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Original poster

Please give me your opinion on my home

95 replies

jenniepanda · 25/02/2010 21:05

So, we've been on the market almost 3 years and are just considering taking it off as I can't bear the uncertainty anymore. However I just wondered if it was worth posting on here to ask opinions. We are using housenetwork really because both DH and I have such strong opinions that everyone looks on rightmove for houses. We have have 3195 hits on the website, but only 10 viewings and none since last september.

I know that a lot of people don't like having so many photos, but to be honest I'd rather the people that viewed knew that they already liked what they were viewing, rather than wasting my time.

So here it is my home

Honest opinions welcomed!

OP posts:

LIZS · 26/02/2010 18:56

Sorry I just think it looks a bit dull. Utility pic looks odd against the kitchen as they don't match, perhaps better off without. Other photos don't really flatter the room sizes. Are there similar new houses available ? 3 years is a long time and it may simply look stale - can you take it off for a few months and relaunch with a differnet agent ?

ruddynorah · 26/02/2010 19:34

this comes up when buyers click 'view similar properties'. that's what you're up against.

bamboo · 26/02/2010 19:53

All things being equal, if I were a buyer, I would prefer to go for a property that was being marketed by a conventional high street estate agent.

I know they work for the vendor but if they want the sale and their commission they are also pretty keen to negotiate on behalf of the buyer too IYKWIM.

audley · 26/02/2010 20:46

Haven't read all the comments, but for me the most alluring thing about your house are the floor plans - I always check them out first. If I like what I see the only thing photo's do is put me off because it's harder to imagine it as my home, rather than yours. Must say, the house looks fab from the floor plans...I would cut right back on pics and tell the agent you are thinking about using somewhere else to see if they can come up with some new impetous to sell for you.

Original poster

jenniepanda · 27/02/2010 16:34

OK - thanks everyone for their honest opinions . It seems that opinions are very varied about my taste of decor - some like the white, some don't, some think it's not homely and others that there are too many toys in the DCs rooms! I guess its a good job we're all different, but at the end of the day its just the bricks I need someone to buy!
I've done what I can with the pics on right move for now and will investigate a high street agent again and see what happens.
Thanks again.

OP posts:

londonone · 27/02/2010 17:47

It's overpriced. Only two properties in your street have ever sold for more and that was at the height of the market in 2007. Drop yout price and you will get some interest. If you had it on at 245 you were dreaming TBH. The highest price ever achieved in your street is 248 and that was in 2007, aside from that pretty much everything has sold for a fair bit less that you are asking for.

canella · 27/02/2010 18:10

i'm agreeing with londonone (and others!) - its overpriced! we are nearing completion on a 4 bed detached house in Wigan on a similar kind of estate and we ended up selling for £160,000 to cash buyers. It was on the market for a year and at the beginning of this we really thought we'd get £200,000 but we dropped in the end to £175,000 and accepted lower.

my first job (if i was you) would be to change the pic of the front - it looks like you're on the corner of a road which would instantly put me off - i'm sure its a quiet street in an estate but on the internet people wont know that instantly!

I think you're house looks nice in the photos - the fact that the walls are white really isnt the issue. Think part of the problem is that you're bedroom (with the lovely bed) is a normal size for these kind of houses but with all your furniture in it looks even smaller. Downstairs is a strange layout at the mo but it would give people scope to play about with the rooms.

good luck - hope it sells soon! the last year has been super stressful for us so think you've done well to cope for 3!

shockers · 27/02/2010 18:31

I agree with those who said it looks a bit stark and needs some softening textures adding. Rugs, window dressings etc.

tootootired · 27/02/2010 18:35

On first impression -

The photos are not great at all, dull, functional, badly framed. I would actually look at some estate agents and choose one with good photos. The interior ones should be well framed, wide angle lens, lights on, rooms the right balance of lived in but not cluttered. Show the main rooms (kitchen, main bedrooms, lounge) but not every single corner. The kitchen in particular is an opportunity missed, maybe it's just the angle but it doesn't look like anyone lives there! Get outdoor pictures taken of your house on a sparkling, sunny day with blue sky, so they show the house and garden but not the neighbouring ones as far as possible.

If you are in a quiet street/cul de sac near the canal, say that in the blurb. Why should someone buy your house and not the one just down the road? (Canal unlikely to flood btw, that's what locks are for).

