Honest opions please - my house and why it won't sell

Doozergirl

You know it was never worth asking the question "why won't my house sell?" when one of the replies is "i don't like the word imposing"

patchwork_cat

The comments below are entirely without prejudice!! To use a lawyers pat phrase.

You are over extended and the main downstairs room appears dark and over large. You need to define the areas downstairs. Without being disrespectful some parts of the house appear to belong to a family in their 40's and others are in their 60's.

The estate agent needs to earn their money, the photos are not good (they wouldn't put me off viewing, though)and the description appalling.

Make sure the EA sends people the best way to your house. What are your neighbors like - we viewed a house and were quite pleased (apart form the fact that the owners had obviously run out of money and things like the lino was badly fitted), but as we were leaving next door came out and almost knocked on the car door and marched around. She told us - oh the family are Italian and I am not sure how many people live there and they have BBQ's all the time. Don't think she wanted to sell!!

Nixer

What's wrong with "double fronted" in the description, given that it is a double fronted house (ok, you can see that from the photo)? I'd actually like a tickbox for "double fronted" in rightmove as I'm rather partial to them.

OP I like your house (and I am usually pretty picky), I think it's well presented and the rooms look a decent enough size but I've no idea about price as I don't know the area.

chocsessential

Your house looks very nice on the inside but is perhaps a bit dull on the outside. Could you add a bit of interest to the front of the house with some potted roses or shrubs, and maybe paint the low white wall a different colour like dark red?

shoppaholic_returns

I'm afraid it would be a comment on the decs for me, people have no imagination and the pics on rightmove can make someones mind up to view straight away.

Red seems to be a bit of a reoccuring theme, TBH its a bit passe now, I would paint out the red with something more neutral. Do away with the bright duvet covers and that dated wallpaper in the lounge. Keep it neutral and a nice blank canvas, if you feel you want a bit of colour stick to something classy, maybe a visit to Laura Ashley home for some colour inspiration. Its not all to my taste but proves very popular with homebuyers! Good luck

Jacey53

I like your house.

The decription on Rightmove would not attract me. Like others I would want to see it split into sections, with room sizes etc.

Floorplans are great - as long as they are clear.

Large garage - one car plus workbench/storage or two car size?

How much parking is available - my brother has three teenagers so they are restricted to a house that gives sufficent parking.

Garden - whats it like?

Bathroom - whats in there?

I like to see all this on the initial Rightmove page otherwise I move on to the next property.

snugglepet20

Loads of people have commented on the photos but some thoughts occur to me about things you cannot see. Firstly buyers in this price range will expect your house to be totally immaculate, it may already be (can't tell in photos!) but make sure you clean all the sockets, skirting boards, light switches and polish door handles, taps, tiles etc and shampoo the carpets. Fix anything broken or imperfect i.e doors that stick, cracks in plaster etc if necessary. Also do you have any pets or smokers, if so ban them to outside and remove odours. If you have dogs send them away during viewings and hide all evidence they exist (a lot of people hate dogs). Also air out the house and don't overdo the air freshener before viewings.

From the photos I would take the sticker off the washing machine, get rid of the mug tree etc on the sides and take a photo of the main part of the kitchen. Then rearrange the furniture in the reception areas to give less of a corridor effect with all the furniture around the sides. Also you don't seem to have many pictures on the walls or flowers in vases etc to suggest a 'lifestyle' to potential buyers and some flower containers would be nice for the patio and restain the fence. Also I would describe the kitchen as contemporary rather than refitted and the bedrooms as spacious rather than good.

Hope I am not too harsh, best of luck.

Batchy

just want to expand on this... recently brought my house

its was the right house, in the right area at the right price... never even saw the advert, and chipped em and it got accepted before it went to market.

it just has to tick someone elses box and if it does then it will sell... simples

hermum

I think that your house looks lovely. To me it has the right balance of personal posessions & a house that somebody could imagine having their own things in. I wouldn't want to buy a house where everything is cream, cold & soulless.
I would possibly have a couple of either wicker or reading chairs & plants in the conservatory, to make it more homely.
I think that the pictures have been taken from very odd angles & don't show off the house to it's best. Especially the kitchen and garden. Could the garden photo be taken from the other end of the garden so that you can see the length but also the back view of the house. I'm assuming that the free standing applinaces aren't included in the asking price, even if they are, most of us know what they look like but I would like to have a decent shot of the kitchen, work & sitting area, so that I could see that I could be cooking while chatting to someone.
I find the agents description rather tedious & they started to annoy me, the 'apostrophes' all over the place, I don't understand the use of them. I know that the UPV DOUBLE GLAZING is probably an important feature in a house but does it need to be in capitals in most of the rooms? At least the agent seems to find most of it splendid. I do think that the non splendid brochure is what's letting it down, not your house.
If I were looking for a house in that price baracket & area, I would like to take a look at it.
If you're getting viewings, could you do some print outs of the local area. Schools, leauge tables, if they're good. Local shops, amenities, sports centres, parks, nice walks. Nearest Brownies,Scout groups etc. For if people who are relocating view.
Good luck.