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.

It's a beautiful house and I actually like the courtyard garden and think it's good for kids - and very low maintenance. It does seem very expensive to me but then I live up north and my house was 150k (and nowhere near as nice).

🤣 see, this were there are so many personal opinions. It did not seem cluttered at all to me. And if I was buying anyway, that would not make an ounce of difference

OP did a name change so the post won't show up when you click "show all OP's posts" - the link is on the first page under a different name. I can't link because the app is playing back but if you scroll back you'll see it.

Agree. However, if you really want to sell your house asap so you can move, you already know what you need to do to increase the odds that will happen: lower the price.

Beautiful house OP but I'll be honest - I don't think you're going to get £680K for it. The inside is beautiful but the exterior driveway and outside the front door looks a little tired. Fresh patio stones and a reorganization of the pots with some winter colour and get rid of the red chair might help. In the back, the mystery path away on the height behind the play area would bother me in photos as would the raised wall - is that a neighbour's garage or what? You already have a small patch of artificial grass so I don't think you need more but I would put trellis on that neighbour's wall - take the "look" off it so it still looks like part of your garden and not the neighbour's outhouse protruding into your property.

Then I'd relist.

Or just drop your price to 650K. It's a psychological thing too with buyers 650 with some aesthetic costs seems manageable. 680 with some aesthetic costs is almost 700 and doesn't seem as manageable.

But either way relist. Any listing that says anything to the effect of on the market for more than 6 months is a death nail in the property coffin.

The house is lovely - agree with others though that it's the price. House prices have to seem like the right price not only when it's agreed but through the whole sale process, when compared to what's on the market. All you need is better/similar houses coming on for the same price or lower, and people drop out.

Could also be the estate agent - when I sold my house, I had an EA who could get people in and do a really good sales job, but they'd go away and then come to their senses and pull out. I changed EA, and the new EA pointed out there was no point doing a hard sales job on buyers when they came into the house as at that point they needed to fall in love with it. Might be worth taking it off the market and changing EA?

We had similar OP, advise on here was to drop the price. We didn't. We withdrew it from the market it for a few months, re took the photos and it ended up selling above asking price within the week.

I would spend £5k on a garden make-over. It is a small percentage of the house price. Please don't use fake grass. It would put me off. Use a hover mower on small lawns. We recently offered on a mews with little outside space. However the curb appeal was stunning (window boxes etc). The house was beautiful. I don't have young children so a small garden is OK if well planted. I would also want parking whatever the size of property. Mortgage rates have gone up 50% since January. I have just renewed my mortgage offer as we have not found anything to buy in our neck of the woods. My offer has gone down £25k as the banks are tightening their lending. I would get the gardener in and consider a firm asking price of £650k if you can accept that.

Same situation as you, been on market since May this year. Have sold 3 times. Latest buyer their buyer pulled out so lost the sale now I've got til Friday to sell or I lose my onward purchase....gutted to be honest

I don't think it's a bad price for the house and the area. Garden would make me think a bit as there is no grass and need grass (dogs). If you need the asking price or similar to move I would stick at it a while - people can put in lower offers! Lovely interiors and that makes a difference to me as it is a huge saving if I don't need to immediately save up to re-do a kitchen etc. summer has been very slow - give it a go until the end of September and then re-think the price.

I'd change agent I think at this stage. Looks like a nice home and area.
It will be perfect for someone. It would for me,although I'd want some grass.

I don't know the area at all but searching for within 3 miles of your property, I can find something with:

4 beds
off road parking for at least two cars
much bigger garden
nicer view from the back of the property
similar standard of finish

For over 200K LESS than yours.

So I think thats why, you can get more, for less, in that area. (Also that property also had a big giraffe in it, whats with Colchester and giraffes?!)

I'd drop the price a bit, remarket it and remove all the kiddy stuff, kids want space, you haven't got space and its very clear from all your kid stuff that this is why you're moving so you're putting it RIGHT there in front of buyers 'this house ain't big enough'...

Link to the one you’ve found please? 😂. It comes down to area. There is a huge variety in house prices between areas of Colchester.

Bloody closed the tab now sorry! if you search for 4 beds, 3 miles from Lexden max and its a semi, 4 beds and has a huge stuffed giraffe in one of the bedrooms!

Yes I get that area will make a difference... but not to all buyers...

I think it’s beautiful and the size of the garden wouldn’t put me off, that said the garden is yard like and needs landscaping. But I would do that if I bought it.

since I don’t know Colchester and you say the location is desirable, it must be the price.

you have great taste.

The photos of the garden were taken in December thinking about it. We do have plants and festoons and flowers now. Perhaps I’ll take my own.

The inside of your house is lovely and the decor is beautiful.
The garden is a problem though as it doesn't exist. It's just a paved outdoor area.

Cervinia-thanks!

Your photo makes it look a bit better but I still think the lack of grass is a problem. That might just be me though - I know there's a trend to pave over everything at the moment.

This...

Can't comment much on price as I don't know the area well enough, but that sort of garden isn't necessarily a turn-off. I wouldn't just tear up all the paving as there are people who want a low maintenance space. It would suit me to a T. I would consider sprucing it up as it looks a bit stark--it needs some more plants and flowers somewhere. Maybe a pergola for the seating area (shame about the time of year). I'd also consider doing something in front as the front garden has been completely paved over for parking.

It’s absolutely beautiful inside but then the driveway is scruffy with all the weeds poking through and the untrimmed bushes.

honestly though it’s far to overpriced. It’s a big house by virtue of having 3 floors but there’s hardly any living space downstairs and only 2 rooms and not much/any room to extend as the garden is small.

if you had a young family there’s no where to make a play room for all the plastic tat or a separate utility room to dry clothes.

I did a very brief search of the local area and there’s loads of houses for only slightly more on much bigger plots with a lot more practical living space so I wouldn’t pay £680k for yours.

lookif at what else is available I’d say £600 is more realistic and I’d put it on at offers over that and try for a bidding war.

is £680k what the agents said?

House is lovely. For the South East, I don't think the garden is that bad either. You need to dress your garden as well, if not better than your house - Pinterest boards. New photos possibly. The previous buyers were they all young families? Good artificial grass?
Consider a new agent as well who will give you honest feedback.

Could you sell your house and rent somewhere? So much easier buying when not in a chain

I think it’s over priced and the kitchen would put me off. Seems to be a lot of wasted space with the c-shape and those massive cupboards and fridge. Having only 2 rooms downstairs would definitely put me off and The expense of ripping out what looks to be a newish kitchen. I think the garden is fine, more plants would be good, but I’m not sure people would be bothered to mow a tiny patch of grass.

What’s your agent’s advice?