The house looks pleasant enough but in a dull market there's nothing to make it stand out from a hundred others like it. So it needs to be cheap, beautiful, aggressively marketed or have something else to give it a boost.

missmoopy · 27/02/2010 18:40

Lovely house, but I agree a bit stark. Some flowers and plants would help it feel warmer and perhaps a rug on the living room floor as it looks a bit bare. Otherwise, i wish i was looking for a house in your area as its lovely.

solo · 27/02/2010 18:50

I like lots of photo's when looking online tbh. I wasinterested in a house once and there weren't enough. I wrote an email to the EA and told them! didn't get a reply though, so I didn't bother as I would've been moving 250 miles or so, so would want as much in the way of photo's as possible.

Nice house! very very tidy.

solo · 27/02/2010 18:54

Ruddynorah, that kitchen does not look 8'x8'4" No way! those pictures don't look anywhere near the sizes given!
OP's house looks smaller, but the sizes are way bigger.

QBEE · 27/02/2010 19:25

No garage is the only thing that would deter me with a four bed det. otherwise you have a lovely home Good Luck.

hmc · 28/02/2010 18:02

"It's overpriced. Only two properties in your street have ever sold for more and that was at the height of the market in 2007. Drop yout price and you will get some interest. If you had it on at 245 you were dreaming TBH. The highest price ever achieved in your street is 248 and that was in 2007, aside from that pretty much everything has sold for a fair bit less that you are asking for".

I think you need to retype that in capital letters londonone. Lou made a similar point. Understandably jenniep doesn't seem to be picking up on it...but I agree, it is the crux of the issue.

violethill · 28/02/2010 19:30

Have only skimmed the thread, but first impressions are that it's perfectly alright but probably the same as countless others - and there's the rub. It just isn't going to sell unless you make it particularly attractive in some way - and as it's a modern estate type house, the only way to make it stand out is to drop the price I reckon.

Sorry - probably not what you want to hear. But a lot of people just won't look at modern, so you have to target those who want a clean, functional family house at a competitive price.

Heated · 28/02/2010 20:30

Tis true, it's the price. Few people through the door mean they are quickly discounting the house as they can find something better for the money and the ppl who would be natural buyers are put off by the price and the pictures do it few favours, so a double whammy.

Only if the house looks spectacular inside with lots of expensive fittings and fixtures could you chance your arm a bit.

OP did you have EAs out to give you estimates? I'm wondering if you did but chose not to heed them because of the price you paid at? Would be worth doing getting 2 or 3 out to see if you are well-wide of the mark.

displayuntilbestbefore · 28/02/2010 22:21

I disagree that you should get more rugs etc in. Potential buyers need to be able to imagine their furniture and belongings in a house, and presenting it as you have done in a cleaner and simpler way is more likely to enable them to that rather than them getting distracted by your things.
As I mentioned before I would only present the child's room a bit differently (if you definitely want to include a photo of it, that is) by making it less obviously a child's room IYKWIM so that any buyer who doesn't have children can imagine it easily as a bedroom for an adult.

Don't include any photos on your internet ad or brochure that don't fully make the most of the room in question, pick the ones that make an impact and shout out quality, space and flexibility of living to appeal to the widest possible audience.

tootootired · 01/03/2010 12:50

I'm starting to wonder whether a high street agent would help here - one who will actually do their job that is. Someone who is hungry for commission is going to be talking up your house, ringing up his buyers, accompanying them on viewings with lots of positive encouragement - actually "selling" the property rather than just "advertising" it. I know the fees are painful but if they can get you a better price/quicker sale then aren't they worth it. Again it's about standing out from the crowd.

And also as said already they can advise on the asking price.

Is it sunny today where you are? Go out and take a few pictures!

claricebeansmum · 01/03/2010 12:54

Looking on the map - I would assume noise from M61. I think your price needs to reflect this.

mumoverseas · 01/03/2010 13:03

OMG! HOW MUCH?
Where our house is (down south) there are very similar houses which are going for around 400k!
We are working abroad at the moment but my DH's company actually has offices really close to Chorley (he used to work there) so if he were to transfer there we could buy so much more for our money!
Our house is quite similar but with a loft converstion making it a 5 bed and it is worth around 425 to 450!

Back to your question, I think it is a lovely house, pictures are nice but garden does look a little small. Are there many other properties on the market that are similar?

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