Why is my in-laws' gorgeous house not selling?!

[irisetta]

What is wrong with this listing? Some back story - my in-laws have been desperate to sell up for a while to be nearer to us. They live near Portsmouth, we are in St Albans. They have a beautiful house! It's 5 minutes walk from the beach in Lee-on-Solent, it's right next to the High Street but super quiet. Huge back garden. Beautifully renovated home, when they bought it it hasn't been touched in at least 30 years. It looks immaculate. No it doesn't have the open plan kitchen diner, but what there is, is perfect.

For the first 7 months while they were listing the house, the estate agent was effing up the RightMove listing quite badly - they were only appearing for people looking for bungalows, when it is not a bungalow 🤦 I noticed this recently. 🙄 After pointing it out, it's since been amended to appear to anyone looking for a 3 bedroom detached property in Lee-on-Solent.

Anyway, now that it's appearing to everyone who might want it, AND they've reduced the price (too much, IMO), my mum-in-law is somehow still convinced that the lovely estate agent is now doing his level best for them - still no viewings after a couple of weeks. And they've only EVER had 3 viewings, ever since it was first listed those 7 months ago - none of which were even proceedable. Thoughts, lovely ladies of Mumsnet?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/173477669

It is a bungalow. Plenty of bungalows have two floors, but if the upper floor is within the roof space, it’s still a bungalow.

I read all the posts before looking at the listing and was prepared for the worst but honestly, the house looks like it could be great.

Absolutely agree that you need to

• sack the estate agents
• have a decent declutter
• take new photos (emphasise the back garden more!)
• juzz up the description. This is a solid house that new owners can put their own stamp on

I wouldn’t bother repainting yet, see how it goes first.

Re the bungalow/not bungalow debate. It’s a chalet bungalow. The roof lights in the bedroom will be off putting to people who think proper windows are important for the feel of a room. Don’t get defensive about it OP if people call it a bungalow. Just because it’s got stairs it doesn’t mean it’s exactly equivalent to a house.

I am actively looking at bungalows with my parents currently, who like yours, are hoping to move nearer to me. The agents would call this property a 'dormer bungalow' and it definitely should be coming up in the bungalow search. Fitting a stair lift is easy and not too expensive these days so older people are often looking for a bungalow that is mostly ground floor but has some element of upstairs they can use until the stairs become too much.

This would be perfect for my parents as mum doesn't want to sleep downstairs until she has to but appreciates that at some point she might have to so is looking for something with a ground floor bedroom and shower room to use when that time comes.

I think you are going wrong on two footings - firstly this must be in the bungalow search - if it it isn't you're missing most of your target audience. Generally people looking for houses don't filter down the Rightmove search - they keep their options open so would see it anyway. People looking for bungalows search with the bungalow filter on to keep out the 90% of houses that would flood the search otherwise.

Secondly is price. They bought for £370k in 2012 so are quite considerably overpriced currently for something that definitely needs some modernisation.

I actually don't mind the decor, my parents would certainly see past it. I do think that it is a bit 'busy' on the photographs and would benefit from decluttering a bit but other than that it is a lovely home, just overpriced and not being listed correctly.

It's always the price. Whilst it has two floors, half the top floor has the slant of the roof, so it's going to restrict space for placing furniture like wardrobes. It wouldn't put me off buying if I liked the rest of the property, but I would expect to pay less than if it were a standard house.

According to rightmove, there was a semi detached house in the same postcode which sold a couple of years ago for £550k (had similarly slightly dated decor). I would drop the listing price to £550k to see if it generates more interest.

Claiming it’s a beautiful house and expecting to double what they paid for it when they bought it is blinding your vision.

It’s a bungalow. Doesn’t matter what type, but it’s still a bungalow. Yet they’re pricing it against a proper 3 bed house.

Be realistic OP. It’s massively overpriced for what it is, and will need upgrading by whoever buys it.

Also, I looked at street view. The bungalow is overlooked on either side by two actual houses. That will put people off.

It’s definitely a bungalow it just has a floor built into the roof so to speak. I can’t remember what type of bungalow this is called. In fairness, we are a young (ish) family and I would absolutely consider a bungalow especially with a huge garden. They are very common abroad and I quite like them.

I agree with people about the photos. You say the garden is beautiful yet there isn’t much focus on it in the photos (unless I missed them). The garden should feature more. Agree estate agent is possibly the problem.

also agree it needs a lot of redecoration/renovating as it looks quite dated but it looks like it’s spacious and has a lot of potential

I can’t comment on the price as I don’t know the area.

OP I don't know if you're familiar with the term "chalet bungalow"? That's what this property is - a bungalow with a converted loft. Some people like them because they offer more bedrooms, others don't like them because the bedrooms have sloping ceilings.

Apart from lowering the price, I would ditch the conservatory sails, and try to stage the third bedroom a bit better by turning the sofa 90 degrees to have it against the far wall. That way it would show there is room for a double bed. Get rid of the books because they just highlight the low ceiling. Also is there any way to convert the eaves storage in bedroom 3 into a wardrobe? That's what I think this room is missing.

Downstairs the furniture seems to be positioned a bit oddly. I would try to define the living and dining areas more clearly. Get rid of the sofa behind the dining table, and the treadmill. Turn the dining table and move that desk upstairs into the alcove of bedroom 3. (It might increase appeal if you could set up one of the bedroom alcoves as a study). Move the sideboard closer to the dining table. Maybe consider positioning the sofas in a L shape and putting the tv in the corner to the right of the window.

I agree with you that it’s not a bungalow, as a wheelchair user a two story house is completely useless to me, despite the very spacious shower. I can’t work out if that is on the top or ground floor, mind you.

I don’t understand why you (and at least one PP) say this is a huge garden. For over three quarters of a million pounds I’d want several acres!

