents in all the rooms in cushions and pelmets, including one big wall, yellow looking kitchen cabinets, yellowy oak wood. Are the cabinets cream? They do look quite a yellowy shade in the pictures to me.

DappledThings · 12/09/2021 23:15

I see attached too
OK, no idea how autocorrect turned yellow into attached.....

Original poster
housetales · 12/09/2021 23:16

@snowspider

It's a very dreary house for that price, I think post Covid people have a lot more options for that budget, just no appeal or spark.
That's the saddest word yet dreary. I have Jelly Babies on the wall. Jelly Babies are not dreary! Grin
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SilentPanic · 12/09/2021 23:16

Lovely house, but if I was spending that much I'd want a bit of wow. I'm so impressed that you're keeping it so clean, but it's a bit like a hotel... I can't imagine anyone really living there, or being cosy there. I think you could do with warming it up a bit.
Good luck! It really is a lovely place.

BridgetInHerBravery · 12/09/2021 23:17

It has lots of good points which have been covered, good plot, good sized rooms etc etc.

What struck me was the amount of plastic: laminate worktops, laminate flooring (that greigey flooring looks dreadful next to the gorgeous wooden staircase), and the plastic decking, hot tub and garden furniture. It just doesn't have the high end finish you'd expect at that price.

Original poster
housetales · 12/09/2021 23:18

@Jumpingintosummer

Kitchen and bathrooms look very dated. Garden needs a separate patio area and a good few £££ worth of shrubs. Upstairs is very magnolia.
Upstairs is very F&B Ammonite Grin
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PickAChew · 12/09/2021 23:18

At 1.3 million, it's always going to have a limited audience. How many people are looking for a house in that price bracket in Sutton Coldfield?

Laufeythejust · 12/09/2021 23:22

You have a beautiful home. I would agree with the other posters though- the kitchen really lets it down. It’s such a large room and it could be changed to have a real wow factor. It’s annoying with newbuilds they always seem to stick to the same kitchen layout.
I would also look at the bathroom with the white tiles with the blue bit in the middle- this one looks quite dated.

Original poster
housetales · 12/09/2021 23:22

@PickAChew

At 1.3 million, it's always going to have a limited audience. How many people are looking for a house in that price bracket in Sutton Coldfield?
God there's a lot of money in Sutton. Search the area in the £2-3m bracket!
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Flowers500 · 12/09/2021 23:23

What did you pay for it and when, I’m assuming you bought it new build? Unfortunately I think it’s the kind of new build (bland, exactly to taste of time, poor/medium quality finishes, zero landscaping, size over design, quickly looks dated) that tend to lose value. You paid a premium price to have new bathrooms done to the taste of the time, nowadays they’re a negative not a plus. If I was considering going for a doer-upper I would look for two things (a) grounds (b) design-led bones. It unfortunately lacks the potential to be a true “wow” house for much of the population—in style it is a large Taylor and Wimpey. People who think that is the ultimate in house but can afford 1.3mill ages outside of London must be a fairly narrow market, and I would say the vast majority would be doing the same as you in wanting a new build.

Original poster
housetales · 12/09/2021 23:23

@Laufeythejust

You have a beautiful home. I would agree with the other posters though- the kitchen really lets it down. It’s such a large room and it could be changed to have a real wow factor. It’s annoying with newbuilds they always seem to stick to the same kitchen layout. I would also look at the bathroom with the white tiles with the blue bit in the middle- this one looks quite dated.
We don't have any bathrooms with blue? They have silver? But no blue at all.
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PeachesPumpkin · 12/09/2021 23:24

@PickAChew

At 1.3 million, it's always going to have a limited audience. How many people are looking for a house in that price bracket in Sutton Coldfield?
Lots. I know that area and it’s very expensive as it’s very popular.
Flowers500 · 12/09/2021 23:24

Sorry that was harsh, I know I’m not your target market anyway as I would have discounted immediately on first external photo. But you are getting viewings so there are people who like this, maybe you just need to drop the price to get some of them over the line

Original poster
housetales · 12/09/2021 23:26

@Flowers500

Sorry that was harsh, I know I’m not your target market anyway as I would have discounted immediately on first external photo. But you are getting viewings so there are people who like this, maybe you just need to drop the price to get some of them over the line
No need to apologise. I'm here for feedback and that's exactly what I'm getting. No one is being unkind or personal. I'd say 99% of every comment is valid and the other 1% has been humour!
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PickAChew · 12/09/2021 23:27

And yes, it's very sterile. Even the yellow is sterile. While it's a little less insta-worthy, it's a lot more homely if the 3rd bedroom is done to little Jess's taste and the 4th bedroom is in Toby's favourite colour, even if that is pea green.

