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

I would also say that a downstairs bathroom would be essential in OP property.

I agree. It’s a good job it’s got one.

I didn't even notice the flag on the photos. There's also this a few doors down. If I had £600k to buy a house I'd be looking elsewhere.

Oh dear.

I actually think people have been way too harsh about the decor, the furniture (it's not like it's included!), the layout etc.
When I was house-hunting in England, most of the houses seemed to be really poorly maintained, at least from the pictures, this one wins on that front. As it's in good condition, it would be perfectly liveable - no reason to rush in and rip out kitchens and bathrooms as a great emergency.

That said, it's hugely, hopelessly overpriced. No-one is going to buy it at that, especially given the current market conditions.

how harsh?The OP asked for input.

It seems like it's a very strong Conservative area, both MP and Council, however, Reform performed well after the Conservatives, and well ahead of the other parties.

That's kind of the point though.

It’s very expensive for what it is (looking at prices of similar sized bungalows in the area) so one might expect a very high spec.

I agree btw that the kitchen and bathroom are fine, I could for sure live with those.

But the issues around layout, head height in the upstairs bedrooms, bedrooms on two different floors, not being able to eat in the kitchen, it being neither family home nor retirement property – all of these are blocking a sale.

Someone will be prepared to make those compromises (though I am struggling to see where you could put the bed in the main bedroom so you didn't have to duck your head when you got up) but the price will have to be right. Clearly it isn't.

I agree with the furniture comment but so many people cannot see past it; taking out some of the soft toys, throws, extra chairs, books, won't sell the property but it might make it more appealing (and the effort and ££ is minimal compared to refitting the bathroom as some are, somewhat wildly, suggesting).

You’re spot on @clary

No need to spend a fortune. Present it differently so people can imagine their things in there and reduce the price. That’s if they are actually serious about moving.

I do take your point re. the head heights - it would be bloody awkward not to be able to sit up in bed!

But honestly I think even if they resolved the rest - grass and flowers in the front, new bathrooms and kitchen, smooth ceilings, and neutral paint and modern furniture throughout - they wouldn't get the money they're looking for.
I guess that's what's prompted some of the indignation - that the price is especially cheeky given the flaws?

I was just thinking of it from a personal perspective as we moved into a house in good condition with dated decor, and we're just kind of slowly making it to our taste, and that's been okay as there's nothing actually wrong with any of it, we just don't share tastes with the previous, older owners.

Yep, agreed.

Unfortunately their expectations are completely unrealistic. I guess it's easier to blame the estate agents etc rather than have a quick glance at comparable properties at Rightmove and see how outrageously overpriced they are.

Yeah, which will put off a lot of prospective buyers.

It would, and would definitely explain the flags.

All those who are so prissy about the national flag of the United Kingdom being flown - why do you even live in Britain? Are you Reform voters because that attitude encourages it?

And be attractive to many. I wouldn’t buy a house in an area covered in Palestinian flags, migrants welcome here posters in windows etc as I would assume all my neighbours were easily led, anti semitic , non critical thinkers.

My neighbour has Union Jack cushions and any royal occasion one goes in the window they are very Royalist so I guess that's why

Interesting how the right wing appear to have temporarily adopted the Jewish community isn't it.. Until we are next.

Wales isn’t represented by the Union Jack so I find it completely unrelateable and would raise an eyebrow if I saw it flying anywhere around here.

I find flagpoles a weird domestic ornament anyway. Reminds me of Mary Poppins!

Oh bless, in what way as they “temporarily adopted” is this because the Left have been called out for supporting the annihilation of Israel and all the screaming at their little marches. I noticed the rhetoric yesterday at the march full of people who last week were bleating “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the Intifada” are now trying to claim they are not the antisemitic ones because the rhetoric has changed and the people on these marches clearly will bleat whatever is on the barn wall this week.

Do these people assume everyone else is just as gullible as them and have no memory of what was their mantra last week. All you can do is laugh at them.

The only person who I know flies a flag occasionally. He is ex army and was involved in the Falklands conflict. He only flies the union flag on VE day and on 11th November. I can't argue with that.

There are lots of flags all over Lee-on-Solent and Fareham. Hampshire County Council have said that although they should have asked permission to tie them to lampposts, they'll only remove them if they are a safety hazard.

Oh how ironic that you laugh about others being 'non critical thinkers'.
You are quite right that you need to laugh!

Absolutely. I would have no problem with the right wing (or any other wing) standing up against anti semitism, which is utterly wrong, if they also stood up against all other forms of racism. Sadly, they are being selective for political reasons and often because of blatant racism.

They do. We've just done a bathroom (very small, shower only). Granted we put in a tall cupboard, square sink on top of a wall unit and the fairly expensive all in one shower wall coverings instead of tiles but honestly it was fitted by one man and it cost us £2.5k just for that.

Don't "Oh bless me". I am Jewish and I'm not left wing. I am not for one minute however sucked in by the bollocks that Reform are in any way even vaguely bothered about anti-semitism. We will be next on their list.

But going back to the point of the thread, clearly both the union jack and the english flag have been claimed by the fascists and displaying one will give a certain message. That will put off a large number of buyers.

I wouldn't view a house flying a union jack.

Why do I even live in Britain? Well I was born here as were my ancestors. It doesn't mean I want to see Union Jacks everywhere rammed down people's throats.

I can see why you'd fly a flag at the Olympics or during the World Cup, but other than those sorts of occasions, no.

Areas where flags are flown are usually areas of social deprivation. There'll always be exceptions, of course, but up and coming areas tend not to have flags, regardless of which country they represent.