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Original poster

What's wrong with my friends house?

332 replies

Moonflower12 · 09/08/2023 18:12

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134607254?utmcampaign=property-details&utmmcontent=buying&utmmedium=sharing&utmmsource=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

This is a friend's property. She has dropped the price but still not getting any interest. She has tracked the interest in the property using the Rightmove tracker.

The most interest has been when it's been on a Facebook period property page.

She had 4 EAs value the property and took the lowest valuation.

Is the Estate Agent being crap or is there another reason?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
PurpleBananaSmoothie · 09/08/2023 19:16

We’re in the process of moving at the minute and round here, the top level of housing isn’t shifting it’s the stuff in the middle - first time buyer houses and slightly bigger family homes. Although the market was quite good round here and has really stalled in the last few months.

It’s a lovely house but it’s very out of place on that street. I think someone wanting a period 5 bed isn’t probably going to be wanting to be on a street like that. I think that families looking for a bigger house won’t like the energy bills that would come with such a house.

It’s lovely but I think it’s the wrong time for her at the moment.

Original poster
Moonflower12 · 09/08/2023 19:16

@Rainbowsandrainclouds1
It does have off street parking. They park 3 cars (2xSUVs and a mini) on the 2 drives.

OP posts:
FadeAwayAndRadiate · 09/08/2023 19:19

@Moonflower12

Gorgeous house. I love it.

Problem is, it's not in a great area. Surely if this is your friend's house you MUST know the area...... And you MUST know it's quite rough.

If I was going to buy a big 6 bed detached (and spend £600,000!!!) I would not buy it smack bang in the middle of Wolverhampton in a busy built up area on a main road in a rough area.

There are parts of Staffordshire and Shropshire where you could buy something fairly similar for less, and in a much nicer area. Areas that are not in the middle of Wolverhampton, near a bunch of schools/colleges pubs, squash club, football stadium, car showrooms, takeaways, and a big rough estate. Whitmore Reans - 10 minutes walk - is NOT somewhere I would move near to. If you know this area, you MUST know why it's not selling.

Loafbeginsat60 · 09/08/2023 19:20

It's nice but it's a lot of money to have neighbours walls you can touch!

However it's a very big house on a not very nice street. That's probably the most off putting thing - scruffy houses and vans parked everywhere.

LindorDoubleChoc · 09/08/2023 19:20

I'm guessing there aren't many people looking for 6 bedroom properties in Wolverhampton. Also a £200,000 price uplift over the past two years is unrealistic. They can't have spent that much on it? Have they?

Busubaba · 09/08/2023 19:24

@SuperiorM
'Interesting, I’d have thought that would bring the price down as neutral is not in'

But people can then put their own colour on the walls when they move in.

I really hate the colours used in this house.

goingtotown · 09/08/2023 19:25

Beautiful house awful windows.

Original poster
Moonflower12 · 09/08/2023 19:26

@FadeAwayAndRadiate

It is my friends house. When we've been there-we've driven there and not really left the house and garden so don't really have an opinion on the area.

Most small cities (and some big ones) have ok areas not far from awful areas. This was true of Gloucester which is my only city knowledge!

OP posts:
FadeAwayAndRadiate · 09/08/2023 19:28

Yes @Moonflower12 of course some cities DO have some nice areas away from crime/rough areas. This is not one of these areas. I know the area. It's rough! Wouldn't live there if you paid me!

HouseHelpPlease2 · 09/08/2023 19:28

ActDottie · 09/08/2023 19:00

It’s not dated it just dressed sympathetically to the era of the house which is the best way.

OP the house is lovely I think it’s just the market atm nothing is selling fast and is generally reduced before selling round here atm. Your friend could lower the price and see if that gets it more interest.

Show quote history

I know, it's not dated at all! It's absolutely stunning.

Trees6 · 09/08/2023 19:29

I thought the agent had made a mistake with street view ….but from the comments, clearly not. A house like that belongs on a leafy, smart street but given that your friend can’t magically transport it to one, she may need to reduce the price further.

MelroseGrainger · 09/08/2023 19:30

I understand she’s had work done to it, but what you say she’s had done definitely doesn’t justify the massive price hike since 2018 if I’m honest. And there’s no way of telling from the listing what value has been added - so I’d be suspicious from the start. I also don’t think the area looks that great for the price. It pleasant enough, but I think most people wanting a “status” property like that want to be around other similar properties.

It ALWAYS comes down to price. If there’s not enough interest, then the price is too high.

It’s a beautiful house though! Looks a lovely home.

WolfFoxHare · 09/08/2023 19:30

I’ve only looked at the first photo but I’d have it in a heartbeat based on that! DH and I both WFH and we live in the southeast so we could probably sell up and afford that….

WolfFoxHare · 09/08/2023 19:32

Oh actually the first photo is the back view… I like the floor plan but I’m not as keen on the frontage. Is it a busy main road?

jlpth · 09/08/2023 19:32

It doesn't look to be anything to do with the house. It must be the area?

ArcticBells · 09/08/2023 19:32

It's lovely! I can't imagine why it's not selling unless there's a lot on the market at the moment

Original poster
Moonflower12 · 09/08/2023 19:33

@WolfFoxHare
Do it!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonflower12 · 09/08/2023 19:34

@WolfFoxHare
No it's a quietish street.

OP posts:
VeryWeirdBarbie · 09/08/2023 19:34

It's lovely, but every street has a maximum house.price and your friend's house exceeds it for that street by quite a bit. DH and I once viewed a big, beautiful old farmhouse with outbuildings that was really keenly priced for the type of house it was. But being new to the area we hadn't realised it was in the middle of a council estate where it cost about 4x what other houses did on the street. Although it was beautiful we didn't offer because we would have felt like we'd be viewed negatively by the neighbours as if we thought we were lord and lady of the manor or something. Your friend's house isn't that bad but still.

HundredMilesAnHour · 09/08/2023 19:35

LindorDoubleChoc · 09/08/2023 19:20

I'm guessing there aren't many people looking for 6 bedroom properties in Wolverhampton. Also a £200,000 price uplift over the past two years is unrealistic. They can't have spent that much on it? Have they?

I think the question isn't whether they have spent £200k on it but have they added value of £200k? The lack of market interest is saying they haven't. It's certainly a punchy increase and I suspect too much given the area etc.

WolfFoxHare · 09/08/2023 19:36

It is actually lovely, now I’ve browsed through. Seriously would be tempted if DS were in year 6…

onanotherday · 09/08/2023 19:38

Gorgeous house, I think some topiary and planting in the front would also help.

nex18 · 09/08/2023 19:39

It’s the area. It’s a lovely house, in a grotty area of a fairly rundown grotty city.

Bandyarsia · 09/08/2023 19:40

It’s an absolutely beautiful house.

Haretest · 09/08/2023 19:42

I think it's overpriced - when did she have it valued?

It's a lovely house but agree it's not a great area so expensive for that.

I also think it's dated inside - from kitchen to window dressings - which you need people to be able to see past.

I would also be put off by 5 bedrooms sharing one bathroom!