How can we sell when buyers keep raising the same issues?

[E2026]

We originally listed our 2-bed terraced property in September 2025. It is priced in line with other properties and we are located in the East Midlands it was put up for 180k. We were happy with the photos and not had any issues with the Estate Agent.

We had an offer November 2025 but our buyer pulled out last minute just before a completion date was set due to personal reasons.

We relisted the property April and have had 6 viewings in 4 weeks. Our house needed renovated when buying it 5 years ago and we did all the work straight away so we have had all new flooring , a new kitchen, replaced the boiler, new front door , a few bits done in the bathroom (but it is getting tired , it’s a 3 piece white suite though) it isn’t perfect but it’s a lot better then it was and looks relatively modern now.

When we originally had a buyer we had an offer accepted on a property and all the paperwork was completed the same as ours. The seller is happy to wait for us to find a new buyer but didn’t say how long for… we also wanted to move before September as we need to move our daughter schools.

the problem is a lot of our feedback is the same negative points and we don’t know what else to do know to sell again.

the same points are normally

• Access issues - to access our house u drive uphill to a shared drive way, there are 5 garages and 3 visitor parking spaces. The houses are located directly behind. It is not suitable if you have mobility issues.

• The gardens - back gardens to small , front has no privacy (all the neighbours use their front ones, but ours is just grass and pathed)

• The parking - because there are 3 visitor spaces it is tight to get your car into the garages but several neighbours do.

We don’t know what else to do at the point because these are things we can’t change. We bought the house because we could afford it at reduced price due to it needing work so these issues were okay to compromise on to get in the property ladder at the time. We have dropped the price now from 180k to 170-180 guide price. Any advice welcome because I don’t know what else to do at the point.

Post a link if you're brave OP

No you can't change the fundamentals of access/parking etc. I don't think anyone is expecting you to do this. They are merely stating why they won't buy the property. We used to own a property with a shared access point, and I'll be honest, it was one of the things when we moved, we refused to consider again. Who is responsible for the shared access point if it needs repairing???

Unfortunately as people have said, your only option is to lower the price, and hope the right buyer comes along, who is prepared to overlook the perceived negatives.

Yes this. I'd probably do whatever basic things can be done in the garden quickly, I bet there's something, but fundamentally it's a mismatch between expectation and what people are willing and able to pay.

170k for a two bed terrace with various offputting and unchangeable factors, in a quite cheap area of the country, for a house that cost 145k 5 years ago and has had no significant value added... is a lot.

170k for a two bed terrace with various offputting and unchangeable factors, in a quite cheap area of the country, for a house that cost 145k 5 years ago and has had no significant value added... is a lot.

£125k was what OP paid for it.

Prices have dropped around here over the past year - I see so many houses come on at 2021/22 prices, then drop over the next few months as they realise they're not going to make that top price they were quoted by the estate agent.

If you need to sell quickly you'll have to forget what you think it's worth, and lower the price until you find what it's actually worth to someone who is ready to buy and willing to overlook the things other viewers have disliked enough to walk away for.

If I were you I would cut my losses and drop the price. No one can blame you for chancing your arm with a higher price but I think house buyers are cautious at the moment.

Too expensive for a 2 bed in Carlton - tbh I think you’re being greedy wanting to go from £125k to £170-£180k in 5 years with fairly standard work done (the need for which was reflected in the cheap price you bought it for). Both gardens are also plain and the back messy; you could easily dress both of those better with some plants, a bbq / small furniture? They’d be the major drawback for me (though the front garden looks pretty private tbh and useable how people usually use back gardens?)

In which case it's just eejits.

Ice just listed something on FB with postcode and area and still had someone ask where is it.

You only have two choices, fix the issues or drop the price, if the issues are beyond your control it has to be reflected in the price or partially reflected if some of the issues can be fixed, parking spaces and garden size are non issues though as they are not going to change and have already been taken into account in the valuation, but buyers are always like this imo.

Why is it being marketed as a townhouse? Round here that means over at least three floors.

I wouldn’t view this because it’s a guide price and the nonsense at the end of the description about 18% plus VAT (?!) - I’d be concerned it’s some sort of modern auction or something.

I think you could plant some laurels in your front garden against the path to fend off the privacy issue.

It also says no chain but this thread talks about an onward purchase and your seller waiting for you? If there’s no chain, move into your new purchase and then there’s no rush with schools etc for you to sell this? If there is a chain, then you risk losing a buyer as I would immediately pull out if you said no chain but then tried to co ordinate my purchase with your purchase,

It is a nice house though.

2 beds in Carlton are going for 170-190k max. Average 180k. No one uses the back garden its to noisy and heavily sloped. We have tried to just keep it tidy.Theres a grate on the flat bit i could put a piece of furniture so it wouldnt sit flat & the rest it slopes down.

Having seen your listing, I'd put it on for £159,950 ono, and not accept any offer below £150k.

£170-£180k is far too ambitious, and smacks of a shit estate agent who was desperate for your business.

Apols, so even worse then really.

OP as you've now posted the link, I'd probably spend a few quid dressing the gardens a bit, just to take the edge off, but it does reinforce my view that is just too dear.

The outlook looking from the house into the front garden could be improved immeasurably by putting up a fence/planting a hedge where it joints the path - the garden would be more private AND it would obscure the unattractive garages. In the same photo, the falling down fence is a bit offputting too.

The house is very nicely presented though and I love the outlook to the rear - very private and green - good selling point.

Op you have a marmite house some people will love it some will hate it more so. You have to wait for the right person or drop the price. We had a terrace where the garden wasn’t attached to the house. Most people hated that to the point where I said to the agent I would not accept viewings unless you had asked them if the unattached garden wasn’t acceptable to them. Out of the blue one night we had a couple knock on door wanting to look round , they ended up buying it. So you either wait for your person or you drop the price.

It's nicely presented inside but the outside space really lets it down. I have a dog and the garden doesn't look remotely secure or safe for him with the mesh fencing.

We have replaced the fence panel since it was listed. Good idea about putting a panel for privacy might rope partner into sorting that lol

The renovations seems to have been mostly cosmetic although nicely done, I wouldn't be happy paying 45k more for them.

I think the no chain info is confusing if you are in a chain - could be off putting to interested buyers if they're unsure of what the truth is

I'd get the photo in the listing updated asap then.

The neighbours done the same and they have a dog no one uses them and its sloped so its hard to put a fence up. I did it purely to seperate the space but understand what your saying. Im gonna have a think about the garden situation.

The main issue is that you’re not seemingly willing to accept that the renovations you’ve done don’t matter. Unless you’re fundamentally changing the fabric of the house (I.e. an extension), you won’t add value to the house.

For example, my parents bought a 1 bed bungalow. They’ve done so much work to it now that it’s a three bed house, they did a loft conversion and then dormers, they’ve knocked down the garage and used that space to build an extension. Near on £200k of work in total, for about £150k added value.

Honestly, my dog could jump that from standing - it would be an immediate "no" for that reason alone - especially if it's sloped and it's not something I could easily fix when I moved in. It also means there's no privacy (I assume there's a neighbour on the other side?) which would rile him up every time he went out and saw neighbours in the garden.

Good point about dogs - more than one-third of households have a dog so by not showing that the garden (front or rear, preferably both) is secure for dogs, loses you one-third of the potential market.