Why hasn't this house sold?

[Wherehaveallthepopchipsgone]

Can anyone have a look and see why they think this property hasn't sold, it's been on Rightmove for a year, it's on a really popular street where things usually get snapped up, so even though it needs work you would think someone would have gone for it!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122354906

You can tell it’s been a much loved home for the current owners but that doesn’t mean it would be for someone else without a lot of changes/updates.

It’s a 3-4 bed with annex (I wouldn’t even count bed 5 as a real bedroom as it’s on its own without a bathroom on the same level) in need of substantial renovation, likely to also include structural work to improve the layout.
Going by the description on the listing I’m guessing it’s not been priced as the gut job it really is.

Chorley isn't particularly desirable. I live not far.

I never think it's quite right to describe places like this as a 5-bed. It's a 4-bed house with an attached annexe. Anyone who actually wants a 5-bed house will not be interested in this. The chairs and rug on the stairs give a really odd impression! Actually seems really dangerous and makes you wonder what they are hiding! Usually at the end of the day it is just price though.

This is one of those houses where fewer pictures would be better. The whole places needs gutting and redoing and with each picture you just realise how big the job is.

Layout is niche but it will work for someone.

Presumably therefore it's overpriced.

@Whatiswrongwithmyknee I was wondering about the rug on the stairs too. Blatantly just been hoiked up from the hall floor to hide something.

My guess would be owner being difficult.

I really wanted to buy a house near me two years ago. It looked perfect on Rightmove but it was a nightmare even arranging a viewing. Literally no time was convenient. Eventually we got one but couldn't view certain rooms for various reasons and it became very clear she was being forced into selling. I didn't put an offer in even though I loved the house because I couldn't be arsed with the hassle and it's still up for sale now.

It's an unusual layout and probably wouldn't work if you were a young family. In addition, it needs a fair bit of work. There's a lot of wood panelling (which I think is very dated) plus it needs a new kitchen and bathroom and you can see how the floors need to be stripped and polished. Does the price reflect the fact that it needs modernisation? If not, that's probably the reason.

It’s a three bed with a granny annex and a studio above the garage being marketed as a 5 bed.
anything with a separate outside entrance and no access from the house cannot be marked as an extra bedroom.

It’s the price - if you look at what’s for sale or just sold nearby it’s hugely overpriced.

Thanks for all the responses!! We are going to look at it tomorrow so I'll do an update if anyone's interested!

It's been on a year without a price reduction so that says to me it's an owner who doesn't really want to move (marketed as chain free so likely moving into assisted living or similar). I also agree the decor/layout is a bit mad to say the least and there could be a host of structural issues but it still strangely appeals to me for some reason! It really is a great area with no traffic issues, and houses on that street rarely come on the market, one has just gone for 50k over asking at 700k.

I did ask the estate agent outright but he wasn't going to tell me anything

Who keeps their property on the market for a year without selling and without lowering the price? I expect the agent will be a bit more forthcoming in person but I think the legal owner must have issues

and houses on that street rarely come on the market, one has just gone for 50k over asking at 700k.

If other properties are selling and for way above the asking price, and the EA isn't giving you any information about why this isn't the case for this property i'd be very cautious when viewing. There's a good chance the seller doesn't want to sell, and it could be a very long and pointless process if you decide you want to put in an offer.

The layout just would not suit me; it looks as if rooms lead off other rooms , 2 kitchens(?), I didn't get past the floor plans TBH to realize I wouldn't like it. I really wouldn't want to buy it and then have to remodel it when there is probably another property requiring less work.

@Wherehaveallthepopchipsgone

Good luck tomorrow, I'd love to hear what you think after!

The price

The layout

Also too much wood and it needs updating and decorating

Perhaps it is selling but never gets to exchange as the current owners can't find anywhere to move to, so buyers pull out?

I think it needs lots of work but has potential. The layout is terrible. Lots of little nooks and crannies for a huge house when actually what families want is large open living spaces. I noticed the floors look really scratched, I bet it smells of dog, no offence to dogs or dog owners as I know lots of dog homes that don't smell. I find it really off putting if there is an overwhelming odour. I did buy a house that smelt of dog once and it took me a long time to eliminate the smell. It looks unkempt outside, all the driveways need weeding, the wisteria is out of control. Interested to hear the update op!

The feng shui is all wrong

I can tell you why our house has been on the market for ages. Because we can’t find a proceedable property. Same for lots of people. Weve accepted three offers and tried our best but either can’t find anything or do what we do find goes for 80k more than list price!

It’s ‘offers over’ - I bet they’ve had lower offers in a year, but have a higher figure in mind. To not reduce the price after a year is odd. I’m amazed the estate agents don’t take it off their books in this situation, surely it costs them to keep it on rightmove.

They probably are the sort of people who once you put a low offer in they get offended and won’t even negotiate.

Let us know how you get on, try and get the estate agent to spill the beans!

I actually love it internally - the wood panelling, vaulted ceilings and corner fireplace are very retro now rather than dated. The bones are great and with a sensitive redecoration and lots of mid century modern furniture it would look fabulous.

I don’t know the area at all so I can’t speak for the price but you say it’s not overpriced for the area so clearly that isn’t an issue.

I would imagine it hasn’t sold because the layout isn’t going to work for most people. It’s got an annexe and a bedroom that’s only accessible via a separate entrance. For a small family with an older teen and elderly parents it’s going to tick all their boxes, but for a family with young kids needing the 5 bedrooms the listing claims it has, it’s not going to work at all and is going to require building work to turn it into a property that works as a single family home.

As such it’s a property that will only suit/appeal to a small sub set of people. I don’t think it’s necessarily that there are nightmare owners. It’s a property that’s very much of its time that has been designed for the needs of a specific family set up. If you don’t like the architecture/design of the 70s/80s, you’ll hate it, and if you don’t have their specific family set up, you’ll need to spend a fortune on integrating the annexe into the main house.

If I wanted to live in your area OP and had the cash to do it up, I’d buy it. It’s big, airy, unique and distinctive. I’d have a field day decorating it!

Awkward owner/vendor and about 100k overpriced.

There are a few rooms with ceiling height triangular windows. If those rooms don't have any normal windows it makes them very odd (you can't look out of the window).

It’s always the price. There will likely be something that triggers on a viewing or survey and the owners are unwilling to price adjust.

it’s always the price. Mumsnet Will have you believe it’s the cushion placement or walk colour - but it’s the price