House been for sale 2 weeks advice needed!

nubbins

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

Agree with Dafty

In our own recent *refurb* project (hate that term, prefer to say we've *restored* the house), we did the following over a previously 2000, now 2500 sq ft three storey period property -

Complete rewire (including hard-wired smoke alarm)

All new plumbing

Three new bathrooms with Hansgrohe/V&B fittings, increasing bathrooms from two to three

Large kitchen & utility extension with custom hand-painted timber units, limestone flooring, vaulted ceiling with double-height window to take advantage of countryside views

Replastering & redecoration throughout

New timber flooring in three reception rooms

Landscaping large terrace (40' x 40') including hot tub (to remain)

New cast iron rads to ground floor

Hardwood d/g sash windows to front elevation

TOTAL COST: £100,000+

Some of the above has obviously not added any value, but in our case certainly improved saleability and the addition of features such as the huge kitchen window gave the property the *wow* factor (especially as it's what you see when you walk through the front door) enabling it to stand out from the competition

As the OP appears to want to break the ceiling price for their road, something has to make their house stand out from the competition and atm I can't see anything other than a perfectly nicely presented, but somewhat uninspiring bog-standard house......nothing that sells a lifestyle or gives potential buyers something to aspire to.

Maybe *staging* the house would give you a better chance of securing the price you need OP......

Sorry to sound harsh and wishing you well with the sale

I don't want to sound harsh but why did you put 3 years effort and expense to walk away with a small profit. Did you spend more than anticipated, found something better or did not get as much as expected. Not criticising just interested as I will be doing something with similar amounts that you have stated but I hope to walk away with at least the amount I am spending on renovation costs as profit.

phoebe1989seb

nubbins wrote: »

I don't want to sound harsh but why did you put 3 years effort and expense to walk away with a small profit. Did you spend more than anticipated, found something better or did not get as much as expected. Not criticising just interested as I will be doing something with similar amounts that you have stated but I hope to walk away with at least the amount I am spending on renovation costs as profit.

Hi Nubbins

Not wanting to hijack the OP's thread, but to answer your query - our *small* profit is £35k+ over and above costs for the work we've done which we are happy with.

We intended to stay here long term when we started out and always do things to a high standard with good quality fittings, but once we'd begun and then realised this wasn't the right location for us we a) couldn't leave it partly finished as we'd have lost money and b) we're not the type to do a half-a$$ed job by using poor quality fittings for the remainder

If we hadn't already found our next home we'd have been happy to stay on the market at a higher price for longer, but we wanted to get moving fast so priced for a quick sale and achieved this within just over a month when houses in our (mid-range) price bracket can take up to twelve months to sell in this location.....

GL with yours

lessonlearned

Unless house prices in your area have risen susbstantially in the past 18 months, then the improvements you have made will not increase the value of this house by over £50k.

If you have done more work which is not immediately visible then you need to say so, for example new boiler, upgrading electrics etc.....

People will look at the before and after pictures and just assume that you have done a quick freshen up. So if you have done a more substantial refurbishment then you should make that clear in the details.

I agree the house is very nice, neat clean and tidy but thats about it. If you want to get nearer to your asking price you are going to have to up your game.

You need to dress the house and the garden definitely needs some TLC, I know it's winter but it does looks neglected and unloved. You need some plants and some colour.

A £50 spend will make all the difference, also tidy away the children's toys - they probably won't be playing with them much over the winter anyway.

Just a tip and you might think I'm nuts, but a lot of people will not buy a house with a green door, not even on the garage. Some consider green doors to be unlucky.

Finally, just a tip for the next time you revamp a kitchen. If you don't have a separate utility room to house washing machines, tumble dryers and freezers then pay just a little bit more and go for integrated appliances, hidden behind cabinet doors.

This will give you a much more streamlined look and makes such a difference to the overall finish, it also tends to make the room look much bigger. I've just done this, the difference in price was.less than £500 but the finished look makes a budget kitchen look far more luxurious.

One thing does puzzle me. Are the floor plans correct. If I'm not mistaken then it looks as if you cannot access your kitchen from the lounge without going through the hall. Is that right or is it a mistake on the plans.

Re time scales. I agree even if you found a buyer tomorrow it would be highly unlikely that you would be able to legally complete by January. You will lose at least 2 weeks over the Christmas/New Year holiday.

GoldenShadow

Knowing the East of England rather well, the property market up where you are never tends to move as quickly as elsewhere and I think you do have to be prepared for that.

Make sure the EA does a good job of selling why it worth the money, ie. extensive work. Sold prices previously is one of the first things I would check.

Personally, I would be severely put off with the water nearby. The fens are not an area I would be buying property on.

Crashy_Time

lauralou1986 wrote: »

Hello


Me and my husband have had our house on the market for 2 weeks now with only 1 viewing and was looking for any tips/advice on ways to get more interest. I thought it might just be the time of year but someone we know sold there house in 2 days! I would post a link to the right move advert but I'm not allowed


Thanks


Laura x

Drop the price.

Crashy_Time

jollymummy wrote: »

2 weeks isn't bad. Our house has been on the market for a year and we have had only 4 viewings. Hubby is speaking to the estate agent on Friday as frankly they are pants.

Drop the price...and keep dropping it until you get some interest. Your house is worth what someone will pay for it.

jollymummy

Crashy_Time wrote: »

Drop the price...and keep dropping it until you get some interest. Your house is worth what someone will pay for it.

Hi Crashy time , you are quite right there, think the problem was the estate agent put house on the market far too high in first place (thinking about their percentage), we did tell them so but they were adamant they were right. Anyhow, we have dropped price a couple of times but as we need to retain some equity for next house purchase we can't afford to give it away. Think we might be better off just trying to sell it ourselves. Anyone ever tried one of the online do it yourself estate agents?????