Interested in making an offer on this house, seems relatively long time unsold

AnotherJoe

As to the garage, it's obviously not contiguous with the house plot.
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Just as an aside, i had a house which had its garage in a block of six just off to the side. Absolute nightmare, when the roof needed mending you had to get all six owners to agree (a couple being landlords not living there), and one just who wasn't interested. And then you'd get someone who would park outside his garage making it anywhere between awkward to impossible to get into or out of yours. And a fence outside whose ownership was ambiguous.

I would never buy such a house again. Indeed I'd prefer one that didn't have a garage to one like that.

hodd

Thanks everyone. I was after examples of why houses remain unsold after two or three months, but your observations are noted.

I obviously don't want to spend over £200K on a property. There is an element of get what you pay for. If I wanted bigger rooms, I could pay more (don't want) or live in a larger town, e.g. nearby Redditch, which would offer more choice and value for money in terms of floor space. I could get a much bigger place for this money in Redditch or Hall Green, Birmingham, but location is important, and the property in the link is a very nice location, walking distance to shops, etc, which again is important.

The garage joins the concrete rear garden, I hate gardening, I need a big kitchen and a nice location. Sorry the other rooms in my humble abode to be are a bit small.

McTaggus

The layout downstairs isn't offensive - it's all about personal taste when it comes to stairs in any given room Fire escape aside, the one I'm struggling to work out is Bedroom 3 - do the stairs go straight into the room with no door? What gives Bedroom 3 privacy from the rest of the house if the stairwell opens straight down to the downstairs landing?

The lounge space, garden and layout of Bedroom 3 may have put buyers off if there are others in the area that have a better layout. However, it's all down to personal taste and what you are happy to live with - others opinions are subjective (though that's what you asked for! )

Reminds me a bit of my very first house

Drachenfach

The poor layout makes it look very cramped, and it seems like it would need a lot of work to make every room fully usable. Also parking is a PITA round there as it's so close to the main road and all the shops.


There are a few in Studley for less that 200k, so I'd keep looking. For an extra 5k you could do better.


http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53720440.html


This is a better layout, looks bigger, and has a better garden. And it appears to back onto the nature reserve, so less chance of building works in the back garden!

moneyistooshorttomention

Drachenfach wrote: »

The poor layout makes it look very cramped, and it seems like it would need a lot of work to make every room fully usable. Also parking is a PITA round there as it's so close to the main road and all the shops.


There are a few in Studley for less that 200k, so I'd keep looking. For an extra 5k you could do better.


http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53720440.html


This is a better layout, looks bigger, and has a better garden. And it appears to back onto the nature reserve, so less chance of building works in the back garden!

Well worth paying that bit extra for that house - both house itself wise and nature reserve nearby:D imo.

Cakeguts

Compared to this http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53720440.html I reckon the price should be nearer £175,000. You can buy a brand new 2 bed property with off street parking for £180,000. I think that price compared to what else is available in the area is putting people off.

TBagpuss

I agree with others that, whenever the loft was done, this is really a 2 bed house not a 3 bed, and lookin at the other simialr propoerties which come up it looks as though it is overpriced for what you get.

Obviously it may still be right for you, but bear in mind that he poiutns being made on this thread are the kind of things which potential buyers will have in mind when you eventially come to sell.

I'm another who doesn't like stairs in living rooms - the house also has the front door opening directly into the living room which a lot of people dislike.

The third bedroom has no door. For me personally that would mena it is no good as a bedroom, anyone sleeping there would be disturbed any time anyone else gets up to use the bathroom etc. Not to mention that it will probably be drafty and expensive to heat, as you've no doors betwen the bedroom and the front door!

the lay out also means that there is very little choice about how to arrange the rooms, and they look cramped and awkrd - it seems badly designed to me.

In your position, I would keep looking.

hodd

Maybe I’ve come across as being loaded, so let’s dispel that perception first.
Thanks again for all replies. It’s only polite I answer.

TBagpuss wrote: »

The third bedroom has no door.

I'd use it as a study/hideout then.

Cakeguts wrote: »

Compared to this http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53720440.html .

That’s a bigger property, true. I’ve seen it. It’s a twenty-minute walk to any shops, and I don’t like the streets of same same architecture housing estate. The kitchen is also 12 square metres compared to 13.8 at the other place.

Cakeguts wrote: »

You can buy a brand new 2 bed property with off street parking for £180,000

I’ve seen these in the area too. Two bed new builds are tiny. A larger kitchen is a must, and a two-bed new build kitchen is literally 6 square metres. New build is not an option.

Cakeguts wrote: »

I reckon the price should be nearer £175,000.

That’s more than I was going to offer.

warby68

You seem quite set on this one and I think a bit offended by some comments but bear in mind people keep noticing the SAME things so there has to be a bit of truth regarding desirability.

As you say 10-12 weeks isn't long but isn't quick either. I'd really suspect its the layout. If you NEED 3 bedrooms rather than 2 plus some flexi-space then doorless probably won't appeal. The living room IS awkward, not necessarily small but certainly awkward. I can't see an obvious dining area other than breakfast bar and a 3 bed family might want one.

My first house was a tiny new build, similar in style to yours but very clever in design - the builder is still offering the same house type, barely changed, today which is nearly 25 years later. Things like a porch with cloakroom to stop direct entrance to lounge. Stairs with space under for a sofa. Large walk in bay window for extra feel of space. Small kitchen but adjoining full dining area with patio windows. Built in storage in landing and in bedroom 2. All made a small living space very user friendly.

Do all the usual things - have a scout round at different times of day/week Knock on neighbours doors if you're brave. Make sure you're not missing anything. If there are 'hidden' issues the buying process should weed them out.

Good luck - first house?

hodd

Hi, not offended at all, and sorry if I gave that impression. Better to answer at all than to slope off in an unseen sulk. I do feel, however, that one or two posters didn't get what I was after.

I'm an OK cook and my wife's a chef. Live to eat and all that. I'm sure the other property 20 minutes from the shops would be OK for Just Eat deliveries and the like for a lot of people. We're also not confined to living in the UK 51 weeks a year as a lot of our time is spent overseas.

I'm not at all set on this property (in case the estate agent or seller is reading). It has many many negatives, e.g. one bathroom, but the location and kitchen size fits.

Somebody above mentioned a new build, which has a 6m square kitchen. I did make it clear from post 1 that a decent size kitchen was a must, and by the way who wants to live in a wobbly plasterboarded cramped new build anyway?

If people take it negatively, there's not much I can do, but not everyone is a 9 to 6 worker who spends most of their time here in the UK. That's fine, but it's not for us, sorry.