How to attract more viewings on our property

[Elzebelz]

We put our house on the market in November and didn't get much views at all or they were a cross sell.
We went off the market and reduced our house and extra 25k and went back on market on boxing day to encourage more people genarally interested in our property to put a offer in. We have had more viewings but feel they are not in a proceeding position. We don't want to reduce again as we are below our middle average and wouldn't be able to proceed with our dream home if we did.
We were a 3 bed house converted into a 5 bed house and good sized bedrooms. We use one room as a home office. It's a lovely area and very popular for Halloween and Christmas spirit even Easter events.
So many people are so keen to come to the estate on Halloween, Easter and Christmas for all the displays and events that are run. They are close to primary schools and high schools with a little park near the back of our house.
I have attached the link for some advice on how to get more people through the door and get us sold! We have found our dream home a really don't want to lose it and are so desperate to move closer to our children's schools as I do not drive and the travel becomes to much some times.
I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/154682705
Would anyone help us get our house out there and help a mumma move.?

This is a good idea.

Or get rid of the ground floor loo and make it all open plan. That would be drastic but would definitely change the vibe.

The living room needs rug(s) to make it seem cosier. Kitchen needs some bright towels or accessories.

I'd take down the dated bedroom curtains and remove all wallpaper in bedrooms.

Bathrooms look nice.

Get rid of the desk in the lounge and add a focal point like one of those Duraflame heaters that look like a little woodstove.

I have read most of the thread but have to stop now so apologise if somebody has already said this.

If a builder/developer thought that the amount of downstairs space could work with five bedrooms then they would have built it that way. More money for them.

I don't think it's a huge issue how it's described, in terms of bedrooms. What matters is if the OP thinks she can achieve the price of a full five bed house, which will probably be very challenging.

It will work for someone, and she only needs to find one person. It's just more tricky than if she was in the range of three or four beds OR had the living space to go with five beds.

Living room/dining room/work area ... too much. I'd get rid of the computer and desk. Good luck x

Bright accessories is a terrible idea

I agree a cheerful warm rug and cushions in the living room would help. Generally because your neutrals are grey/white it feels quite cold in photos, so some colourful cushions on the beds and some colourful accessories in the kitchen would help and are all things you can take with you. Also some real and/or artificial plants will bring it up to date and give it some life. Other than that it looks lovely. There will be people who will be glad of the bedrooms for working from home perhaps or a blended family who maybe have some kids staying part-time. Good luck!

Good point about developers getting away with downstairs space. Even they don't skimp that much

I've commented a few times and we know really it's going to take an overhaul - really be easier to drop the price.
However thinking about it I do actually know a number of families living in 4 bed new builds that just have a small kitchen and one other room.downstairs. The trick is less small stuff and more useable pieces. The display cabinet needs to go. The too high up family pictures need to go. The tiny tables need to go and a nice long table needs to go in. Even if it's along a wall, if the house is spotless it says "useable" house.

@MaggieFS I'd like to say that bed is a super king bed not a double bed. With that sarky comment try looking at measurements before saying we don't have a grown up ass bed.
I didn't ask for rude comments and so far that's all I've got. I asked how I could get more viewings not judge my house and make us sound like children.
Also why the hell would I get rid of my child's toys? Do you not have children that play? My kids like playing role play.
We we extended we made the room so you can put a walk in wardrobe in with a window but we used it for our youngest instead.

All you’ve got is rude comments? tbh I don’t see many rude comments.

People have observed that what might be putting off buyers is the lack of reception space with that many bedrooms; and they have given you some ideas of how to present your house better.

Lots of people have said that it looks like a well-kept, attractive house, but that the pictures show a lot of stuff, which suggests a lack of storage space – which a lot of buyers might think is an issue.

So taking some fresh pictures with less clutter on show, fewer children's toys and a clear space to eat as a family might help.

I don't think people are saying you should get rid of the toys; just that the pictures would sell the house better if they were less busy.

I don’t understand why you’re asking for feedback if you’re then just going to get offended when people give it to you?
Everythjng people are saying is what your potential buyer’s will be thinking too, so isn’t it better to get this perspective so you can do something about it ?

Of course it’s no one’s business how you choose to live but you’re asking for help. I get it can be hard to hear criticism of the way you’ve chosen to decorate and set up your home, but I’d take the feedback on board if you’re serious about moving.

Although I still think you’re not going anywhere if you’re reliant on achieving close to asking price as I think that’s highly unlikely.

OP you have a lovely home. I think it is overpriced for an end of terrace in Worthing if I'm honest. I appreciate that you've extended & it's very nice and of course more valuable than a lot of 3 beds, but not as much as a standard 5 bed. All I can really suggest is dropping the price.

If you don't want to do that, I guess do more with staging, making your home for of a blank slate but that's hard with a family living in it.

Best of luck!

11'6 x 9'10 is a small main/adult bedroom OP. You know your house is small because of the way you have belongings crammed in all kinds of places. Posters aren't being rude, they're saying you're overpriced for a small 5 bed house. You're asking how to attract viewers - the main suggestion is to lower the price to that of a 3 bed. That's not being rude.

FWIW, we live in fairly bog standard 5 bed new build. We have five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large living room, a kitchen/dining/family room, another living room, downstairs loo and a utility room. This is kind of a standard wishlist for a 5 bed and yours doesn't offer that so buyers looking for 5 bedrooms are likely to discount yours without viewing it.

