Adding upstairs toilet to sell?

VintageHistorian

Olbas is right, you need to speak to your agent as Rightmove has given number 14's sale as yours in the "market info" tab.

Coming from the perspective of a recent FTBer, the lack of floorplan is quite off-putting. We did see one house that had a downstairs bathroom, and the only reason why we didn't buy the house was because a train line was running nearby (didn't look that close on the map). A downstairs bathroom really wasn't an issue for us, and if you've got the house priced with that in mind then I don't think adding a further toilet upstairs would be massively beneficial, especially if the house is only really big enough for a maximum of 3 people.

Get a floorplan up, and window dress the front of the house a bit more. Spring is almost here so some extra plants at the front would be nice, scrap photo 6 with the oven close-up, and get a new photo of the gate taken without your car in the way (I don't think having the car on the drive is a massive problem as it looks like a decent sized car, if it fits nicely on the drive then people know they can fit more than a tiny hatchback on it).

Maybe also get the description amended to note that it's near 3 primary schools, one rated outstanding and two rated good, and that the town has a train station (I know it talks about the main road but a lot of people commute by train).

Basically you/your agents need to make it as easy as possible for people to decide to view it, highlighting the benefits of the position will help with that. I know people can click on the map to see the station, I know they can click on the "schools" tab themselves, but they're more likely to pay enough attention to do that if YOU tell them the information in the description.

Cakeguts

What happened to the fence between your drive and next door's path? At the moment it looks as if next door has a right of access over your drive.

The description says that you have a large enclosed garden at the rear. However it isn't large is it? I wouldn't describe my garden as large but it is a lot bigger than yours. To me a large garden is going to be something like half and acre. If you have large garden in your description you immediately put off all the people who want a small one and the people who do want a big one see yours and think how small it is. It is worth making the details true and not exaggerated.

Greyhorse

Will sort that one with rightmove!

There just never was one Cake! Not sure why, maybe because the two old men who lived next door to each other and got along really well and couldn't be bothered? I'm not sure. Definitely not right of way though.

Cakeguts

Greyhorse wrote: »

Will sort that one with rightmove!

There just never was one Cake! Not sure why, maybe because the two old men who lived next door to each other and got along really well and couldn't be bothered? I'm not sure. Definitely not right of way though.

The way the drive looks at the moment is as though both you and next door share the path through the small gate and the drive. This is partly because the fence next to the garage is short and it looks as if you don't own what is beyond the end.

artyclarty

I live relatively locally to Seaham, (just down the A19) lovely town let down by some of the rougher areas around it.

This is a relatively common style of council house in the area. As a FTB I did look at one of these style of houses as it had a garage and a small garden (I have no children and I hate gardening!) and we went in with a mind to put an upstairs bathroom in but it just wasn't feasible unless you want either a 1 bed house or a 2 bed with a box room. The one we looked at is still on the market 3 years later.

Here anyway, there are not many owner-occupiers this style of house. Generally they are still housing association or private rental in the rougher areas of town. There is also a big glut of that style of house here have just come on the market as the buy to letters are trying to dispose of them so there is a lot of competition. That style of house is generally up for £50-60k here with other two bed semis (or even terraces) being closer to £75k whereas when we were looking it was more at the £70k and 80k mark a few years ago.

The style of house you can do nothing about, but I thought it well presented. The only thing I would do is bleach the floor tiles in the bathroom, the black on the the grouting makes it feel as if there is damp/inadequate ventilation. Perhaps if money permits, some new grass in the back garden. I certainly wouldn't bother putting an upstairs netty in, I don't think it will add any value to the property at all.

I agree that the particulars are not very helpful in this case and not clear that the bathroom is downstairs. I would definitely insist on a floorplan. The layout of the bathroom is a tad confusing when just having the photos as a reference.

It is still in the early part of the year, after Easter is when the viewings become a bit more abundant. You mention a good primary school nearby so any potential buyers will want to be settled before September, so plenty of time yet. I would start to worry when it comes to the summer holidays but not yet.

Good luck!

Greyhorse

Thank you arty!

The tiles were there before us but I agree the tiles need re-grouting. The black was handy for me as we have dogs and you couldn't see the dirt!

We most definitely need new lawn but we haven't been able to as yet as it's been so wet and muddy!

teddysmum

I too,think the bathroom problem is one of disappointment, because an upstairs one was expected.


I was raised in a two up two down terrace and the majority of this type have downstairs bathrooms, because adding on in the 'back yard' was the only option, unless it was a rare three bedroomed house.


However, all the council properties, here (even the 1930s ones) have upstairs bathrooms, so that is what people would expect from the property design (given no plan).


I'd have the photos redone (without 'sloping floors' ), a clear plan showing that the toilet is in the bathroom and an actual statement of the rough size of the garden (ours is much larger, but I'd describe it as medium). Also, a fence to divide off the drive would be a good idea, especially if the buyers have dogs or children (either of both being likely).


Some of the 'lawn and feed ' additive does wonders for tatty lawns,making the grass grow quickly.


The house lacks colour/warmth, the child's room being the exception and showing up the difference. A few plants and vases of flowers for the photos (and for viewings ), coloured towels (bathroom looks unused) ?

gettingtheresometime

A downstairs bathroom is a pita when you're ill.

There's a lot of houses of that style here & our son whose a ftb is actively ignoring those type of houses

nbinblack

It was quite clear to me viewing the ad that the bathroom is downstairs, it is listed in the ground floor accommodation part of the list - but easy to see when you are looking for it.
The only way to get to my bathroom is to cross the landing and walk through a bedroom, it wasn't clear on Rightmove when I bought but something kept drawing me back to the house, so for the right person the bathroom won't be a deal breaker.

Cakeguts

Greyhorse wrote: »

Thank you arty!

The tiles were there before us but I agree the tiles need re-grouting. The black was handy for me as we have dogs and you couldn't see the dirt!

We most definitely need new lawn but we haven't been able to as yet as it's been so wet and muddy!

I thought the tiles were lino. They are really badly laid. If you look in the toilet and bathroom around the washbasin and toilet there are big gaps and also in the toilet there are really odd small pieces of tiles down one wall. This is what made me think it was lino because of how badly it was laid. Anyone looking at those tiles is likely to think that the kitchen and bathroom will need a new floor because they aren't pleasant to look at. It doesn't look as if they have been done by a professional floor tiler.