Just tell me if there is something wrong...

halesowenmum

WestonDave wrote: »

Sorry - to be clearer - I looked at it with my furniture in mind, and it felt to me like too many rooms would need work done to look OK. That leaves you in a tricky selling position - a nice clean finished house should be a high price, a do-er upper should be cheap - yours looks (and I repeat I don't know your local prices) like an expensive price on a house I'd want to work on to blend it into my lifestyle. That wouldn't entirely put me off, but if there are other houses around which aren't falling into that same mixed position as yours so are either more flexible decor or priced to account for redec needed, then I'd go for one of those first.

I kind of understand more what you mean but also don't because all the rooms are in mint decorative order in totally plain colours, only the living room has a 'statement wall' if you like (which I could easily change if it's offending a lot of people), and could therefore accommodate any furniture one wished once mine's been moved out so I'm not quite sure about that. As for it being what you almost describe as a doer upper I cannot imagine it being viewed as a house needing lots of work to be honest - it's completely modernised, only 7 years old, and been lovingly maintained, repaired, cared for and could not be more of a 'move in straight away and you don't have to do a single thing' kind of house if ever I saw one. I've repainted hallways, kitchen, landings and en suite since I put it on the market so it couldn't be much better.

I take on board the comments about other things though - the lounge wallpaper - could certainly change that - got enough emulsion hanging around it wouldn't be a problem! and as for the garden I would be willing to turf if this is what people think is also a point to bear in mind which could be off putting.

Tixy

halesowenmum wrote: »

There's a dining area in the lounge!

Definitely

halesowenmum wrote: »

Gonna ask them now to do that as well (God, they'll really hate me soon if they don't already). Since after six weeks of no viewings I'd also had not one single phone call or update from the EA at all.... hence looking at a multiple agency option at the moment

I wouldn't worry/ feel bad about asking them to make changes - if they were doing their job well they'd have taken better pictures, advised you on what to include and included a floorplan in the first place.

I don't like using multi agencies, how long are you in contract to them?

MamaMoo_2

Ok, having lived about a 30 second walk away from you in the not too distant past, and having recently helped a friend buy a house around there, here are my two cents.

Your living room is a bit hideous and outlandish. I'd say you should have stuck to something more neutral. When looking around, a lot of people will try and visualise their stuff in your house, and that makes it quite impossible. It also looks like quite a cold room, which puts me off.

Your back garden is also not appealing. Bark chippings to me equal bugs and seem to attract cats to treat it like a litter tray. I'd say get rid of that and turf it, make it look a bit more useable by a family. Cut back the plants from the fence, maybe pop a patio set out there, and maybe a cheap children's swing set or something?

Also, in the local area there are quite a few properties that are cheaper and more homely looking (see above re: lounge, garden) for less money.
I'd also say the area is a disadvantage. Whilst it's conveniently close to the centre, that also makes it quite noisy, and the close proximity of the large Wetherspoons etc may put families off due to the worry of noisy drunks. Also, you have the massive 24 hour Asda and car park 30 seconds away, which does have a tendency to attract gangs of kids.

These are the sort of things that would put me off. I'd rather live another mile or so up the road on a bigger street, more neighbours, and not so close to the main road.

All things considered, and having lived so close myself, I think the asking price is a bit much too.

It also doesn't say whether you have any loft space, but it doesn't look that way, and that would put me off too.

halesowenmum

hazyjo wrote: »

Looking at the map, it places you on the main road. Can they re-jig it so the pointer is placed in your road rather than on the main road? Also, from street view, it looks like you're next to what looks like a council estate with a few highrises. Does that estate have any sort of reputation? No to be honest it's quiet over there

The black and white wallpaper isn't my cuppa either, but I think by almost matching the cushions on a very plain sofa, you're not making it look particularly cosy. Can you add a bit of colour and texture to soften it? Cushions (fluffy to add some softness!), rug, lamp or something? Maybe a blue or pink, lilac maybe, silver, even... it just looks unwelcoming and a bit cold to me. I hear you. What I could do if this is an off-put to people, is get the cushions and so on that I would like in my new home (beiges, fluffy ones, satiny ones) and instal them, paint the wall a similar type of colour and see how that looks if it's a bit warmer

The blue I could live with, but I don't think the red helps. Also, why so many pics of it? Just the one is fine. Would be difficult to lose the red, so maybe the blue wall has to go? Something plain, even a very pale blue! But the two together are just a bit much.