I don’t like the internal decor, especially the blue kitchen wall, but that would be easy to fix if the price took into account that it will cost money.

All in all it’s way, way too expensive for what it is.
I realise that different areas cost different amounts but my three bedroom bungalow with an A EPC rating and half an acre of garden was valued at £300k last year, so this seems wildly overpriced even for a pretty seaside town.

There is no rule that says bungalows can’t have loft conversations 🤦🏻‍♀️

The decor isn’t great. The sitting room, dining room and the 2 seater table in the kitchen let the house down. Presently, the furniture doesn’t match the colours.

I would change the blues for a more neural colour, remove the table from the kitchen, the bedroom rug in the dining room and the old fashion rug in the hallway, and then have the pictures re-taken.

Ok I have done some brief house price inflation analysis for property in that area.
They bought the challet bungalow in 2012 for £370k. The average property increase in that area from 2012 to today is around 60%. So that would suggest an asking price of about £590k would be in line with regional house price inflation. However - its probably not going to make that in the current climate. 2026 is shaping up to be a very difficult year for selling - average discounts to achieve a sale are increasing. I would say on that value of property they need to market at 575k to start getting interest and probably offers are going to be around the 550k mark. I would suggest that figure to go lower as the year progresses as inflation and borrowing costs continue to rise. If they really want to sell they need to adjust achievable price expectations quite quickly imo. At the moment nearly half of property listed for sale never actually sells due to overpricing. Buyer affordability has changed negatively and the market is in a process of an adjustment.

There isn't, but what has happened is 3 bedrooms on 1 level is now 3 bedrooms on two - bungalows are sought after by elderly and disabled buyers who want 1 level living without being in a flat.

To many this would be a two bedroom house with a posh loft, as it would never be used.

I suspect price range is about 550 it should be on for, especially considering the work it requires.

I also am surprised you’re so offended by it being a bungalow, being a bungalow is a positive, they normally have a larger foot print than other houses, although this one isn’t really into that category,

if I was looking I’d buy it as a two bed, the downstairs bedroom is difficult for families, but it does elderly people well and for a guest bedroom, those with young kids won’t want to be on different floors, I’d consider it two bed and knock the kitchen and downstairs bedroom into a large kitchen diner. Alternatively use it as an office /games room,

I think you all need to look at it objectively and look at the competition, the fact you all love it, appears to be clouding your ability to sell it rationally.

I think the house is lovely but suspect the owners were told a few years ago it was worth well over £600k and won't accept that house values have since gone down.
They want to move to St Alban's so will certainly need that much for their next house&stamp duty, but - assuming they are retired - won't want/be eligible for a mortgage.

I think you could be “ between demographics” regarding the buyers on the market. Too small and dated for a young family. And it might be that people looking for a home near the sea (more or less on one level) are retirement age and don’t want to undertake the cosmetic upgrade…. I downsized in my mid 60’s (5 years ago) and it has been an expensive long haul bringing my (beautifully located) new home into the 21st century.Thankfully I’m finished now. It’s hard to get tradesmen and building supplies have rocketed in price. I’m glad I did mine even when I did because the problems regarding tradesmen and costs continue to escalate. It also does seem expensive to me, but then I am in the north east.

First or second photo is that a union jack flying in the background....could this put people of?

I love the blue and white kitchen, and the use of colour. It's a bright and cheerful house, and no acres of that awful grey to paint over. It's a really nice property, and it will sell.
However, it's over priced for the current market, so if they want to move, they're going to have to take a lower offer.

@DeftWasp or doesn’t mean it’s not a bungalow & chalet/dormer bungalows are pretty common.

That's very expensive for the size of the house. And not particularly amazing.... You made it sound like it was going to be beautiful it's just a normal 3 bed house but unfortunately one that won't suit that many people due to odd layout. A family with children probably won't want a downstairs bedroom. A retired couple looking for a bungalow probably don't want 3 bedrooms 2 of which are upstairs.
Astro turf is awful and reduces the value of a house.
The decor is not great and the kitchen is small.

Its overpriced, £630k is a huge amount of money for a 3 bed!

Change living room & dining room curtains, remove brown chair, paint kitchen and pink wall in bedroom and get neutral bedding. Get rid of green throw in the other bedroom. Stage 3rd bedroom as an actual bedroom not bed shoved up against wall.

Tone the paint down
Get rid of that awful ceiling thing in the conservatory
Declutter
Change agent
Better photos/marketing
Lower price

Point is though, bungalows command extra money as they are sought after (low supply, high demand)

It looks like a bungalow from the outside, but is not internally.

That alas kills off most of the potential purchases who want a bungalow, and many who want a house don't want a chalet bungalow (don't want slanted ceilings etc..)

So its a bit more niche.

Over priced, crowded, bad photo angles, kitchen and bathrooms look dated and cost a fortune to replace, sunroom thing too hot and too cold depending on season, EPC D. And no one can afford to buy anymore due to interest rates.

I don’t know the area but 2 things I have noticed:
1- it’s not coming if I filter on bungalows and 3 bedrooms in PO13. Only if I leave out bungalows.
2- It feels very expensive for 3 beds/2 baths in PO13. As I said, I don’t know the area, so I don’t know how much of a premium the proximity to the beach and the bungalow come at - although it’s a dormer bungalow so no help to anyone wanting single storey living. But other 3 beds/2 baths in PO13 seem to be £350K-£420K.

The garden is stunning but I don’t think it’s a finished house at all - both the kitchen and bathroom are extremely dated/bland.

I actually think the fact it isn’t a bungalow is the problem - doesn’t appeal to older people, but it’s also not really a family house as the bedrooms all have restricted headroom so a lot of people will be dismissing it for that reason.