Selling our house - parking

hwalkerh

We have our house on the market. We have had about 10 viewings. Most people love the house, some people even have said that specifically want to tell me what a lovely house it is, even though the estate agent shows them around. I think that the price is reasonable for a house to move straight into, not even any touching up required.

However the same issue keeps arising (one we had expected) - Parking!
We don't have a drive and we don't have a road outside our house. Basically we have a nice little green outside the house. There is parking up on the road 3 doors up or we rent a garage that is about 20m away but it seems to be putting people off. I did expect people to be put off a bit but even us being car people it didn't bother us and I like the fact that no one parks outside the house. I get the impression we would have sold a few times over if it wasn't for parking.

Do you think it is just a matter of waiting for someone that parking doesn't bother? or is parking really going to mean we have to drop the price?

moneyistooshorttomention

Does depend a bit on the buyer.

I'm not a car-owner myself and, even if I were, wouldn't think it unreasonable to have the garage 20metres away. I would only personally be concerned about having the garage right by the house if the house wouldn't have enough storage space for me without it (being someone who intends to use her garage - once I get one - for storage space).

As a non car-owner, I'd be absolutely fine about not having carparking near me and like the look of a green in front and be positively delighted that the house was considered less desirable by many other buyers. I wouldn't expect the price dropped at all because of lack of parking - I would just count myself lucky to get less competition for the house.

shop-to-drop

It would definitely be a no go for me. I want to park as close to my door as possible since it's me that has to carry all the supermarket bags into the house.

pimento

Where do your visitors park?

Bella73

Sorry but we discounted loads of houses over parking. We need two spaces and the place we are buying has that so yes it does put some people off.

Annisele

Partly it depends on where you are.

If you're in London and a five-minute walk from a tube station, it matters less than if you're somewhere with little to no public transport.

Possibly people are concerned that the garage you rent won't be available to them? Or that it'll only be available on a short term basis, with the landlord of the garage able to bump up the prices at his whim? Is there anything you can do to alleviate those concerns?

Jenny.W

I would discount it as we want to park at our house , however there are people who don't drive and it would suit them. It's just waiting for that right buyer to come along. We all have to make compromises when buying andit's different for everyone

robatwork

Can you get something in writing from the people renting you the garage that this arrangement can/will continue for the foreseeable future?

hwalkerh

Thanks.

Good to know that some people don't mind. Think it is just waiting for the right buyer. Don't want to put people off by getting the EA to tell them there is no parking outside the house as someone might fall for the house and not worry about parking but also hoping they aren't showing it to people who have said they want parking.

There is plenty of parking on the road as it is really quiet, our visitors park there.
The garages are council ones and when we recently rented a second one there was no waiting list or anything. Might see if the council would just move it to the new owners

ElkyElky

I put an offer in for a house that didn't have immediate parking. The front of the house was a single carriageway, although the it came with a garage that was located in the next street, uphill.

As a two car household, it didn't put me off and it was a compromise but I withdrew my offer later due to other issues.

I would be perfectly happy with a situation like that but if it came to property in a densely populated area with nothing but limited on road parking... I'd probably avoid (due to worrying for finding a parking space as apposed to being able to park on my door step).

whomy5

Hi,

I am sure you will find the right buyer, so I wouldnt lower the price.

I just think parking is one of those issues that for a car owner would be high on the priority list when buying a house, however there are plenty of people out there who dont drive or own a car.

I dont drive, but my partner does and we have had so many annoying issues due to the house we live in having an an open no boundary fenced/walled drive and the idiot neighbour next door and her visitors think they can just park anywhere, we are now in the process of buying a house that specifically has its own drive, that is walled and is clearly NOT for any idiot to park in...we can not wait to move! Its a shame really because the house itself is lovely.

You will get the right people who wont care about the parking eventually...Perhaps the estate agents who are selling your house should put a little piece in stating there isnt any parking directly in front of the house so that you and potential buyers wont feel disappointed after a viewing?

I wish you lots of luck!