Sellers - first impressions count

listerofsmeg_2

^ What a brilliant idea!

circuit

No offence meant. Have the laminate and chintz if you like it, I was just pointing out what we, as typical 29/30 year old FTBs think about when recalling properties after viewing (apart from the obvious). This doesn't determine whether you buy or not (we have settled on a real project house that has literally nothing in it), but it can taint the buyer's memory of your home. If I was selling at the moment, I would give this some thought. I know at least 6 other couples who are looking or have just bought, so this is not a wacky train of thought.

I'm not saying everyone has to keep their modern flocked wallpaper up for 5 years, but are you trying to stand out or blend in? One wall painted a different colour WILL make the house look contemporary and WILL get you noticed. If you want to stick with cream, trust me; there are a hundred and one houses in your postcode that will look exactly the same as yours, and no buyer will remember (or care) which is which.

I know I should harsh but I meant this post with good intent, I promise you. It is sometimes worth getting feedback from someone on the other side of the fence.

Doozergirl

I'm thinking if there is a shoe shaped hole in the front door, they aren't going to be baking vanilla pods in the oven for you. It would probably be fair to say that sort of person is beyond caring.

lovethymini

Interesting topic.

I wonder if I'm the only one who can see past the magnolia, dogs (unless they're on sale along with the house) and piles of laundry and assess what my money is really buying, namely the location, the structure and all the elements of a property that one can't change.

I've purchased four properties to date, and each one has been a tired, unloved shell.

What does put me off, and with the benefit of hindsight, are signs that a property has not been maintained.

It's all very well framing a sample of a snazzy wallpaper (yawn) what I'm looking at on a house viewing are things like small trees growing out of guttering, cracks in walls, creaking staircases, scruffy neighbouring houses, large trees too close to the house, or overhanging the driveway (learnt that one just recently, forever scraping birdpoo off the cars) and general feel about the road.

I could go on but I must get off the soapbox now

lana22

lovethymini wrote: »

Interesting topic.

I wonder if I'm the only one who can see past the magnolia, dogs (unless they're on sale along with the house) and piles of laundry and assess what my money is really buying, namely the location, the structure and all the elements of a property that one can't change.

I've purchased four properties to date, and each one has been a tired, unloved shell.

What does put me off, and with the benefit of hindsight, are signs that a property has not been maintained.

It's all very well framing a sample of a snazzy wallpaper (yawn) what I'm looking at on a house viewing are things like small trees growing out of guttering, cracks in walls, creaking staircases, scruffy neighbouring houses, large trees too close to the house, or overhanging the driveway (learnt that one just recently, forever scraping birdpoo off the cars) and general feel about the road.

I could go on but I must get off the soapbox now

As I've just bought by house and don't intend to sell it, it's not really relevant what potential buyers might think of it.
I did not care what the decor was, and was more interested in the things you state too. But I most certainly wouldn't be put off by magnolia.

Imp

circuit wrote: »

No offence meant. Have the laminate and chintz if you like it, I was just pointing out what we, as typical 29/30 year old FTBs think about when recalling properties after viewing (apart from the obvious). This doesn't determine whether you buy or not (we have settled on a real project house that has literally nothing in it), but it can taint the buyer's memory of your home. If I was selling at the moment, I would give this some thought. I know at least 6 other couples who are looking or have just bought, so this is not a wacky train of thought.

I'm not saying everyone has to keep their modern flocked wallpaper up for 5 years, but are you trying to stand out or blend in? One wall painted a different colour WILL make the house look contemporary and WILL get you noticed. If you want to stick with cream, trust me; there are a hundred and one houses in your postcode that will look exactly the same as yours, and no buyer will remember (or care) which is which.

I know I should harsh but I meant this post with good intent, I promise you. It is sometimes worth getting feedback from someone on the other side of the fence.

I've ended up buying something that hasn't been touched since the 1930's, with exception of the carpet and wall paper which is 70's. When we were looking, we could see past the decoration, but I honestly can't even remember the beige houses. I can remember the house where the child had written on the blackboard "This is my room, do not touch the desk, do not touch the bed, do not touch the cupboard." I can remember the house which I couldn't see the carpet for junk and they had stuffed rabbits heads on the walls, and we seriously considered that house but the vendor's wouldn't consider what we would pay for it. I can remember the house which was in the middle of refurbishment but had a stream running through the back garden. We put an offer on that knowing we were offering on a building site, but we were out bid.

