Honest opinions on this listening

[Whytoday23]

House up for sale for a couple of weeks but only one viewing. The feedback was that kitchen is in the small side (fair comment, but potential for extension is there) and the fact that a nearby property is for sale at 650k (note that the said house is a 3 bed as it doesn't have a proper loft conversion). Is it simply the time of year or price. Note that the house had full rewire, every wall replastered, plumbing/new boiler/ heating system, a wood burner added and a garage conversion downstairs. Front and back garden with the potential for a double story extension (if more space is needed) as well as a lift conversion. So more value can be added over time.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/142007819

For me it’s the paint. I’d need to spend a fortune painting. Covering the colour will take a lot of time. That’s ok if I was buying a project but your house really isn’t that. I’d honestly look at a huge declutter and getting rid of the dark paint. Particularly the bedroom ceiling.

The decor is fine. Not my taste, but I painted everywhere white.

I tried different colours but they weren't me. At least there's no grey anywhere.

I disagree with all of this! Which is why there's no point trying to decorate to anyone else's taste.

I find the dark colours relaxing and the care taken over the decor is really clear. Neutral walls of any kind (white/beige/magnolia etc) make me feel the owner never cared enough to puck a proper colour so may not have maintained the whole place as well.

Everyone has different taste but calling it horrific is hilariously OTT.

I’d need to spend a fortune painting

Where are you buying your paint from?!

Yeah.
I went with lower valuation-offers over and ended up over the top valuation in bidding war this year. The house was worth that, it got people in for viewings

Totally agree.

It’s clear that you’ve put a lot of time and attention into decorating and I’d ignore the previous message.

I think that location is always a tricky one because you’re not close enough to Tombridge or Hildenborough to walk so you might miss the commuter belt buyers who’d rather not pay additional costs for station parking.

I’d put it back on in the spring.

It’s a gorgeous hose OP, I love the decor! I just think the problem with having the 4th bedroom downstairs is that it takes away living space, we’re looking for a four bedroom house with the assumption they’ll all be upstairs so the living space downstairs will correlate - does that make sense?
We’ve been to look at houses where the 4th bedroom is a loft conversion and it nearly always means that the living space downstairs is that of a three bed house.

Can you afford to take it off the market now and relist in the spring? It’s a terrible time for house buying/selling but things always pick up after Christmas with families falling out and people realising the need more space/ New Year’s resolutions to achieve then again further in spring. I would avoid leaving jt on the market all that time as you risk people low balling you assuming something is wrong

Thank you all. Yes, I think taking it off the market now is probably the best thing and then rethinking the strategy next year. Thanks all!

I think it's a lovely house and garden. I love it.
My immediate thought is for £675,000 I'd want more for my money. I'd want two bathrooms upstairs (one en-suite perhaps) and I'd want a fourth bedroom upstairs. I can't see that fourth bedroom downstairs as an actual bedroom, only a study or maybe a snug type room for children. I'd see your house as a three bedroom house with one bathroom and therefore I wouldn't pay £675,000 for it.

What devalues it for me is the dated windows, no en suite and downstairs bedroom.

I'd have extended the downstairs cloakroom into the 4th bedroom to make an en suite and I'd market the small upstairs bedroom as a study.

I'd also paint the bedroom ceiling white as the dark colour is overwhelming.

I reduced my house for Boxing Day last year and did get interest in January, so I think it's worth considering. I'm not that far from you and had to take a whopping price cut to finally sell in June. It paid off because I was able to negotiate a huge discount on my purchase so it balanced out. The market was just as bad a year ago and it was the reduction in price that finally sold it. Good luck.

I agree as someone who needs a 4 bed house that is not a 4 bed house to me.

Its a 3 bed with 2 reception rooms, which is massively common round here but in no way equals 4 bed.

@Whytoday23 you sound lovely OP and you don't have to explain- it is what it is.

