I can’t sell my house.

[Zooforhouse]

Been trying to sell my house since January. Have sold it three times. First buyer pulled out as change in financial circumstances, lost us our dream house. Sold again in 4 weeks, but didn’t find an onward, buyer pulled out as found something cheaper. Third time neighbour offered then withdrew quickly as decided the garden was too small (it must have got smaller).

i don’t know what to do really. The garden is too small. That’s why I want to move. Desirable location. The house is done to a high standard. It’s just on a small plot (is in town).

Do we reduce it? Forget about it for a bit? It sold at asking all 3 times. Reducing it won’t make the garden bigger. Change of agent?

Was kind of ignoring the issue but something we want has come up and it’s getting really frustrating now.

A link is required on mumsnet.

Will consider 😂

Name change and link it. It's impossible to tell otherwise. People will just say it's the price.

Need a link to advise……..

Reducing it won’t make the garden bigger.

It won't make the garden bigger, but it will attract buyers with lower expectations about what they can get for their budget - i.e. buyers who may be more willing to compromise on garden size.

Even with a link people will tell you it’s the price or that you need some scatter cushions and to remove the mug tree from your kitchen counter.

To be fair reducing the price will increase your pool of potential buyers.

I mean, to an extent it is the price because for less money people are more likely to feel like the house is a bargain and write off the garden, especially if say, they don’t have kids so maybe don’t care as much about a big garden. That said, seems that you’ve been very unlucky to have three sales fall through. It does seem that the market has slowed recently- I’ve been looking for a year now and there’s definitely a lot more coming on and staying on- a year ago it wouldn’t even go in Rightmove and some cash buyer from London would just swoop unseen. Seems people are more nervous about rates etc and adopting a bit of a ‘wait and see’ attitude. However, that might help your own search. Is it possible to do some recent local benchmarking- ie compare to other properties that have sold in the immediate vicinity? Might give an indication of whether you need to adjust on price.

Link please 😁

Reducing it won't make the garden bigger but may make it more appealing for people who want a decent size house but can forgo a big garden for a lower price.

It sounds like you have just been unlucky so I wouldn't despair.

Not everyone wants a big garden. We have young children and we like having a garden but would have been very happy with a smaller one as we don't like gardening!

I would think about who your likely buyers are and whether the house is set up to appeal to them

It doesn't sound like your house is unsellable - it just sounds like you've been really unlucky. It's a fickle market right now.

Being on since Jan and being sold 3 times and then being back on the market doesn't look good .
The market has also changed since January so I think a reduction would be a good call . If you have seen a house just go for it .

Three offers at asking price suggests it is desirable.

Are you making the most of the garden you do have? Make sure things are trimmed back well, show you can fit somewhere to sit etc. Bit of colour in it etc

Sounds like you've been unlucky. Have you had a chat with your agent? Do you trust their judgement?

I never understand these threads - imo it’s clearly the price! People look at what they are getting for what price and decide if it’s worth it. If they’ve decided it’s less that what they can get elsewhere, or not enough for the money they are paying then yes its a good idea to lower the price. I always get the impression the real question is ‘should I just wait for someone who is a bit more desperate to come along’. If it’s sold 3 times and 2 out of the three are question marks over the ‘value for money’ then yes it’s the price. Styling it to suit a buyer who will not require a large garden might help attract the successful buyer quickly than waiting for someone with vision. xo

Link

Beautiful house. But what in the name of all that's holy is in picture 17?

It's lovely but the garden is very small for the size of the house. We looked at a house a bit like that. Modern build, lots of bedrooms and en-suites but a tiny garden. We decided it wouldn't work as we were looking to start a family and the outside space wasn't enough and didn't match the inside space. Personally, it also seems odd having a new build in an old/period style, although it is done very nicely!

I think they're knitted style animal heads, deer etc!

I’d put some artificial grass down in the back to make it look green but yes no garden - reduce the price

Gorgeous house. I wonder if you might be better with a bit more lawn in the garden. Wouldn’t both us but we have teens. I’m not sure I’d want my young children on floors away from me.

I thought the decor was beautiful and tasteful. It’s not really old period style though is it? The blue painted kitchen is probably the most popular on the market at the moment!

nice to see a house that isn’t wall to wall grey paint and grey carpets with a shiny white kitchen!

If I had that money I'd buy it.

Oh it's lovely OP! On Rightmove though it says reduced in March, if you didn't know the history I'd think there was something dodgy with it that it 'hadn't sold' in that long.

Could you remove it completely and relist afresh? You must be going somewhere really lovely if you're selling that one!

Really tasteful decor and a good layout OP. I do think it's a little bit too expensive though. I'd drop the price by 30k.

The garden is small but normal for new builds and you can't do anything about the size. I would say that it's lacking in greenery without any lawn at all and astro turf can be really off putting to buyers.

Quite a lot of visible personal effects in the pics, maybe retake without them? Are you getting many viewings?