Help me 'analyse' this property

[Coconutree]

During the span of the last 2+ years, this property has been on the market at least twice. It didnt sell the first time (i think it was pre lockdown), taken off, on the market early this year, sstc and now back on again.

This house is spacious and reasonably priced judging by the space and location. The new build opposite with tiny garden were on about the same price. It is near town centre, train dtation, and outstanding schools.

Why is it so hard to shift?
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/126117911?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

It doesn’t look lived in / occupied, but doesn’t say ‘chain free’. They might have had / be having probate issues. Something to clarify with the EA.

I disagree that it needs "major" refurbishment. You could easily move straight in. Any refurb is down to personal taste.

It has terrific space but little doorstep appeal. The kitchen and bathrooms are dated but otherwise it looks well maintained. If you are going to replace the kitchen, you would sort the layout at the same.time

Offer £50k under. It has massive potential.

My parents live on a shared unadopted Road. One neighbour refused to pay for resurfacing and it took months to get money out of the others.

@SoupDragon no idea, i think it was erected at the same time of the new build.
@motherofawhirlwind yes i am local. I thought it stands good chance for ashlawn, you can cut through southfield to percival road

The garden is great and there is a good amount of space however I imagine people wouldn't like:

the unconventional layout (massive entrance hall, study far away)

the odd setting (isn't near any properties like it, but faces a new build estate and a small 70s estate)

it's dated (needs a lot of work, unlike the other houses you linked for the same price)

I think it’s great, other than maybe the access road. I don’t know the area though.

I don’t think you can read too much into the history of the aborted sales, it’s not excessive. It could easily be on-market then mind changed/ owner died a couple of years ago, then this time the chain fell through for unrelated reasons.

There was a house we considered buying where it had been on and off the market several times over about 4 years (I didn’t realise that at the time). The people we eventually bought from actually bought that house, luckily it all went through ok that time, but the on-off-house sellers were clearly the indecisive ones in the chain. I think they were an older couple struggling with the concept of moving to somewhere better suited to their needs.

£650k is a lot of money when your neighbours are this close to you. It may be big, but it feels horribly claustrophobic.

Yes this

I don't like it at all. The layout is awkward, its very bland, and its overlooked.
However, thats unlikely why it keeps returning to the market!

Are those large white garage doors beyond the lawn... garages? I'm being unintelligent here, but there isn't a drive in front of them to drive along, and you don't want cars coming where children might be playing.

The patio slabs s different colour at the front to the back makes it look not very high-spec, so maybe more expensive-looking houses in the area, for the same price.

The added on bits at the back throw shade on the patio outside the back french doors. I imagine it might be nicer to have french patio doors across the length of the back of the house. It seems a little odd not to have double the windows on the first floor at the back. The layout takes away something of the wow factor.

Thank you all for your valuable input. You have highlighted many points for me to chew on.. Now, what do people think of that access lane? How practical/annoying it is for day to day use?

Looks like it's been incorporated into a new build housing estate, so I imagine has been surrounded by building work for several years. That would definitely put some buyers off. Presumably the worst of the building work is over now but it is now very overlooked, with an odd aspect/orientation and likely to have compromised national light (why are the kitchen blinds shut in the photo?). Lastly, if access is problematic it will put buyers off and if it's via the new development, the house may have to contribute to maintenance costs until/if it's adopted by a council...

Just go and view it OP. That will give a better idea than us guessing from pictures.

I would ask about any covenants, ROW issues and whether that house has responsibility for the road as it was built before the others.

The floor plan looks as if it was originally the house with a detached double garage. They’ve bridged the gap between the garage and house. Hence the clunky layout.

@SuperCamp i will. I am just a bit concerned seeing that it repeatedly come back onto the market.. and one of the new build opposite failed to sell during the height of the market last year..
So i just want to harness the wisdom of mumsnetters here to see if i miss anything

House at odd angle to road. Too much brickwork on ground in front garden. Interiors bland and dated. Cant see back garden obviously from front pic. Quite a lot of money for a house that needs updating.

Looks lovely OP. Just needs a bit of warmth and decor style added to it.

I think it'd be dicey. Our year (2018) it was something like 0.6 miles and that house is over a mile away. I don't think it's got much better since but the info is on the WCC website. At the time the new developments on Ashlawn Road weren't in catchment but if they change those boundaries it'll get even tighter.....

The weird garage doors on buildings that aren't garages is odd. I like the house though in general.

The weird garage doors at the back are an opportunity - as you could put glass in or glass doors without the expense and mess of knocking out brick work and installing lintels.

I actually prefer the other 2 houses and for 50k less it’s a no brainer for me. Perhaps other people feel the same as I do. Also I would not call those garden small . They are actually good size and I actually prefer smaller east maintenance garden as I hate gardening and don’t have the time to maintain it. But if that’s the house you like then go for it. The house I ended up purchasing was on the market for a year and he had a buyer who messed them about and simply changed minds and the other who sale fell through. So it could mean nothing. Speak to the estate agent ,they will be able to give you some insight.

*easy

Thanks all. I like the house, booked viewing and been to see that lane.. but couldnt predict how pita and inconvenient is the access