Page 13 | No interest in 5 days - and there’s a rightmove link!

Helpmyhouse · 2023-02-09T15:05:32+00:00

Hi ladies. As the title says, no interest in 5 days, so would be grateful for your feedback. Be as honest as you like! https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131461400#/?channel=RES_BUY I’m a realist so will be price dropping if it hangs about, but just wondered if there’s anything ‘changeable’ that might rustle up some interest before we go down that road. Please note I can’t do anything about the size of the garden, nor will I be able to do anything big like replacing the bathroom suite, hideous as it is. Thanks in advance.

user1471538283 · 09/02/2023 18:58

It is always the price and the market is slow at the moment.

Try and get a bed in the third bedroom. I would also spruce up the garden and market it as a courtyard.

DopeGirl · 09/02/2023 18:59

Some absolute nut jobs on here. Absolute lunatics.

Youre house is fine OP. It’s the market.

Everyonehasavoice · 09/02/2023 19:00

FTStheFirstTimeSeller · 09/02/2023 18:47

The size is in floor plans and makes it smaller than what's allowed for HMOs as sleeping space. You could put possibly single bed in but I don't think you could open the door then.
I had friend who had similar sized room and tried. Nope.
I lived in very similar house, the downstairs is exactly same so I am wondering if previous owners split main master into 2 rooms

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Ah yes
There is a size, thanks!
Bed just fit in at 900mm x 2000 and door of 800mm. It’s a crush.
So if you have your old cot still, I’d pop that in.

Heavydirtysou1 · 09/02/2023 19:01

It's such a random point but the dark carpet in the dining area with the table cloth on the table somehow look odd together. Could you try taking off the table cloth and put a vase of flowers on or something?

GoodChat · 09/02/2023 19:04

shard5 · 09/02/2023 15:56

The measurements are missing from the description not the floorplan but it makes you question why they've missed it out there.

Have you ever looked at a house listing before? It's always one or the other.

Devonhousehunter · 09/02/2023 19:06

Wonder what the Estate Agent thinks of this thread 😳

GoodChat · 09/02/2023 19:16

Devonhousehunter · 09/02/2023 19:06

Wonder what the Estate Agent thinks of this thread 😳

Hopefully they will realise they need to step up their game.

OP advertising the house on such a large platform will help them sell

Newlifestartingatlast · 09/02/2023 19:20

As an aside : Is that tumble drier against a radiator - that might be a fire risk..tumble drivers are most dangerous appliance in homes and need to be kept well ventilated - sticking it against a heat source isn’t going to keep it cool. Shout me down if wrong😱

but back to point: I’d jet clean the patio and quick paint walls of courtyard and get some pots in - it’s very drab and not doing the space justice

Bedrooms are on small side - but then at least bathroom is upstairs but I think could put some of 3-bed buyer off.

I actually think you may have branded it out a bit - the bare chimney breast in bedroom- whack a simple framed poster up or something..it all looks a bit boring.

parking? Is that an issue?

What’s around. Busy road, rough area ? :

otherwise it’s a solid typical Victorian layout and they do sell reliably and steadily - so I would think that overpricing is maybe your issue

Original poster

Helpmyhouse · 09/02/2023 19:24

Thank you everyone, I’ve read and taken on board every comment (as has DH!). EA will be back for new photos later in the week when the weather improves, so my list of ‘quick wins’ to do before then are:

Tidy front garden for a photo from the doorstep
Borrow some greenery from friends for the back yard and stage it a bit more - I’ll see if DH can give it another scrub if he has the time.
Take the desks out of the office temporarily and put a cot and small chest of drawers in there (luckily we have both we can use), plus a couple of plants.
Take the table cloth off the table and put the red plant from the kitchen on the table. Take bottles off the top of the book case.
More photos and better photos. I think each room needs 2 photos - one from the doorway, one facing the doorway. Most have been taken in the former but the rooms actually look better from the latter, I find sometimes the greyish window light facing the camera turns the rest of the room a bit silhouette-y and odd looking?

