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

As the flag shows on Streetview it's safe to assume it's not a short term feature. There's another on a flagpole in garden round the corner too. This is not the flags on lampposts thing we see in so many places. This is neighbours making a choice. It would put me off the area.

OP it's a marmite house which doesn't have mass appeal. The downstairs does not give families the kitchen diner most want these days. Multiple posters have said it's overpriced. St Alban's is an expensive area and they're probably going to have to rethink their plans.

This is neighbours making a choice. It would put me off the area.

Me too @Needtosoundoffandbreathe

My parents were a mixed marriage from Northern Ireland in the 60s. As were one set of grandparents from the 30s.

I don’t do any flags of any flavour and any flags put me right off an area.

I was trying to think if I'd ever owned a flag - maybe the small ones that you put on sandcastles but I'm not sure about that. Dont think I was ever given one to wave as a child. Still the Union Flag is a symbol of the country I choose to live in. Being born here and having generations of ancestors here makes no difference - you are still choosing to live here. If I hated a country that badly I wouldnt choose to stay in it, I wouldnt be buying any property there.

Why would you assume that because I think there's a time and place for flags, that I hate the country? I don't. I'd feel the same if I lived in any other country in the world and people were flying flags for no reason.

Like I've said before, if you're at a sporting event representing your county, great. But I wouldn't choose to live in an area where people fly flags in their garden. And lots of other house buyers would agree.

@CrazyCatMam You are still making objections to a property because you have decided that flying the flag of the country you live in on your own land is objectionable. Your neighbours would probably prefer not to live near someone who obsesses over what someone else does on their own property.

Go tell that to someone from Northern Ireland.

I think a smart flag on a proper flag pole outside a tidy and presentable looking house can be ok, tatty flag hung the wrong way up from a street lamp would suggest a less desirable area.

I disagree. Houseproud racists are still racists.

The sad thing is it shouldn't be viewed as racist to display the St George flag in England. In lots of other countries you see flags flying on personal houses no problem.

But because certain factions have started using it, it is viewed that way.

I used to fly the flag on 23rd April yearly and have it up for a few days, but currently don't.

Flying the flag of St George or the Union flag is not a normal, patriotic act in England. Unless it's on a church, civic or government building or there's something like a sporting event taking place or a royal event, they're a sign of racist attitudes. Neither flag has been reclaimed by non-racists. It's not like the Swedes or Americans flying their country's flags.

What are your views on people with Palestinian flags in their windows/on their cars?

There’s a very smart jewellers near me that has a union flag flying outside, I’m sure it has no racist connotations. I don’t think flying the British flag automatically means racist.

Presumably a flag is fine outside a civic building or Buckingham Palace, and doesn’t look out of place at Hampton Court or Castle Howard. Could one get away with it on one’s country house? A villa in the country, probably not. But how many bedrooms and how much land are needed for it to become okay? It s certainly fine on yacht, which in some ways is just a floating park home. So I guess the question is what size property is it acceptable to fly a flag outside, and how small does one’s property have to be for it to become racist ;)

I've never seen that. Obviously a political statement though.

A royal warrant holder? Should be added to my list of public buildings.

You've never seen it? It's very common where I live.

Fab, hopefully one of those people who find the flag flying attractive will buy the house then! No joy so far.

Not where I live. No houses round here display a Palestinian flag.

Not where I am either.

Loads where I live, usually with "Free Palestine" written across it. In windows, not on flagpoles though, small flags on cars.