What’s wrong with my house?

[Blueysothermother]

House been on the market since Easter, it’s in the catchment for the much sought after local grammar, well priced, was valued originally at £595,000. We had an offer for £575,750 which we accepted during the summer hols but then fell though due to reasons unrelated to the house. We need to relocate, so dropped the price, even though much larger than most houses in the surrounding streets and better parking. Estate agents can offer no constructive feedback that I can act upon. I get that it’s not all grey etc but it’s a period house and has a wealth of features intact. Any ideas?
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91344150

No grey is the most hated colour on mumsnet.

I don’t dislike the style, but even from the photos I can see poor quality. The walls are in bad condition in some rooms, the kitchen and bathroom are cheap, mismatched, and cheaply fitted. Colours or whatever I would get over as a buyer, but for the lack of bathroom facilities X bedrooms which means finding money to add on, plus the flimsy cheap looking flooring and fittings I’d be looking at the cost of the house like I’m buying a doer upper. If it’s structurally sound etc then great, it may not be one of those you see where they have to smash it to pieces, but this is not just about colours, it needs a load of expensive proper work.

4th bedroom through the third /study will put people off too

@Blueysothermother unfortunately I’d say people with kids would have been looking around the time you sold. Most people want to be in for September. So the timing is awkward.

Tbh , the decorated lots of times , looks like just painted and not much else .
You also have said it's a period house , so,why hasn't it got period radiators to reflect that if that's your vibe . I would expect that .

It looks a loved home OP, and I can see you have been happy there, which is a lovely thing.

I think though that where you feel you can depersonalise, that can help. People want to see how THEY could be happy there, and not everyone has much vision to see past other people's choices.

Yes this. If you want to keep the price as it is, you need to make your house look more appealing to more people as coat effectively as you can.

Buyers see hundreds of houses on rightmove, they discount options quickly for all number of reasons. Your job, if you want to sell, is to reduce the number of reasons someone would discount your house.

My DH works in property and would say this -

• Re-list it as a three bed.
• Tidy up the back door, the plants are overgrown over the door.
• No offence but it looks a bit grubby, I would white wash it all and change bed covers etc to neutral. I would look past all of that as a buyer but a lot of people won’t.
• If you are really struggling, put it fixed price.

edited to add I actually really like the house but it is a difficult market so you almost have to appeal to the masses and people can see features etc better if the general design is more neutral!

I'd buy white bedding for every room. New duvet covers and so on. Tidy the bedrooms.

Get rid of all the colours that clash and look untidy.

Paint the rooms that are blue and green.

Sort out the kitchen.

Get a basin for the loo if you can have it fitted and sort out the messing boxing in.

Remove half the wall art at least.

Windows- assume not double glazed and the paint work looks in poor condition.

For me it is the kitchen - screams "sdd cost of new kitchen" and the 4th bedroom situation.

I am not bothered about your decor because that will alter once your furniture is moved out (but tbh I like the individuality).

It al looks a bit make shift - the kitchen is a miss match, non integrated appliance visible, is it green or is it white? The lounge furniture and styling throughout looks like a very old person lives there, so that’s make me think everything need replacing or upgrading.

I like lots of things about it, but if you're asking what some people won't like, I'd say:
Bright blue and green rooms (tone down).
No garden(?) if it's a family home , most want more outside space.
You say the kitchen had been done, but it looks half done (fridge/freezer looks messy).
It's a tough market now though.

You’ve put it as 4 bedrooms when there’s only 3. People feel (no disrespect to you here) but lied to. Which is when they start thinking what else are hiding.
You maybe could get it updated to study room that could be used as a small bed room as long as a bed and wardrobe will fit in comfortably with room to get safely in and out of there If not then it’s only 3 bedrooms.

I love your decor so much!

People typically get something like 3 valuations from estate agents and then go with one do the higher ones. This leads estate agents having to over value to get the business and then encouraging sellers to drop their price. It’s a ridiculous process particularly in a struggling market.

Gradual price drops are a real turn off for buyers as it signals the property is or at least has been over priced.

The best tactic is to put on at a low price and encourage multiple bidders. That way you end up finding the true market price without putting any prospective buyers off. Unfortunately most sellers aren’t confident enough to do this.

This summarises the thread for me. You could spend £1500 to save yourself dropping the price £10k but you don’t sound willing. Your surfaces have been cleared but the overall look is too personal and overwhelming. When you’ve been in a house as long it’s easy to forget that when you originally moved it would have had blank walls. You’ve covered them. Less is more. But good luck. At any other time this house would have sold. I’d be tempted to take it off the market until February and try again then.

I don’t think the decor is neither here nor there really. Anyone can and I imagine will redecorate anyway to put their own stamp on it.

It has a bigger garden that yours, clear separation to the 4th bedroom
and knocked through downstairs to enlarge the kitchen. The footprint, both indoors and outdoors is more desirable. It needs renovation sure, but not to the tune of the price differential I’m afraid. I think your struggle is price related.

I am localish and I would say that it is the market - your house is too expensive for a speculative 2nd home to flip to get into the Watford Grammars (the only ones I see shifting are c. £450k) and not big enough for someone in those £450k homes trading up with the expectation of more space (for a garden and garage). Wait until after the budget and maybe depersonalise the space a bit (more neutral palate, less stuff) and try in Spring? Can you rent it?

Can you say why you need to relocate but there is no chain?

I agree with you about the very patterned and boldly coloured bedding, especially as it doesn't look new or fresh BUT I think grubby was a bit unfair.

Nothing looks grubby. The bedrooms don't have the colour palette of a White Company catalogue, but I don't think anything looks dirty. It is clean and tidy, just not my decor choices.

I think it's lovely and I would buy it. To sell I would repaint the blue walks. The colour is very strong. Other than that? I guess it always comes down to the price 😞

I love love love the blue room and the yellow one. For me it needs too much work just from photos alone so imagine in person it would increase the list. Having a room repainted professionally is about a £1000 these days and loads need repainting. Also it's a 4 bedroom house with only one bathroom would put me off. The kitchen is too old, not a fan of black bathrooms (always think dirt is hiding 😂) the back lean too looks on its last legs. Not enough clear photos showing all the rooms and garden fully.

I’ve just looked again at your floor plan - can you not turn the second reception room into a bedroom? Rather than have it stated as a second reception room?

Fair point. The sale of a house does not hinge on bed covers, although someone always mentions it!