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 sounds like the reality is they can't really afford St Albans

If they paid 500k many years ago they likely overpaid significantly. Are they pricing this so that they can afford to live in St Albans? If so they need to recognise the price deferential...Portsmouth and St Albans are no way comparable. Are they prepared to move to a small 2 bed house or flat?

I am amazed you feel your in-laws have reduced too much. It’s a very dated three bedroom not-quite-bungalow / not-quite-detached house in a town where the average price for a detached property is £515k.

According to your in-laws (or estate agent) the value has increased 70% in fourteen years. Rightly or wrongly, people will think someone is taking the piss.

I note there’s a lovely four bed detached house selling round the corner from your in-laws house for £575k.

I think it’s a nice house at its bones but for 630k for a 3 bed I’d expect to move straight in with nothing to do 🤷🏻‍♀️ it would need completely redecorating (all very dated) and likely a new kitchen and bathroom from the pictures, this kind of stuff puts people off and the price needs to be dropped to reflect this I’d say

It says clearly on rightmove the last purchase price was 370 so there is no way the current asking price is correct for such a dated property

When I see the word bungalow, I think no upstairs. It does have an upstairs! Chalet bungalow is technically correct but it won't appeal to people looking to buy a bungalow, because the whole point of that is to do away with the upstairs.

I’m looking for a bungalow because I use a wheelchair and my partner has MS. If two story houses are bungalows now, how on earth do I search for a house on one level online?

The definition of a bungalow is a house on one level!

I’m not so sure on this. I sold in the SE in 2025. My house sold within days with multiple offers. Priced £10k above what zoopla suggested and similar houses on the same estate are selling for less.

Mine sold at a good price because it was move in ready. Decorated to a high standard (including flooring, woodwork, painting). New bathrooms, and titivated kitchen.

A well presented house (as in, recent decor trends and high finish) will sell quickly for a good price, compared to a tired dated house.

You might not understand OP but pretty much unanimously on here people understand that it’s a dormer bungalow.

It needs a lot of work and it’s got potential but that’ll cost money.

You seem very fond of it and are taking criticism badly but (most) people on here will be genuinely trying to help.

Flexible split level accommodation?

I’m not sure of the area so can’t comment on the price. The decor wouldn’t bother me as it can be changed. However artex ceilings and astro turf would put me off,. Also all the on street parking too. I think it’s quite a tricky house to sell as it doesn’t lend itself to family living particularly young families and some elderly people wouldn’t want the stairs.

I don't know why people are saying it needs a new kitchen and bathroom? They both look clean and well maintained? There's literally nothing wrong that I can spot with either of them. The bathroom suite looks modern and clean.

I came here to say it is a chalet bungalow, but I think you've realised that now!

Realistically the target market is either elderly people or a family with teenagers as the kids can have the upstairs, you won't get many families with younger kids wanting to be on different floors.

Contrary to some advice on here, I wouldn't spend money doing anything up inside the house - I would always prefer to buy somewhere with an old but serviceable kitchen that I can replace to my own choice over a brand new kitchen that isn't to my taste.

I might sort out the front garden/get rid of the astroturf as that creates a terrible first impression (and looking at the house from the front you would have no inkling the back garden is actually lovely). It's a shame they got rid of the rose beds, but if you are going low maintenance then make it a practical space - parking and bin storage are major priorities for a lot of people. Move some of the flower pots from the back garden to the front to cheer things up.

Better photos, includong a few of the back garden which is probably looking particularly pretty at the moment. Video tour. Perhaps a picture of the beach. Definitely a picture of a sea view if they have one from the first floor. And a hands on estate agent. I don't know whether there are any exp agents in Solent but they are often very good, they work as a self employed franchise so you have an experienced agent working for you rather than getting fobbed off to the trainees the minute the manager has signed you up which seems to be how a lot of the bigger firms work

OP it is a bungalow. Bungalows can have rooms in the roof space. The giveaway is that the upstairs rooms have sloping and not vertical walls.

