why can't I sell my house?

Doozergirl

Grow Up. Even I gave a constructive opinion.

rach29

Just a couple of observations you might want to consider.

Your property isn't on Rightmove as far as I can see. This does seem to be the place most people look first. How about considering a new agent who advertises on Rightmove

The map may well be putting off people who don't know the area well as the first thing that stands out is the Sewage works (you know it's no longer in use but they don't) Rightmove use Streetmap which doesn't show the sewage works at all!

Showing so much of your house on the website (every room) means people will see everything and have no reason to come round to look, therefore, not leaving you the opportunity to 'sell' your house and all its' potential.

Just my tuppence worth

beanieandme

Poppycat wrote:

Our 2nd bedroom is purple, I like the colour myself including lilac, colours wouldnt put me off, although it would detract a bit as long as its easy to paint out.

The colour of that bedroom wasn't that bad I agree, and yes, how much is a pot of paint? My bedroom's Lavender and isn't lacking in sexual energy, lol.

Kitchen cabinets are dated.

Garden's tidy.

I'm bored.

lol.

beanieandme

It's only a semi after all.

HugoSP

brasso wrote:

............What I much prefer is to use the need to redecorate as a (tactfully expressed) reason for offering a lower offer than the sellers would like.

Brasso - that is exactly the point I and a load of others are trying to make.

Many people are put off by a house that is not well presented. You and I see it as an opportunity to offer less - much less in some circumstances.

Either way the things I listed detract from the OP being able to get top dollar for it.

One buyer sees an expensive badly presented house - the next sees an opportunity to bag something that is much better than it looks at a bargain price, and make an offer well below asking. Either way the vendor will not get what he wants.

UK007BullDog

That one bedroom looks very cramped with all that furniture in it.

The rooms are not that big everything looks cramped. The garden is not that big either. I like the large bedroom at the top with its own bathroom. However there is no storage space anywhere. I would only pay around £250k - £275k max for it.

You might want to sell to potentials looking the garage as a dining room. Maybe even apply for building regs to build on top of the garage to make the other rooms bigger? Then the next owner can build it up to their tastes.

What is around in your neighborhood up and down the street? Is it a nice place or have you got some rough people opposite because that would put me off totally.

All that car parking space is good as kids tend to live at home longer and need some place to park their wheels. Also kids can play there safely without having to go onto the street.

Maybe you should get rid of that Artex ceiling. I nearly got rid all of mine and it really makes a difference. Plus paint the walls a light shade of magnolia. It makes the rooms look bigger. Might be boring to you but you want to sell.

All in all its a nice average house. Nothing special.

Also its a quiet time now. The market will pick up again in Feb/March.

HugoSP

I've just thanked the OP, because he/she has been good enough to come back with views on what has been said here and update us on efforts made.

It is nice to see that in people who ask questions.

I agree that there are people who think they know it all on this forum - I know because I am one .

The fact of the matter is that the OP now has a huge cross section of views.

However I think the buzz word is saleability.

I personally didn't think the bedroom was that bad. I wouldn't have chosen a fitted bedroom in what appears to be from the piccy a fairly small master bedroom (I may be wrong but that was my first impression, and I could be a buyer) , but others may see it as fantastic storage space.

However, not everyone wants a fitted bedroom. I prefer the flexability of free standing furniture.

My guess is that a marketed house should be seen as something that is either what a buyer would want in main detail, or something that is correctly pitched to enable a buyer to put his or her own stamp on it. By pitched I mean location, size, facilities, space, overall condition and appearance.

Taking each of these by turn

Location. There is very little the OP can do apart from market the location the house is in.
Size - very little apart from add an extension
Facilities (bathroom, kitchen etc.) At this stage the OP really needs to maximise the appeal of the exsiting. Consider neutralising contrasting colours etc.
Space - this must be presented to its full potential
Overall condition. If the house is in a generally good state of repair - great! If not, leaks, plaster cracks etc need to be sorted.
Appearance - Does the house stand to attention when a buyer looks around it or is it slouching on the couch?

olly300

Interesting thread.

The thing I agree with all the previous posters is that you need to neutralise any bright wall colours i.e. the lounge where you have bright coloured furniture anyway. I had two friends' (a couple) who couldn't sell their flat for 6 months until they got out the cream paint to paint over orangey-red and purple walls in two different rooms. When they did their flat went above their asking price.

cuffie

Neutralise the walls, but please don't go overboard with too much else. Any clutter remove and store somewhere else..... you have done what you should have done - gone with the middle valuation from your EA. Spend too much on it, and you may as well reduce your asking price. It looks a nice house - and a lovely garden too. Housing market will pick up, so hang in there. We were going to replace bathroom, kitchen bits and bobs before we moved, but decided just to chuck out the junk, declutter and give the house a swish of paint. So glad we did coz the week after we moved out, our bathroom, ensuite and downstairs toilet were on the front lawn!! I would have been gutted if we had spent to much for someone else to come in and do what they want!

