Yet another why isn't this house selling thread, comments please

abankerbutnotafatcat

Those who say you are really just buying some bricks on a plot of land are quite correct. However, some people have the imagination to see potential and/or the desire to redecorate immediately to get it their way. I am one of them. But others need to be shown how it 'could' look and/or don't want the hassle of redecorating if they can avoid it.

By assuming that you're dealing with the latter you widen your audience.

In a sellers' market it wouldn't be an issue but we're not in that market and if there is little interest then it may well be a good investment to get carpetright round (I think they discount for bulk buys if you get the same colour throughout - they're not having a good recession either) and the neutral paint out.

pimento

A new kitchen and bathroom (at the bare minimum) is required here, but the house is on the market for top dollar. If you're selling a "project", price it accordingly.

Tiddlywinks

shortchanged wrote: »

That just reiterates my point that most people just want everything on a plate. I just don't see why so many people can't see the potential of somewhere.

That is your opinion, based on your personality. You can't understand why some buyers are unimaginative - OK, but do accept it, as it is a fact.

Like it or not, in a slower market, houses are more likely to sell if they are well presented.

hazyjo

Going back to the car analogy (great one, btw!), selling a house that needs say a new kitchen, carpet, decorating - along with ripping out wardrobes, pine clad walls... well, IMO that's more like selling a car not just with the sweet wrappers, etc still inside, it's like selling it with painted murals over it, along with various parts that need replacing, with a few dents that need bashing out, or replacement panels.

In the case of a car, you'd expect a bargain if you were prepared to take that on - but the majority of people just wouldn't want to.

If people wouldn't bother taking on a car like that, what makes anyone think they'd take on a whole house?!

Most of us have busy lives, lots looking at that size house will have kids. We're not developers, investors, decorators, builders or tradesmen. There's just such a lot of updating to do in the house. I'd personally not take it on. It is a great house with potential, but that still rules out an awful lot of buyers. Just painting/decorating - fine. But there's a lot of work involved that you'd have to use tradesmen for (at least I would!).

At least Connells have bothered to include room dimensions! The other one has them on the floor plan, but they really should be in the description too.

Definitely swap the lounge and dining room round.

Good luck.

Jx

thegirlintheattic

People are likely to reduce offers if they think a house need modernisation. Your throwing money away presenting it as a project rather than a ready to move in job.

Some cheap paint, laminate floor, maybe some new cupboard doors, Ikea furniture and a little reorganisation and the house will have a lot more appeal.

Slinky

What gets me about all of this, is the seller is supposedly a builder. None of this should be rocket science to him, or difficult, or expensive to achieve.

Is it a case of the cobbler's kids having the worst shoes? He's spent so much time doing other people's houses he's done nothing in his own?

Doing a job which involves improving other people's homes, I'm astonished he's blind to what is blocking a sale of his own.

abankerbutnotafatcat

Slinky wrote: »

What gets me about all of this, is the seller is supposedly a builder. None of this should be rocket science to him, or difficult, or expensive to achieve.

Is it a case of the cobbler's kids having the worst shoes? He's spent so much time doing other people's houses he's done nothing in his own?

Doing a job which involves improving other people's homes, I'm astonished he's blind to what is blocking a sale of his own.

We have just bought off a builder. We got the property at a good price after others must have been put off by the amount of work that needs doing on it!! Nothing major, just lots of routine maintenance that had been neglected and made it look rather shabby.

Slinky

abankerbutnotafatcat wrote: »

We have just bought off a builder. We got the property at a good price after others must have been put off by the amount of work that needs doing on it!! Nothing major, just lots of routine maintenance that had been neglected and made it look rather shabby.

Presumably you won't be using the vendor to do the work on the house then :rotfl:

puddy

shortchanged wrote: »

Can I say though all these comments go to show how fickle people are about house buying. The bottom line is a house is a set of walls and a roof, and as long as it is structurally sound Bobs your uncle.

Why do people expect every house to be pristine inside? If there is an elderly couple in there who have been living in there for years it is hardly going to be state of the art, modern design.

Why can't people use their imagination and see the potential of a house? As long as you pay the appropriate price for a house, factoring in any renovation costs, what's wrong with that? Plus you can choose your own style anyway.

Many of these houses that have been 'neutralised' for a sale will probably still need some work to bring it to your own taste.

Yes I'll probably be shot down for these comments but I honestly don't see why people can't see the bigger picture most of the time as long as you pay the right price for a property, which OK in this example the house is probably overpriced considering the work that is needed.

wrong, its not about expecting a house to be pristine and magnolia, its about the seller understanding that if a house needs some work, or is presented in such a way that may result in someone thinking that it might need some work, then the price has to come down, its simple

this house is being marketed as being in tip top condition, but its not. people are happy to buy houses that need work at the right prices. when the price is right those sort of houses get snapped up quickly because its a given that you move in, in order to change it immediately to your own tastes, you cant justify that as much with a higher priced but higher spec property.

so this house would be very desirable if there was some honesty in the price expectation

Caveat_Mortgagor

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

People are likely to reduce offers if they think a house need modernisation. Your throwing money away presenting it as a project rather than a ready to move in job.

Some cheap paint, laminate floor, maybe some new cupboard doors, Ikea furniture and a little reorganisation and the house will have a lot more appeal.

Laminate flooring is the work of the devil. If someone wants the thick end of half a million quid then its going to need more than cheap ikea furniture and a paint job that looks like someones had an acid house party in a dulux factory