Struggling to sell

[Deleted User]

Lounge.., looks like an office.., lighter carpet maybe or a light coloured rug so it looks like a lounge? It looks very utilitarian.., armchair definitely doesn't help as you can barely see the sofa behind it. Its the second picture you see and I doubt many people get any further. Not sure why there was a need to take a pic of just the stairs. Different angles of the actual lounge maybe, not the stairs, not normally regarded as a feature worth preserving in film.

Kitchen, tidy, inoffensive, but table blocks some cupboards. Is there a way to pull it away and nearer to where the photo was taken?. Second identical pic of kitchen at the end - why? If second pic maybe one at the back door to show other half of kitchen if its presentable?

Bedroom 1 - fine, does need curtains though

Bed 2 - not everyone likes green, yes move bicycle, move bed to centre of back wall. If you want to show off units in here, probably better to have full frontal not side view giving all the screw holes prime focus.

Could put nicer bedding on all beds rather than stuff you put away years ago! Crisp whites with throw in contrasting colour as a basic, doesn't have to cost the earth. Just look crisp and inviting.

Bed 3 - is either really wheeny without room for a bed or a junk room or both. Might be nice to show it as a bedroom if you can.

Bath - nothing wrong with it.

Garden, bit of tidying up but nothing major

Remember you need to appeal to buyers, make your place look inviting. Don't think the pictures do that and the lounge pic is more of a 'stop' pic than a 'come and sit here' pic.

Sorry, hope I am not being too offensive. Just what I'd think if I was looking for a house. There's just nothing to make me go and see it. Try and take some pics yourself if the EA is this bad. See what angles presents your house at its best.

I can't comment on price but it does look like a drop might be worth considering if you need to sell it badly.

MoneyGeoff

As others have said, it looks like a completely different house in the old photos. Get the old photographer back!

Thrugelmir

Andalya wrote: »

Yes, I had been feeling the same about the agents, have a couple of other valuing today so may well switch.

What's your EA said in relation to the local market. Appears to be plenty of property in a 5 mile radius of where you live in a comparable price range. Also at that price level is going to be above a FTB's pocket. Lack of viewings perhaps reflects the lack of movement in the wider market. The expense of moving outweighing the benefits.

hazyjo

Actually agree with a lot of deannatrois' comments - although out of everything, the shell bathroom suite would offend me the most (sorry!) whereas she's not really fussed about it.

I also thought the lounge looked like an office (think it's the carpet). I would bring that chair round to square that area off and put the coffee table more in the middle of the room as it looks like a long narrow room. Also not the most attractive (or effective) of lights.

Agree add curtains to bedroom. It's a bit like an MFI showroom mock-up room at the moment - we usually say take stuff out, but this needs something putting back in. Definitely lose the green walls and the exercise bike. That second garden shot is so dark! Looks like it was taken at night on the right of the pic.

Oh, and add some plants to the pots. Garden looks forgotten about (yep, know it's winter, but you need to make it look like it does in summer! We had our table and chairs out and flowers on the table and drinks outside - even though it was cold!)

Good luck - just needs a bit of love I think!

Andalya

deannatrois wrote: »

Lounge.., looks like an office.., lighter carpet maybe or a light coloured rug so it looks like a lounge? It looks very utilitarian.., armchair definitely doesn't help as you can barely see the sofa behind it. Its the second picture you see and I doubt many people get any further. Not sure why there was a need to take a pic of just the stairs. Different angles of the actual lounge maybe, not the stairs, not normally regarded as a feature worth preserving in film.

Kitchen, tidy, inoffensive, but table blocks some cupboards. Is there a way to pull it away and nearer to where the photo was taken?. Second identical pic of kitchen at the end - why? If second pic maybe one at the back door to show other half of kitchen if its presentable?

Bedroom 1 - fine, does need curtains though

Bed 2 - not everyone likes green, yes move bicycle, move bed to centre of back wall. If you want to show off units in here, probably better to have full frontal not side view giving all the screw holes prime focus.

Could put nicer bedding on all beds rather than stuff you put away years ago! Crisp whites with throw in contrasting colour as a basic, doesn't have to cost the earth. Just look crisp and inviting.

Bed 3 - is either really wheeny without room for a bed or a junk room or both. Might be nice to show it as a bedroom if you can.

Bath - nothing wrong with it.

Garden, bit of tidying up but nothing major

Remember you need to appeal to buyers, make your place look inviting. Don't think the pictures do that and the lounge pic is more of a 'stop' pic than a 'come and sit here' pic.

Sorry, hope I am not being too offensive. Just what I'd think if I was looking for a house. There's just nothing to make me go and see it. Try and take some pics yourself if the EA is this bad. See what angles presents your house at its best.

I can't comment on price but it does look like a drop might be worth considering if you need to sell it badly.

No such thing as too harsh when it's all actionable feedback -and this is all really constructive, so thank you!
I think we have tended towards utilitarian a bit now that you mention it.. I guess we're still not out of the renter "can't touch anything" mindset, so your suggestions for making it a bit more homely definitely welcome

Andalya

hazyjo wrote: »

Actually agree with a lot of deannatrois' comments - although out of everything, the shell bathroom suite would offend me the most (sorry!) whereas she's not really fussed about it.

Haha you know, that's the one thing I'd planned to change myself if we'd ended up living there a bit longer!

Thrugelmir

MoneyGeoff wrote: »

As others have said, it looks like a completely different house in the old photos. Get the old photographer back!

Time of year?

Andalya

Thrugelmir wrote: »

What's your EA said in relation to the local market. Appears to be plenty of property in a 5 mile radius of where you live in a comparable price range. Also at that price level is going to be above a FTB's pocket. Lack of viewings perhaps reflects the lack of movement in the wider market. The expense of moving outweighing the benefits.

They've been a bit inconsistent to be honest - fast slow, buoyant, flat - I've heard it all in the last couple of months. It's frustrating because the main feedback I get is about all of the other houses (completely incomparable to ours) that they've sold recently, as if that helps me with mine..

teddysmum

Andalya wrote: »

Yes, I had been feeling the same about the agents, have a couple of other valuing today so may well switch.

Mm I'll give you that on the second link (although internal space is less), but the first one is on a somewhat notorious street where everything is well below market value for that reason.

I'd guess at ex-council with badly matched extension.

teddysmum

hazyjo wrote: »

Actually agree with a lot of deannatrois' comments - although out of everything, the shell bathroom suite would offend me the most (sorry!) whereas she's not really fussed about it.

I also thought the lounge looked like an office (think it's the carpet). I would bring that chair round to square that area off and put the coffee table more in the middle of the room as it looks like a long narrow room. Also not the most attractive (or effective) of lights.

Agree add curtains to bedroom. It's a bit like an MFI showroom mock-up room at the moment - we usually say take stuff out, but this needs something putting back in. Definitely lose the green walls and the exercise bike. That second garden shot is so dark! Looks like it was taken at night on the right of the pic.

Oh, and add some plants to the pots. Garden looks forgotten about (yep, know it's winter, but you need to make it look like it does in summer! We had our table and chairs out and flowers on the table and drinks outside - even though it was cold!)

Good luck - just needs a bit of love I think!

I agree with this post.


Shell bathroom suites used to be seen only in DIY store dspalys and were usually the cheapest.


The living room furniture is very angular, so the room lacks the comfort feeling of soft furnishings. Also, the camera angle is poor, giving the impression that all the furniture is pushed up to the far end of the room.


My son has only blinds in his house , because of cats and I've always felt the cosiness of curtains lacking.


Even places like Lidl and Aldi are now selling ready planted pots, filled with plants coming into bloom, at very good prices.