Also why the hell would I get rid of my child's toys? Do you not have children that play?

I don't think anyone is suggesting chucking them out. Just moving them for some pictures, and maybe moving a few out of the house for viewings if that's possible (if you have family nearby who'll have a couple of things in their garage or something).

We're selling at the moment and I moved things out of each room for the photos, and then just put them back in.

Yes we used to pile them up in our car for viewings! Then take them back out again after 😂

You need to rent a large storage unit and stage your house properly if you want to sell.

It's not a bad house, and you say the layout works for your family. But it isn't presented well as a family home for someone wanting to buy. The virtual tour shows every space if filled with storage or boxes or things.

I know it's hard to move house an forests yours as not having outgrown it with young children, been there and done just that, but we rented a large storage unit, put 1/3-1/2 our stuff in it, and lived minimally whilst selling. Your kids might well like role play, but once you move they can do this in the new house.

If even consider removing one of the sheds and storing its contents to make your garden look bigger.

At the moment looking at the tour, all I think is you've outgrown the house, & viewers will think the same.

No dining table unless things are moved and it's folded out, hoover lives in the hall, high chair in the living room, baby change and toys stuffed down the side of the sofa, everywhere there is extra storage furniture. Even looks like the kitchen door won't shut because of the fridge and bin position.

And that's with 5 bedrooms and 2 big sheds, you and your stuff doesn't fit. So why would a viewer think theirs would?

The master bedroom needs to have the bed with a bedside table either side and space to walk around.

Rent a storage unit, full it, stage your house, look on RM for inspiration, and take new photos.

11'6 x 9'10 is a small main/adult bedroom OP.

And in fact it's not that big – it's an L shape and the bulk of it is 11'6 x 8'2 by my maths, based on the measurements on the floorplan. Quite a squeeze for a super-king bed.

@Elzebelz I get it, I do. If you saw pictures of my house you could rightly say it was full of stuff and needed things doing to it. But yunno, I'm not trying to persuade someone to part with half a mill to buy it.

I understand that you feel defensive and that people are criticising your home; it must be hard. But just because the space works for you, you must see that that doesn't mean it will work for everyone; and a lot of ppl will be thinking what posters here have said. There's plenty of room for your family. Great. Except that you want to move. You need to make other families see how it will work for them.

Wow. I'm really glad I spent the time giving such detailed feedback. I'm sorry if you didn't like it, OP, and I certainly didn't meant to be rude. Unlike some, I tried to give constructive and actionable feedback. Clearly I've touched a nerve, which I assume means I'm close to the bone.

Regardless of how large or small the bed is, it doesn't look like it's accessible from both sides. That would 100% put me off, but as per my suggestions, I think you could actually rectify it, if you're open to the feedback you've sought.

And yes, I do have small children and they have a ton of stuff. Putting that to one side, imagine how a buyer will feel. Most people tend to be moving into bigger homes. You want someone to think your house is BIG and not small. Houses stuffed to the gunnels don't feel big.

@Elzebelz the thing is you need to sell and at the moment no one's biting that's in a position to bite so most of us are trying to advise on 'why' this might very well be- for your family it works fine but clearly given by feedback lots of young families wouldn't be interested for the reasons mentioned - we are all trying to help and offer constructive suggestions which basically revolve in maybe the fact you need to drastically reduce yours and children's stuff for a short while or look at using the space differently- you want to sell , so maybe might be good to take on board what others are suggesting -

I asked how I could get more viewings not judge my house and make us sound like children.

Reduce the price so that it's more in line with the original 3 bed. Declutter the kids toys as advised by most posters, move the computer desk into one of the bedrooms and take new photos in daylight.

It's very grey/bland and lacks personality

I haven’t read all the comments but I can tell immediately why you are struggling to sell this property.

You over extended it so it has 5 bedrooms but is still only the size of a 3 bed house downstairs so the balance is off. If you needed more bedrooms it would have been better to move at that point to a bigger, better proportioned house.

Then you put it in with a bad EA at a shit time of year. How can I tell the EA is bad? Some of the photos are showing the house at night and some in daytime. They should all be in daytime to maximise the light and a good EA would have pointed that out to you.

There aren’t many buyers looking for a house with 5 beds upstairs but a downstairs that would be small even for a family of 4. You will sell it if the price gets reduced enough but it won’t sell for the same price as houses designed to have 5 beds from the start as they will more downstairs space. I would look at what 3/4 bed houses are selling for on your estate & expect to get about the same. The loft extension will be a bonus for the buyer but you won’t necessarily get back all the money you put into building it as it has made your house rather niche.

This house has the same square footage and sold less than a year ago for £305,000.

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/england-133941899-93983367?s=257b25da5904d43e546850dfc26b4d4a4469e5ee9e19eaaa100b98af0e79882a

Sold six months ago, same square footage but better living space balance and only two floors which is better £337,500

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/england-136800044-21058354?s=a4bf006c143a6e4e395b01eafb392775c3b835262547865fb6ff2515dbab243c

Judging by this I'd say that yours is significantly overpriced unfortunately and that £350,000 is perhaps the maximum you should market your house at.

Any thoughts about what you might do OP?