As others said, is that really the best pic of the garden? Is there no grass? Wouldn't really describe the flagstoned bit as a 'patio' - can you add a bistro set or something so it actually looks useable as a patio? it just looks like you have some bark or something down as the garden. Is that really how it is?

Very well presented generally. Can the front be 'softened' at all? Couple of bay trees or plants in pots either side of the front door at least?

Good luck

Jx

Thank you - taking all comments on board. Yes, the garden really is bark chippings!! HATE mowing and don't own a mower!!! If I put a lawn down will have to cut it with a pair of scissors lol!!

halesowenmum

Can I say thanks to everyone - this is the most viewings I've had to date!!!! :rotfl:

halesowenmum

MamaMoo wrote: »

Ok, having lived about a 30 second walk away from you in the not too distant past, and having recently helped a friend buy a house around there, here are my two cents.

Your living room is a bit hideous and outlandish. Ok lol! I'd say you should have stuck to something more neutral. When looking around, a lot of people will try and visualise their stuff in your house, and that makes it quite impossible. It also looks like quite a cold room, which puts me off. It is the darkest room of the house I totally agree with that

Your back garden is also not appealing. Bark chippings to me equal bugs ..never had an issue with bugs to be honest... and seem to attract cats to treat it like a litter tray. That doesn't happen but if you're thinking it is what would happen, then maybe other people would think that too. Had one cat poo in the garden in 4 years. I'd say get rid of that and turf it, make it look a bit more useable by a family. Cut back the plants from the fence, maybe pop a patio set out there, and maybe a cheap children's swing set or something? Yep, dining set under consideration ditto turf

Also, in the local area there are quite a few properties that are cheaper and more homely looking (see above re: lounge, garden) for less money.
I'd also say the area is a disadvantage. Whilst it's conveniently close to the centre, that also makes it quite noisy, and the close proximity of the large Wetherspoons etc may put families off due to the worry of noisy drunks. Also, you have the massive 24 hour Asda and car park 30 seconds away, which does have a tendency to attract gangs of kids. Never seen a gang of kids in any proximity to the house that would have concerned me, or outside Asda either for that matter but maybe you have seen that. Weatherspoons is a good brisk 10 minute walk away tucked away right in the town centre - I've never had a problem with noise to be honest as I in fact moved here to get away from being directly on a main road and have found it v quiet (thank goodness)

These are the sort of things that would put me off. I'd rather live another mile or so up the road on a bigger street, more neighbours, and not so close to the main road.

All things considered, and having lived so close myself, I think the asking price is a bit much too.

It also doesn't say whether you have any loft space, but it doesn't look that way, and that would put me off too. No, it doesn't have a standard loft because as respect it being this type of build, the top floor is in part of the roof space. There is what I would call a half loft - some space for suitcases for eg but not a full size loft

enter ten more characters, message isn't long enough.... doing that right now

halesowenmum

Tixy wrote: »

Definitely



I wouldn't worry/ feel bad about asking them to make changes - if they were doing their job well they'd have taken better pictures, advised you on what to include and included a floorplan in the first place.

I don't like using multi agencies, how long are you in contract to them?

I've got another 6 or so weeks with first EA but that takes me right into Xmas period and new year - was hoping to have gotten shifted a bit quicker than that. I know, I gave them a rocket up their you know what's last week and insisted that they allow me to use another agent but only pay fees to one as I don't feel they've given me the level of service I would have expected. You've got to work at it not just sit and wait and hope. I don't want to use a multi agent but the first one has been so rubbish, I need someone with a bit more pep who is really really keen to sell it for me, unlike EA no. 1!

ohit

The last sales on that road, was back in 2010.
Maybe there is just zero demand for that road?

halesowenmum

ohit wrote: »

The last sales on that road, was back in 2010.
Maybe there is just zero demand for that road?

That would have been when I bought the house. There are only 3 houses on this road so that means that there's only ever going to be a maximum of 3 houses that could be for sale in total and, since they have only been built for 7 years and were rented out for the first 3 directly by the builder, that would also explain the lack of sales in this street. The street is in fact just these three houses in their own little section - space/cul de sac road all around so very much not a typical street.

GwylimT

As others have said the photo's aren't great and the order is poor, they need to flow, a floorplan would be ideal as even after looking at the photo's several times I can't quite figure out the layout.

It looks cold, personally I was surprised when I saw a childrens bedroom as it doesn't look like a family home. The boxes stored under the bed and the positioning of the big wardrobe also suggest a lack of storage and due to sloping ceilings limited places to actually put in your own storage.

Another big issue, where do you eat?