Update - 5 viewers now. What to do next?

motherofstudents

I think your house looks lovely. Yes, the kitchen is small but the house is very well presented and has space to extend. I wouldn't change the door or do anything to the kitchen, just as others have said mention the ability to extend. I've sold houses with small kitchens. I think it is just that it is a difficult market, not that there is anything wrong with your house.

Lokolo

Where does the fridge freezer go?

To be honest though, I like that house, shame in my area the price would be double for it!

dander

Nice house.
Don't assume you have to reduce the price - the agent may have priced it to take the kitchen into account. Remember that what viewers say is the problem isn't neccessarily the whole truth - it's just easier to fob off an estate agent who's pressing for reasons with a "kitchen too small" comment rather than an "I saw another house that was a bit closer to my Nan's place which I quite like, but I'm not really sure..." kind of comment.

You don't say how long it's been to get those five viewings - I'd say that's crucial to gauging how it's going. Houses of that type and age almost always have pretty small kitchens unless they've been extended or knocked through - plenty of people still buy them and either live with it or adapt it to their own tastes.

westlondonbuyer

Your kitchen does look small for a family house. Is the dining area right next door? If it's just a question of knocking through, get a builder's quote and a sketch (ask a GCSE art student you know for some pocket money) so people can visualise it, and make sure the agent shows it to prospective buyers.

How well do you get on with the neighbours who have had theirs extended? You could ask them to lend you the architectural plans and have them displayed on the dining table so potential buyers could see the various options available to them if they, too, wanted a bigger space. IME people get excited about opportunities to add value because they've watched a lot of property TV. (They also inevitably underestimate the cost of building, which will work in your favour as the vendor!)

The fact that you've had five viewings suggest it's not the price that's a problem.

dander

Wow! I've just seen the price! I agree, I wish houses like that cost that much round my way!

ERICS_MUM

It's a lovely house, immaculately kept.

westlondonbuyer

I've just realised you don't have a floorplan on your Rightmove listing! Get one done ASAP - then people will be prepared for the size of the kitchen.

gingertips

westlondonbuyer wrote: »

Your kitchen does look small for a family house. Is the dining area right next door? If it's just a question of knocking through, get a builder's quote and a sketch (ask a GCSE art student you know for some pocket money) so people can visualise it, and make sure the agent shows it to prospective buyers.

How well do you get on with the neighbours who have had theirs extended? You could ask them to lend you the architectural plans and have them displayed on the dining table so potential buyers could see the various options available to them if they, too, wanted a bigger space. IME people get excited about opportunities to add value because they've watched a lot of property TV. (They also inevitably underestimate the cost of building, which will work in your favour as the vendor!)

The fact that you've had five viewings suggest it's not the price that's a problem.

Do not get quotes for any rework & do not show them to potential buyers...they will immediately see it as opportunity to take that off the asking price & the fact you are showing them is because you are happy to take lower offer than asking price. Stick to a script "price takes into account small kitchen, but theres precedence next door to extend both stories if you so wish"

I do agree with westlondonbuyer though about extension plans if you can get the neighbours to agree (are they obtainable from local planning office???). people love the possibility of being able to increase value of their home significantly forgetting that it costs time and money!

Doozergirl

smcqis wrote: »

the small kitchen was first thing i noticed on this house i seen on a previous thread before i seen this and i instantly decided the size of kitchen would put me off even viewing

I agree. I did see it before and I wondered where all the units were - I thought it was a corner of the kitchen until I saw a different view. The size of the kitchen is quite usual for the house, I think it is the lack of units and the fact that you have to clear such a space to allow through traffic to the door. People without imagination won't understand that they could block the door and pop some extra units in.

I would definitely block the door up if there is another route to outside. It can be replaced with a window and base units if you are worried about dark, otherwise continue the run to the wall. Without doubt. It's better than reducing the price as that size of kitchen isn't unusual in a traditional house like that. Putting the drier in might save money over buying another 600 unit.

But yes, I'd be put off by the lack of proper fridge/freezer space. I wouldn't notice the extra back door missing if I'd never known it was there - sod the cat flap, we need to eat!

dander

If you can get your hands on a tall fridge freezer (wouldn't even have to be a working one) you could just put it in front of the spare door without going to the expense of bricking it up.