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Why hasn't this house sold?

177 replies

Wherehaveallthepopchipsgone · 27/07/2022 07:02

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

OP posts:
BronwenFrideswide · 29/08/2022 13:58

Great news @Wherehaveallthepopchipsgone I hope it all goes well for you. The house has an odd layout but, as Estate Agents say, potential and a lot going for it regarding area, location, garden, etc. The Estate Agent's photographs were awful though, why they used half of them I don't know.

I suspect long term you may well have got a bargain. Good Luck.

NewHouseNewMe · 29/08/2022 14:11

Congrats OP!
This time two years ago we brought a similar house: mega dated, passionate owners, wrong layout.. But there was something that drew us in - garden, location, vibe.. We are about to move back to it after renovations and it looks amazing. Well worth it!!

MrsSkylerWhite · 29/08/2022 14:14

The link shows it sold stc?

Pixiedust1234 · 29/08/2022 14:18

Lovely update, and glad you are feeling better! Did anybody mention the weir placement of the stair rug. Is there a trapdoor to a hidden dungeon?

Alldelicious · 29/08/2022 14:29

I needs loads of work, including sorting out the layout. I suspect it's not priced to reflect just how much needs doing.

2bazookas · 29/08/2022 14:51

There's no internal access between the main house and annex. So any buyer who didn't want a separate granny/staff flat, just a one- family home, would face immediate building works.

Floor plan, prepared by estate agent, full of sloppy errors.

On the ground floor plan, the bathroom has no door access at all.

Upstairs, the shower room labelled "en suite" isn't en suite to either bedroom. . Its only access is communal, from the landing.

In the annex, the bathroom has a double door to the kitchen (against building regulations)

That's a black mark against the estate agent who prepared the floorplan, and may reflect an equally slapdash, casual, amateurish shoddy and careless approach to marketing it.

L shaped kitchen diner; the room sizes are disproportionate. Again, potential building work.

Because of that, the price might be too high.

Rightmove says
"Properties in Merefield had an overall average price of £445,000 over the last year.Overall, sold prices in Merefield over the last year were 13% down on the previous year and 1% up on the 2019 peak of £440,000."

2bazookas · 29/08/2022 14:59

In the annex, the bathroom directly leading off the kitchen is illegal. That would raise suspicions in me that the annex either had no planning permission or never got a building control completion certificate . Which would certainly account for the failure to sell (it might be unmortgageable).

Ask the date of the extension then you can check out the planning[ermot/ building approval status at the local planning office for free.

shazzybazzy34 · 29/08/2022 15:04

I think it's gorgeous!

Wherehaveallthepopchipsgone · 29/08/2022 15:19

Thanks all! @Annasgirl @NewHouseNewMe glad to hear taking a chance worked out for both of you 😊

@Pixiedust1234 the rug had gone when we viewed! just a boring wood staircase underneath 🤣

@2bazookas we also thought the annex was totally separate because of the floor plan but it's not, there is an internal door leading to it. Good point about building regs though, although it's not an extension as it was built at the same time as the rest of the house.

OP posts:
moneynotsofunny · 29/08/2022 15:49

The photos are poor…!

Hope you make it your dream
home, OP!

BiggerBoat1 · 29/08/2022 15:56

The layout is bonkers. No real family kitchen and loads of wasted space. It would need levelling and starting again.

BiggerBoat1 · 29/08/2022 16:01

Oh, just seen you've put an offer in 😳. It's lovely! 😁

hoorayandupsherises · 29/08/2022 16:24

BiggerBoat1 · 29/08/2022 16:01

Oh, just seen you've put an offer in 😳. It's lovely! 😁

You made me laugh, @BiggerBoat1

Congrats on the offer, OP! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. The EA photos of our house were also hideous and I think that's how we got it 😃

Wherehaveallthepopchipsgone · 29/08/2022 16:55

@BiggerBoat1 🤣🤣 I completely agree that the layout is bonkers! Plan to make the dining room the kitchen opening onto the garden and the current kitchen a utility.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 29/08/2022 17:01

the bathroom directly leading off the kitchen is illegal

as far as I know, this changed and you no longer need 2 doors between a toilet and a kitchen.

SoupDragon · 29/08/2022 17:06

It hadn't sold because it was waiting for you.

i can't see anything wrong with it really. Yes, it's an odd layout but not unworkable and fairly easy to tweak.

Mummyford · 29/08/2022 19:07

@Wherehaveallthepopchipsgone

Oh, I'm excited for you! It has so much potential to be a lovely and not ordinary house. I can't wait to see what you do with it, so please keep this thread going.

Hope you're feeing all better, by the way!

dinkydino123 · 30/08/2022 07:37

We bought a house earlier this year that had sat around for a while - the EA told us that people were put off by the layout and the garden (which requires a lot of upkeep). We fell in love with it though and just instantly knew it was the place for us. Funnily enough all of our family and friends love it too (although I suppose they would say that!). Anyway, my point is that if you love it, that's all that matters. I hope you are as happy there as we are in our new home.

Electriq · 30/08/2022 07:44

I'm a bit late to this, but was looking through the photos thinking I could happily live there, a real little charmer.

Hope all goes well for you!

mscampbelle · 30/08/2022 21:03

I absolutely love this place, looks so roomy and so much potential for a wonderful family home!

Wherehaveallthepopchipsgone · 31/08/2022 10:28

Ah thanks everyone! I'm trying not to get too excited as it feels like a long road ahead! Their EA has been terrible so far and trying to get someone to call me back is impossible.

@Mummyford thanks I'm much better, just on the world's longest waiting list to see a cardiologist which seems to be standard post Covid!

OP posts:
Cam22 · 31/08/2022 14:27

It’s hideous and uncared for.

Sunnytwobridges · 31/08/2022 14:36

It's actually amazing but it there are a few things that would turn me off.

For that price, I would expect the kitchen to be bigger and more updated.
The rooms are choppy, there's a lack of cohesiveness, and it would take money to make it more cohesive.
Possibly the flooring would need to be changed, and some of the bedrooms look a bit small.

But I think it's a great find, if you have the money to put some work into it.

Cam22 · 03/09/2022 11:03

Not if you live in a 17th Century house - as I do.

Cam22 · 03/09/2022 11:03

Not “amazing”. I mean.