Things we can’t do much about - tumble dryer (but I think a better angle will blend it in), jet washing (neither time nor spare cash for this really) and more furnishings for the house.

All of the above, and drop by 10k to 310. What do we all think, is this a reasonable plan? I’m mindful of what PP said about getting it sold asap in the current climate, obviously it’s nice to ‘make something’ on a house but really our priority is getting moved, and frankly large gains on properties in a short space of time look to be a thing of the past!

OP posts:

oiltrader · 09/02/2023 19:27

GoodChat · 09/02/2023 15:43

It's only been 5 days. It's not the price.

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it always the price

Devonhousehunter · 09/02/2023 19:30

Sounds perfect OP! Good luck x

Auldandknackered · 09/02/2023 19:32

GoodChat · 09/02/2023 18:55

There are some batshit people on this thread. Fake ivy on a book shelf and a fruit bowl on the dining table are going to make it look staged - not like a home.

I think some folks watch property programs on tv and then try to spout it like experts when it’s clear they don’t understand it.

fake ivy, lavender, a fruit bowl , changing the table cloth, setting the table, adding some wine glasses, or displaying expensive toiletries, will not make it aspirational or staged. The idea is bonkers, that’s not what staging it is.

what staging is, is cleaning up the outside, making that back yard clean, power washing it and painting the peeling render, adding some furniture and large pot plants, hosing down and hoovering the fake grass at the front, marketing it right, no one wanting a three bed will buy that, but someone wanting a two bed will, as the third room is a little bonus, and, most important of all, getting the price right.

you can add all the lavender and wine glasses you want. It won’t change the fact it’s not a three bed, is over priced, and the outside is not good.

on a final note, what’s behind the little plastic book shelf in front of the fire place in the kids room? That looks like you’re trying to hide something, if you’re not. Move it.

Auldandknackered · 09/02/2023 19:33

Helpmyhouse · 09/02/2023 19:24

Thank you everyone, I’ve read and taken on board every comment (as has DH!). EA will be back for new photos later in the week when the weather improves, so my list of ‘quick wins’ to do before then are:

Tidy front garden for a photo from the doorstep
Borrow some greenery from friends for the back yard and stage it a bit more - I’ll see if DH can give it another scrub if he has the time.
Take the desks out of the office temporarily and put a cot and small chest of drawers in there (luckily we have both we can use), plus a couple of plants.
Take the table cloth off the table and put the red plant from the kitchen on the table. Take bottles off the top of the book case.
More photos and better photos. I think each room needs 2 photos - one from the doorway, one facing the doorway. Most have been taken in the former but the rooms actually look better from the latter, I find sometimes the greyish window light facing the camera turns the rest of the room a bit silhouette-y and odd looking?

Things we can’t do much about - tumble dryer (but I think a better angle will blend it in), jet washing (neither time nor spare cash for this really) and more furnishings for the house.

All of the above, and drop by 10k to 310. What do we all think, is this a reasonable plan? I’m mindful of what PP said about getting it sold asap in the current climate, obviously it’s nice to ‘make something’ on a house but really our priority is getting moved, and frankly large gains on properties in a short space of time look to be a thing of the past!

Sorry Cross posted and yes, sounds good.

you can buy a power washer for about 50 quid. If not then ask if you can borrow one.

JinglingSpringbells · 09/02/2023 19:38

@Helpmyhouse You're on the right lines with your update but what's odd is that when the house was last sold, (on Right Move) the tiny bedroom has a bed along the window, across the narrowest side of the room. How? It's only 160cm wide. Have you knocked any walls down, and made the small room smaller, as those old pics clearly show it was a 3-bed. I wondered if you had taken a bit off it to make the main bedroom bigger.