Lots of people like bungalows; older people for instance, but they are going to be put off by the enormous garden. Also older people might not like the fact that two of the bedrooms are upstairs. In that sense, it’s going to be tricky to sell because the house and the garden are at odds.

Other people don’t like bungalows and would never view one (I’m in this camp). Sorry but I think they’re ugly.

People have explained this many times. It's a dormer or chalet bungalow. Basically a bungalow with a couple of bedrooms in the roof. Then people understand the limitations of sloping walls upstairs.

Chalet bungalow/Dormer bungalow

Defining Features of a Chalet Bungalow

1. Sloping Roofs: One of the most noticeable features of a chalet bungalow is its steep, sloping roof. This design element not only adds a visual appeal but is also practical, aiding in efficient drainage and providing additional headroom in the upper areas of the home.
2. Dormer Windows: Often, chalet bungalows include dormer windows that protrude from the roof. These windows not only enhance the external appearance but also bring in more natural light and can create additional usable space within the roof area, often used for bedrooms or storage.
3. Versatile Space: The interior of a chalet bungalow typically features a flexible layout. The ground floor usually houses the main living areas, such as the living room, kitchen, and sometimes bedrooms. The upper sections, beneath the sloping roof, can be used for additional bedrooms or as a loft space, offering versatility to homeowners.

www.belvoir.co.uk/guides/news/what-is-a-bungalow/#:~:text=A%20dormer%20bungalow%20is%20a,choice%20in%20various%20housing%20markets.

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That’s just your own personal view.

Doesn’t change that it’s a bungalow.

Funny how you accuse other posters of being defensive and the estate agent when you’re being super defensive to everyone here who is telling you it’s a BUNGALOW!

The front and back gardens are contradictory. Astroturf in the front for low maintenance and a back garden in the back that will appeal to anyone who likes gardening and is not easy maintenance.

Similarly the ‘is it or is it not a bungalow?’ question. It’s the worst of both, it looks like a (small) bungalow from the outside which is unappealing to many but it has stairs and rooms on two levels which means it won’t sell to anyone that wants to live on one level ie. Buyers that actually want a bungalow.

I agree with many previous comments so won’t repeat all of them just the main one. It’s overpriced, potential buyers don’t care that they want to move to a much more expensive area.

370k in 2012 would be equivalent to 500+ now with inflation, so I wonder if they mean that? It's often sensible to think about the value of things that way, but they do still need to realise there's no guarantee of getting back what you paid in real terms.

In my area that house would be classed as a bungalow - probably a dormer or chalet bungalow but its a bungalow. You have a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor, two dormer rooms and no loft space. You may not like that but its what everyone will see. The kitchen being a partial passageway may not be helping either.

If its a large plot with development potential in a premium coastal location then you may do better to market it as such (subject to planning). If its not an area which allows such plots to be developed then your best bet is to sit tight for a couple of years and see what happens to the market. If they really have to sell now, then try other agents (I agree the pictures are poor) and declutter but you may. need to revise price expectations.

Its a nice enough house. But very expensive for what it is.

I think it’s beautiful but VERY expensive!

And that is part of your in laws problem! It is neither one thing nor the other. It has all the negative associations of bungalows (many people find them visually unappealing, and they can suffer from poor layout), but it also has some rooms upstairs which will rule it out for the “typical” bungalow buyers.

was your DH stilL living at home when they bought it?

Is it not too expensive? I have a five bed detached on the Surrey Hampshire border that's worth £575,000 at the end of a dead end road and a long private drive

But what about the fact that it has an upstairs?! I'm confused! Am I wrong about what a bungalow means? Should we be marketing at people who are looking for a property all on one level, despite the fact that 2 of the bedrooms and a bathroom are up a flight of stairs?

OP - it IS a bungalow. A dormer bungalow. Look up the definition of the words. It is definitely NOT A HOUSE.

I agree with many PP’s that it is really cluttered. Way too much furniture everywhere, and the wall colours are too bold. They may have to reduce their expectations of a property in St Albans, as it does appear to be overpriced for the area.