NewHouseNewMe · 12/09/2021 23:27

I love it! It's very much a house I'd buy myself through don't live in the Midlands.
I haven't worked it out but the total internal square footage seems wrong (too low) for the size. It might be worth checking that they've done that right.

Original poster
housetales · 12/09/2021 23:27

I'm going to sleep now but I want to say a huge thank you for all the feedback. I kind of wish I'd posted a while back as I could have already been acting on this feedback.

I appreciate you all being thoughtful on how you expressed your opinions. I will be checking back for more feedback in the morning and know that we'll be working hard to bring a lot of these ideas to fruition!

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BreadInCaptivity · 12/09/2021 23:28

@SilentPanic

Lovely house, but if I was spending that much I'd want a bit of wow. I'm so impressed that you're keeping it so clean, but it's a bit like a hotel... I can't imagine anyone really living there, or being cosy there. I think you could do with warming it up a bit. Good luck! It really is a lovely place.

Yes - it does look a bit like an AirB&B listing in that respect.

I think OP you have over stripped them house.

I've done a bit of searching and found this nearish to me. It's similar in that it's a modern rather than period property at the same price.

The main reason for showing you is the difference in the quality of the kitchen and bathrooms.

This is what people expect in a property of that value.

Clifford Road, Boston Spa
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/107792255

HTKB · 12/09/2021 23:28

There’s an awful lot of sinister chairs. I imagine ghosts are sitting on them all watching the photographer. The red gaming chair is especially malevolent.

Candleinthebreeze · 12/09/2021 23:29

I haven’t read every post so sorry if I’m duplicating.

It’s an estate type location, the gates mean nothing, any estate in the country can stick some gates at the end of the road it doesn’t increase the value.

The house isn’t unique, is built from a common style plan, using run of the mill materials, fixtures and fittings. And it’s in Sutton Coldfield, hardly a place full of millionaires.

It’s just not worth the money, sorry to be so blunt

Kipperandarthur · 12/09/2021 23:29

It looks a great house and in time it will sell. I don’t know the area or the pricing relative to your area.

Garden is bland but that would not bother me as lawn looks great and borders easy to create and plant for lush fullness in time.

But at the price point as all others have stated is that kitchen is a major negative as it needs a radical refresh as do the patio doors. As you’ve mentioned that can add easily to £40k. Also the bathrooms especially with the old fashioned shower cubicles and curly shower cords instead of overhead power showers are suggesting to me many tens of thousands when added together.

Therefore I don’t know in your area how well this is priced?

Can’t stand the photos close up of a pillar by front door, close up of house name, close up of piano etc. But know that’s what some estate agents love to show as they consider it arty. I just consider it annoying!

DeadHouseBounce · 12/09/2021 23:29

@SilenceOfThePrams

I’d ask the estate agent to remove the photos of the garden where you can see your neighbours’ windows. I assume that’s where you’ve planted the trees?
People will find out when they view anyway, the price is what will secure a sale, not photo trickery IMO.
Original poster
housetales · 12/09/2021 23:30

@HTKB

There’s an awful lot of sinister chairs. I imagine ghosts are sitting on them all watching the photographer. The red gaming chair is especially malevolent.
OK, I can update rooms and rip out bathrooms and kitchens but you think I can take a gaming chair off a pre-teen? Are you insane?

(But as an aside I agree with you and I don't like it either but it's the kind of unhideable crap that comes with kids)

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PickAChew · 12/09/2021 23:31

@PeachesPumpkin there are parts of my city in that sort of price bracket, in catchment of a sought after school and those take more than a couple of months to shift. It's always going to be slower than the market for 3 bed semis in a safe area.

Shinyflecks · 12/09/2021 23:31

If you really want to sell. And for that price you desperately need an interior designer.

Is there a window missing on the back? 😵‍💫