Or was/is that not your house? :)

Twiglets1 · 09/02/2023 19:40

I don’t think you need to take the desks out. Lots of people work from home so will like to see the room staged that way. I just think it should be described as a study/nursery.
Just do what you can to make it welcoming and uncluttered. It’s very early to be planning a price reduction. I wouldn’t rush to do that unless the EA tells you people are discounting it on price.

NellyBarney · 09/02/2023 19:41

5 days is not long at all. It's cold. The urge to move to Exmouth will grow stronger once beach weather sets in.

LibertyLily · 09/02/2023 19:49

JinglingSpringbells · 09/02/2023 19:38

@Helpmyhouse You're on the right lines with your update but what's odd is that when the house was last sold, (on Right Move) the tiny bedroom has a bed along the window, across the narrowest side of the room. How? It's only 160cm wide. Have you knocked any walls down, and made the small room smaller, as those old pics clearly show it was a 3-bed. I wondered if you had taken a bit off it to make the main bedroom bigger.

Or was/is that not your house? :)

Having looked at the window position in @Helpmyhouse link to their house as it is now and at the previous sold pics, imho the sold pic with the bed under the window looks more like bedroom 2.....

Sorry, not helpful!

NoMoneyForEducation · 09/02/2023 19:53

I would also do another quick/free win - which is to remove some of the stuff in the storage caddy just inside the bathroom. It is so jam packed with stuff it draws the eye and screams no storage.
Get a nice plant pot, a couple of nice rolled hand towels and or a posh toiletry bottle - make it posh hotel bathroom rather than toiletry aisle at tescos.

CharlotteRose90 · 09/02/2023 19:57

It’s the price, there’s houses in the area nearby for similar and they’ve got a proper garden and been done up more. You’re selling it as a potential family home and there’s nothing family about it . Your back yard needs a table and chairs, kids toys anything to make it seem that you enjoy spending time there even if you don’t. Everyone seems to think you have to sell an empty de cluttered house and you don’t. You live in that home and unless you have it like 24/7 why lie. Keep it a home till you sell.

shard5 · 09/02/2023 20:08

If it's always one or the other why is it not the same for all the bedrooms?
It raises questions and puts off families who are looking for 3 reasonable sized bedrooms

Greensleevevssnotnose · 09/02/2023 20:13

I think it looks lovely can you ask them to take off the affordable mortgage bit at the bottom? £1800 a month might be off putting to some. But you haven't had a weekend yet.

JessicaFletcherscrewnecksweater · 09/02/2023 20:16

It’s a shame all the fireplaces have gone.

Maireas · 09/02/2023 20:17

Some of these "staging" ideas are a waste of money.
Ignore them and focus on practical advice. Definitely lower the price rather than rolling towels or getting a fruit bowl 🙄

Wagsandclaws · 09/02/2023 20:31

If I was local I'd be worried about flooding.

Your location isn't far from the sea front and about 7 years ago ( I could be out by a year or two ) when we lived in Exeter myself and my husband went to Exmouth when there was a huge storm ( I like extreme weather ).

There was some sort of storm surge forecast from the sea and even though we were in a 4x4 we turned back and all done the side streets all the houses had sand bags.

A few were already flooded and the water was going back street by street.

It looks like you purchased in 2021 so wouldn't remember this but I do. And so might anyone else from the Devon area.

As for the house itself it's perfectly well presented. You do need new photos though as it looks drab and grey with the current ones.

JinglingSpringbells · 09/02/2023 20:50

LibertyLily · 09/02/2023 19:49

Having looked at the window position in @Helpmyhouse link to their house as it is now and at the previous sold pics, imho the sold pic with the bed under the window looks more like bedroom 2.....

Sorry, not helpful!

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But in the Sold pics there are 3 bedrooms as the decor is different.

Looking at the position of the windows from outside (the window is not central but there is space to each side) and the walls inside, it looks as if someone may have moved the wall on the main bedroom to make it bigger, at the expense of Bed 3. If so, a buyer could pull that wall down and make Bed 3 bigger.