I would do exactly as you say and maybe look at marketing as a 3 bed plus bonus downstairs office/playroom/guest room - and lower the price accordingly. That way you will catch people looking at 3 bedders but who will think it's spacious, rather than 4 bedder viewers who think it's a bit too tight on bedrooms - you've made a lovely job-

Also the paint WILL put people off.

I don't hate dark myself (I'm a maximalist too and love dark furniture... also your leopard chairs are great) but it will be a MASSIVE pain to paint over something that dark and most people won't want that dark.

While I hate white and grey they are at least very easy to paint over so a 'blank' wall. Unlike very dark colours or wallpaper where you instantly know this is gonna be a PITA to change.

I absolutely love your house, the colour scheme is right up my street, bloody gorgeous, I cannot abide neutral decor!! Your furniture is very similar to mine, I’ve also made a coffee table from an old trunk.

I live in North Derbyshire and my neighbour put their house on the market in September, so far just one viewing and nowhere nearly as chic as yours. The housing market around here has really slowed down. There’s a certain road close to me and whenever a house comes up for sale they are snapped up. There’s now one that’s been for sale for several months and it’s beautifully appointed, the market has changed and slowed down, plus Xmas is nearly upon us, that doesn’t help either.

Also, could I be cheeky and ask for the colour and make of your lounge paint, it’s simply stunning!!

p.s the garden is beautiful as well 🤗

Op, yes there is a min size but obviously it’s for new builds, as you can’t retro apply. 😄

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/does-the-law-set-a-minimum-bedroom-size-in-england/

What is wrong with people that they can't see past stuff ?!

My house is similar and we have just sold . It's the house they are buying not my stuff .

It took us 4 months and 3 price drops to sell so I would expect much until at least January tbh !

Simple changes;

Declutter
Jet wash the driveway and add some pots
Turn off the blue lighting in the kitchen
New photos of the bathroom, as it looks tiny!

Honestly, I'm constantly amazed that the surface decor of a house makes people decide not to view it. I don't consider myself a particularly imaginative person but it's not hard to see a room and think, "this is a good size and lay out, just needs to be a different colour."

I think ultimately, pricing is the key factor. If your house is priced too high, it won't get viewings. Simple as that.

The house is presented beautifully what a garden too. There isnt too much stuff, its a proper home.
I think its the price and mortgages tbh.

Its a nice house. Don't know the area but it's a tough time selling for everyone at the moment. You bought in 2022 though...I would wonder y you are moving so quickly. Only thing I can think of.

We like your rug in the living room. Where is it from pls?

Thanks @Frasers for sharing the min size requirements. We are not far off at 6.44 m2 (new limit for a single bed in a new build is 6.51m2).

It is beautiful. The style wouldn't work for me to live with, but it looks well cared for and that's a good thing. There is a lot of stuff though, I'm in two minds as to whether that's bad or not because the overall looks works.

I agree with pp that people who want a conventional four bed won't be your target, but by listing as a four bed, you're missing out on anyone who wants three plus a home office, gym, whatever.

Also, much as it is immaculate, you have dark walls and lights on in the photos. As said, it looks lovely but I know I couldn't live with it, so I'd have to factor in redecoration.

Don't lose heart though, it's not the best time of year, and you only need to find one buyer for whim it works!

the 3rd bedroom upstairs is a perfectly decent size for a child teenager with single bed calling it a half bedroom is rude it is bigger than a box room ( which means a single bed just fits but nothing else)

um, that’s not what a box room is, it is a small room to store things. A no room is not classed as a bedroom officially.

Due to the size of the ops, it’s just under the size of a full bedroom, but she can call it a bedroom,. The official ruling when the Dwp went to court is that below 70 sq metres it can be used as a bedroom for a child under 10 for social housing, new builds are not permitted to build rooms at that size and call it a bedroom.

it’s really moot though, she can call it a bedroom, but very few people would wish to use it as such other than for a child, unless they had no other option . And kids don’t stay kids for long.

not 70 sq metres that's a small house size;

it is 6.51m for a child over 10 her room is about 70cm² smaller about the size of a smart phone