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.

Can't see listing - looks like you've withdrawn it, but if your neighbours' houses are end terraces then bear in mind they will be worth more than your mid terrace. I wouldn't let a grate put you off increasing garden privacy & attractiveness - furniture can go over it, as could decking, and gravel / paving could go around. There are plenty of YouTube videos on doing this kind of work yourself so it need 't cost a fortune. It's a pain tho to go to this kind of trouble just to sell.

I saw your listing before you removed it @E2026. It's a pleasant if unremarkable house that someone could move straight into and add their own personality. I'd never buy a 'new build' type property, preferring something with character, but it would make a perfectly good starter home for someone who's happy with a more modern style of house.

The 'improvements' you've made in your five years of ownership undoubtedly make it more sellable (at the right price), but don't particularly add value imo.

I do disagree with posters who've commented that only extensions/increasing the number of bedrooms add value. We spent 80k (would have been higher but we DIYed almost everything except boiler and electrics) on mainly cosmetic alterations to our last house. So, we removed walls and rebuilt an existing extension but didn't increase the size/footprint/number of bedrooms at all. It increased in value by 230k in six years (eg, we sold for 230k more than we'd bought it for).

However, unless they are quality improvements, I can kind of see where those posters are coming from - our HMKOC in-frame kitchen sold the house imo, in the way basic flat pack units wouldn't. And ours wasn't an expensive house, but a two bed detached cottage.

Obviously the issues with the OP's access can't be changed, but prettifying the gardens, particularly the front would improve the approach and 'kerb appeal'. Speaking of which, I'm guessing your house cannot be seen from the street, or does Streetview drop you down in the wrong location?

Comparing to similar two beds in wildly different locations isn't helpful...I mean, near me there are some two bed terraces on the market between 625-795k - but this isn't the East Midlands! However, the price is definitely the issue here - 170k guide price (lose the 'guide price' OP...and that confusing reference to 18% at the end of the blurb!) seems unrealistic in the current difficult market. I'd drop the price to oiro 150k - we've usually found that asking any EAs we've spoken with for the 'price to sell quickly' does the trick, but it's too late for that now. However, my advice is one decent reduction now, rather than several small ones chasing the market down - that rarely works in my experience.

Its on a main road so cant be helped i guess thats why everyone uses the front. Ive never noticed that till you said 😂 fair enough

Yeah thats probably a good idea, thank you.

Ive kept it neutral because of exactly that it was a starter home and we knew we would move on. Yes u cant see it because its classed as on private road. Ill take your price advice in mind. Im gonna talk to my partner when hes off work tomorrow.

Thank you for everyones advice, ill have another read through tonight and have a talk with my partner about the price & any adjustments to make it more sellable when hes off work tomorrow.

That is a 40%+ increase over 5 years, when the average house price increase in the UK has been 20-25% over that time. You need to look at average increases in your area.

Which area was this please or were they thinking nationally?

Nooo - the listing link has been taken down and now I want to know what ‘picture15’ was of!!

It was of the communal driveway 😉

The problem is a lot of the things you have done don't add value to a lot of people. ie people prefer a kitchen, carpets, decorating of their own style. So no point thinking that they necessarily increase the value of the house.

The only thing that is really guaranteed to add value to all buyers is extra space. And even then space has to be added in a balanced way.

You also bought 5 years ago at the low point in interest rates. It's only after this that rates have started rising and peoples ability to service them has fallen.

One thing to remember is that although the value of your house is not as much as you hoped, the one you potentially will move to should be cheaper now than it was 5 years ago.

@GasPanic makes a good point.

Arguably it's better to sell in a bad market than a good one as long as you are trading up. Because whatever you "lose" with the house you are selling, you should gain on the new house if it's more expensive.

The house we bought 5 years ago has a main road running behind our back garden. In the EA blurb it said about the road noise alongside the good bits. We wouldn't have viewed some other properties and we know the EA blurb didn't mention any downsides to them. There were more issues for us that weren't mentioned at the other properties.

Make doubly sure any issues are in the blurb, so viewers have the full picture. Also, check the photos. Are all the rooms tidy and clean, no used towels/cloths pictured, dog/cat stuff out of the pictures, mats/cushions/bedcovers straight and clean? You also do not want photos taken from a phone. Proper camera photos taken by a proficient photographer are worth so much more. Change agent and get one that has sold similar properties in your area.