Romford is fine and like any areas, you get good and bad. Transport links are great and shopping areas have really gone up in the world.

(bet you wish you hadn't put in the link now OP!!).

Good luck and hang in there. But, if you are desperate to sell, reduce price - that's the only thing that will move it along quicker for you. Having said that, we had a 3 bed house near us go for £265k and our EA told us no 3 beds would go in our area for more than £250k because of the stamp duty.All 3 beds seemed to stay at that £250k mark except this one. Owner (who we know) got full-asking within 2 weeks.....so its just who walks through the door...if you are not in a rush, wait - see what happens. x

Mary_Hartnell

Hi frustrated houseseller,

We have bought and sold half a dozen houses over a 40 year working life at prices from 7K to 700K. I won't try and give you any tips on fashion, 'cos I think laminate floors, especially in flats, are the design crime of the naughties.

I don't want to depress you BUT:
1. The first house we bought in 1970/71 was in a rapidly rising market. It was the time the word "gazump" was invented. I remember stretching my lunch hour in S'end to sign up with estate agents, and getting the frustrating treatment of "how many bedrooms" from the receptionist, who was probably still living at home with her mum. In strode her boss after a successful liquid lunch. He took me aside and gave me a lecture about "house prices going up by leaps and bounds and grab a place while I could still afford one and remember the rule "NEVER BUY THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOUSE IN THE STREET - if you think your DIY is up to it, buy the cheapest. Very good advice as the house shot up from 7K to 12K over the next couple of years. Then prices faultered and we watched as our neighbours in the street struggled with reducing prices as realism set in. Some of them had their houses on the market for 18 months as they chipped at the price.
2. First time buyers (The IPOD generation) are having to wait til they are nearly 30 to buy their first house and interest rates have just gone up again.
WILL WE LOOK BACK AND SAY XMAS 2006 WAS THE PEAK OF THE MARKET, WHEN PEOPLE IN THE CITY GOT THOSE FABULOUS BONUSES ?

I devised a technique at that time that has worked well on a couple of sales: keep a eye on local paper/new boards going up in the street and then chat up the new vendor: most people are receptive to being asked for advice about selecting an agent and offers not to compete over potential purchasers. I've managed to avoid estate agent fees and had really swift exchanges by taking someone elses also ran buyer, when there has been competition for a similar house and of course the loosing buyer is ready to face up to a higher price.

I don't think you have explained in your thread where you are going and how long it will take ? But you might want to dive into a rental place, rather than loose a buyer ?

Turning to the location: The sewage works is really unfortunate - you shouldd find out what is to become of it and put put that on you details. (Ever been to the "Burnt Mills" area of Basildon ? Say no more.)

The factory estate, down hill backing onto the brook and the railway is well controlled from a traffic calming point of view, but that said you are stuck between the A12 and the 4 track railway. It is a varied area and I would think
it has a varied set of residents in terms of age and background ? Have you got any real treasures, preferably as neighbours on both sides. If you have, introduce them to the buyer. (I always check out the neighbours as a buyer)
I think a varied area is more interesting to live in - and a lot cheaper than Hutton Mount. Have all the details about schools, shops, pubs, etc etc at your finger tips. If I remember rightly there is a big Tesco just down the road towards Gallows Corner plus useful warehouses and a country park by turning right at that junction. It is NOT Romford (which has a certain image problem) but benefits from Romford's facilities.

Turning to the house itself. The master bedroom really ought to be the one in the roof, as someone else has pointed out. Especially if the access stairs are reasonably full sized. Is it possible to enjoy the view while in bed up there ?

The back garden is neat and tidy - you are leaving the shed ? It would be nice to own a bit more garden, who owns the trees at the bottom of the garden ? Do they need some extra money ? (A relative of mine has built a "garden room" actually more of a guest suite/office and though it is strictly against the rules, it could be used as a grannie flat, student let etc. and I'm sure the neighbours would not shop anyone, would they ? The property itself is too expensive for the Buy to Let market, I would think )

Jolly up the front garden with some sort of feature (and get it nicked ?)

Polish all the windows until you cannot see the glass.

Good luck

Mary

PS Let us know how you get on, if the new buyer agrees; after all we can check it out on nethouseprices !