Nobody wants to buy my house, boohoo!!

UsernameAlreadyExists

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Yes, that sums it up perfectly.


TV was the second thing I noticed, too - after the cushions!

I noticed the fireplace floating a good 20cm or so off the floor, and then wondered how you open the left hand side cupboard door under the bird cage as it has no handles and looks like it'd hit the skirting board.

The cushions really do need to be stashed behind the sofa for the next picture though :P

lessonlearned

I don't know the area so cannot comment with any authority on the price and only you know your bottom line.

However, from what you have said your price doesn't appear to stack up too well against the competition and this is always an issue. What is your competition, what are they up to, how do their houses look and compare against yours.

The standard three bed semi - with parking or a garage is always endlessly popular. Trouble is there are an awful lot of them and if you want to sell in the current market you need to stand head and shoulders above your competition. You need three things.

1. A realistic price.
2. A damned good marketing strategy
3. To present your property in it's best possible light.

Your property looks clean, freshly decorated and well maintained so no real issues there. A few tweaks here and there that other posters have mentioned.

The back garden could definitley do with a bit of TLC, especially the fences. Add some winter colour and a few evergreen shrubs planted against the fencing will also soften the look. It currently looks like a yard not a garden.

The photos are poor, lose the porch, hall and staircase photos and the one with the doors from the lounge to kitchen in the closed position and the third bedroom. It's a given that the third bedroom in this style of property is often little more than a box room, you don't need to dwell on it or draw attention to that fact.

Why Zoopla and not Rightmove. Why are you not using an EA. In today's market you are not likely to get very far without one. I know you were quoted a very high price, but how many EA's did you try. Did you try and negotiate a lower fee.

Often properties around the £100K mark are subject to a fixed fee rather than a percentage. The figure you say you were quoted sounds excessive. Was this for the whole package, ie sols fees etc as well.

Your house looks fine - it's definitely the marketing that's the problem and - I hate to say it - but probably your price does need a rethink.

WestonDave

For what its worth - I personally never look on Zoopla - some people will but pretty much anyone looking online starts with Rightmove. If you cut your potential viewers down then you also cut the number of potential offers.

Back garden - get rid of the dog/cat bowls and the dead plant arrangements on the bench, lose the clothes line prop, put the sub umbrella up, find a dry day (i.e. when the surfaces are dry) and retake the photo - preferably with the cover off the barbecue (if that's what's under the green sheet). Sell the experience of enjoying outdoor life in that garden. If you can run to borrowing a pressure washer to clean the slabs up a bit so much the better.

First picture - may just be me but the first thing that grabbed my eye was what looks like a lot of wonky tiles on next doors roof, which then draws your eye across to a few wonky looking ones on yours. Not going to help if others notice it as it looks like a job waiting to be done. Might just be an illusion or moss but somehow I'd be looking to get it looking better.

The cross trainer has been picked out but the other eye grabber is that grotty looking storage heater thing at the top of the stairs. Probably not worth getting rid of it now but it might be a reason to dump that photo altogether especially as radiators aren't obvious (if you read the blurb its clear there is gas CH) Not sure why it needs to be tehre so dump it.

moneyistooshorttomention

JimmytheWig

A case in point for your argument on missing whats there. I have been surprised to read comments about the old main area heater and wondering if there is central heating there. I instantly assumed "leftover from a previous set-up" on seeing that photo. Now wondering if I need to do anything more than just stating "gas central heating" in my general description and the word "radiator" in each and every room - just in case someone spots my "leftover from old set-up" Baxi Bermuda gas fire in the sitting room and manages to miss spotting every single one of the 7 radiators in the place:cool:. They wouldnt be able to miss that would they?:cool:

I take it as read that a place will have gas central heating as my starting point and then check the written details to see if my assumption is correct or no. Yep. Its there in the description of this house...both stating that the house has this and using the word "radiator" in the room descriptions. Should be crystal clear.

pmlindyloo

All good comments on how to improve presentation.

Just a couple of comments from me.

Most important, Housenetwork advertise on Rightmove (just checked their website) so you need to be asking why it isn't on there. (perhaps a reduction of their price for failure to do this?!!!)

Without a doubt this will be a major reason why you haven't had any viewings - everyone uses Rightmove.

Next, the price. Housenetwork, as far as I know do not do valuations. So, that begs the question - how did you value it? Did you get some high street estate agents round to view it?

Not too late to do so as Housenetwork have no restrictions as regards advertising elsewhere - not that you need to at the moment - can't see a problem with your asking for 3 valuations from different EAs - just tell them you are thinking of going with them.

motherofstudents

I think on the whole it looks well presented, the back garden as you say is letting it down but I don't think a few cushions will really put off a serious buyer. The only other thing that might put me off and I'm sorry to say it as there really isn't anything you can do, and that is the street view. Most of the houses look well looked after but there are a couple which to be honest look a mess. That would probably stop me from viewing.

Your kitchen is lovely and the house is nicely decorated so it might just be the time of year. A reduction to below £100k might just get you some viewings. I hope you manage to sell soon. I know how frustrating it can be.

yoyoegg

My gut reaction -

No floorplan
Who starts by looking on Zoopla? You have to be on Rightmove

Pic 1 - new fence is good, but panels need staining to tone down 'orange'. Avoid wheelie bins in pic
Pic 2 - feature wallpaper, eek!
Pic 4 - stripes, eek!
Pic 5 - what a grim mess! That fir tree looks awfully big - shade problems? Dog bowl = smelly carpets.
Pic 6 - smelly shoes!
Pic 7 - why?
Pic 10 - excercise bike on landing = no space in house!
Pic 11 - clutter
Pic 13 - BNP supporter?
Pic 14 - tiny, more boxroom than bedroom.
Pic 15 - same as 1

'Local Info' is a major, major downer - "...those with a recent mortgage are at risk of negative equity...in recent years the numbers claiming Job Seekers Allowance has increased, and continue to increase, significantly more than average...There are signs that some in this area are unhappy with their lot. They are twice as likely to say that they don't enjoy living in the area."

That's not selling it to me - location, location, location!

cazziej

Hi again, just reading through quickly as I am putting grandson to bed, so I will be back later to study all your comments. Wanted to quickly say that the property IS on Right Move - don't know why I picked Zoopla!!

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35890123.html?premiumA=true

There we go.

Once again thank you for all your valuable comments, and for taking the time to look.

C x

RenStar

OP, you're house is clean and tidy and should make an ideal first time buy for young couple/family. The kitchen is lovely and you have good size living space. We have a house similar to yours, our third bedroom is a little bigger but not by much and is just big enough for my youngest's cotbed, wardrobe and changing table. We sold ours within a week cos we priced it competitively. I don't know your area but generally, the harsh reality is that if a house isn't selling, the price is not right. Look at your price again if you really want to move. We accepted a little less than what we paid for it but we were unfortunate enough to buy 3 weeks before the market crashed back in 2007 . It's only money, you can't take it wit you and all that...

littlegreenbean_2

bluestarlight wrote: »

Is it on rightmove as well? When I looked for houses inManchester I only looked on there.

I agree - ALL my recent house searches at have been through 'Rightmove'...