The point is, if your buyers can't even remember your house, what chance have you got of selling it? What is it about your house makes it stand out as different?

domcastro

I think you're all to fussy - you've watched too many property programs. It doesn't matter what a house looks like as it will never be perfect to your taste

I've just bought - didn't care about the cracked bathroom window, false laminate vinyl in bathroom, sloping bedroom floor from 100 year old settlement. I don't like the carpets upstairs. 4 windows need replacing to UPV. Don't care that the downstairs floorboards have gaps between them. I have a rubbish front door. I don't like the wall colour. The blinds they left don't block out the morning sun. blah blah


God I LOVE this house. I am in house heaven

lana22

circuit wrote: »

No offence meant. Have the laminate and chintz if you like it, I was just pointing out what we, as typical 29/30 year old FTBs think about when recalling properties after viewing (apart from the obvious). This doesn't determine whether you buy or not (we have settled on a real project house that has literally nothing in it), but it can taint the buyer's memory of your home. If I was selling at the moment, I would give this some thought. I know at least 6 other couples who are looking or have just bought, so this is not a wacky train of thought.

I'm not saying everyone has to keep their modern flocked wallpaper up for 5 years, but are you trying to stand out or blend in? One wall painted a different colour WILL make the house look contemporary and WILL get you noticed. If you want to stick with cream, trust me; there are a hundred and one houses in your postcode that will look exactly the same as yours, and no buyer will remember (or care) which is which.

I know I should harsh but I meant this post with good intent, I promise you. It is sometimes worth getting feedback from someone on the other side of the fence.

Well, actually, I too was a first time buyer last year (early 20's), but I strongly disagree that one painted wall would sway me, or even be a good thing. Why would I want to spend ages undercoating someone else's taste in wallpaper/paint? It wouldn't put me off to have one wall painted but I certainly wouldn't see it as a selling point.

I also have no laminate, chintz, or magnolia in my house, so I am afraid you are on the wrong track here.

QTPie

One person's "boring beige house" is another person's clean, immaculate, calm haven... (you can guess what colour house I have! ).

It is all about accessories: if you have the right furniture and accessories, then beige (or "Buttermilk" in my case) is not boring. I have sort of an light "antique gold" (i.e. NOT yellow gold) carpeting through out (which was certainly not cheap). Yes, a beige house direct from a developer (with no furniture, curtains, accessories) can be bland.

Personally, I don't like laminate flooring (proper hardwood flooring in certain areas - like hallways and dining rooms - can be very attractive), but a lot of people do. There was a thread on here, a week or so ago, where the choice was between two identical houses - one had laminate and one had carpet: there are some HUGE laminate fans on here... So one person's "ick" is another person's heaven.

Anyway we have only had three viewings since being on the market:
- first person wanted to buy it, but wasn't in a position to buy.
- second couple offered, we accepted, sale proceeded, they attempted to gazunder, we refused to negotiate, sell fell through.
- third person offered (cash buyer), we accepted, sale proceeded, we hope to exchange this week.

So two acceptable offers out of three (and not three out of three merely because the other viewer decided it "wasn't the time to buy for her afterall) isn't bad going for a beige house! (I like my odds).

Smell I couldn't agree more! first thing I do, on the morning of a viewing, is throw all of the windows and doors open to get LOADS of fresh air throughout the house. I also use a room spray, but ensure it is neutral AND well aired out of the house (again with fresh air) before anyone gets here. I am a very smell sensitive person, so think it is important for others too.

Still, when looking at a house, you often have to look past the current owner's taste in furniture, accessories and decoration etc. Very few houses seem to be perfect (if they are you probably have to pay for that perfection). But, as a seller, I wouldn'y dream of showing my house in a less than perfect state: that (and my beige walls!) seems to work fairly well for me though!

QT

lincroft1710

Agree with lovethymini on this one, the 3 key words in house buying are not "decoration, decoration, decoration" but "location, location, location".