Flats in front of my house - a problem when selling?

squirrel99

The house is 11 years old, we have lived here for 2 years, so not from new. The only comparable 2 bed property on the market is 5k cheaper, but its smaller, doesn’t have a conservatory and is close to a busy road. No flats there but parking situation similar (one allocated space and parking in front of house)

AdrianC

squirrel99 wrote: »

...we would lose money if we sell for this.

If that's what it's worth, then that's what it's worth.

"What it's worth" is defined only by what somebody is willing to pay for it.

Also, someone did 2x viewings and even brought their parent to have a look.

Ah, bless FTBers barely out of nappies...

Am I being delusional denying these problems?

It's irrelevant, really, because there's nothing can be done about them. They are what they are. You don't have the choice to move the property somewhere else before selling it.


All you need is one putative buyer who isn't scared by their own shadow, and you're good.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

squirrel99 wrote: »

The house is 11 years old, we have lived here for 2 years, so not from new. The only comparable 2 bed property on the market is 5k cheaper, but its smaller, doesn’t have a conservatory and is close to a busy road. No flats there but parking situation similar (one allocated space and parking in front of house)

So what are people buying instead? The people viewing yours are finding something else which doesn't fit into your "comparable" parameters, but does fit into theirs.

Cakeguts

squirrel99 wrote: »

The house is 11 years old, we have lived here for 2 years, so not from new. The only comparable 2 bed property on the market is 5k cheaper, but its smaller, doesn’t have a conservatory and is close to a busy road. No flats there but parking situation similar (one allocated space and parking in front of house)

How many two beds are there on the market? How many of them are much cheaper and how many of them have driveways for at least 2 cars. You have to work out what your competition is to see who is going to buy your house.

davidmcn

I wouldn't be bothered about the flats, more about the lack of front garden and the fact that my view from downstairs would basically be of the side of my (or somebody else's) car.

But I think much of this depends on what the competition is like in the local market.

artyclarty

Hmm... I thought the house looked familiar!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5800421/please-review-my-house-ad-on-rightmove

[Deleted User]

It looks a bit like the flats might mean your place doesn't get much sunlight. Look at the shadows on the pictures.

If the other place is smaller etc but was 5k lower, and your place has flats in front of it, and a perception of parking issues, it might be that your place IS priced too high. It still looks pretty small from the pictures you have, to be honest.

If you aren't getting offers, there has to be something putting people off. We can't say what it is from two pictures.., we are only able to guess.

What is there about your place that will 'grab' a potential buyer? It looks like the other lego houses to the side of you. Is there anything you can do to increase kerb appeal (like not parking in front of your house, making it look less like it is perched on the actual road) etc.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

You have to accept, as well, depending of course on market conditions, that you might well lose money on a house if you sell in two years. While it is largely true that the market rises over time, two years is nothing like enough time to be sure of that. I presume you need to move for some reason; you may have to take the hit.

NeilCr

Meanwhile back at the parking!

By parking in front of your houses (not allocated) you've created the idea of spaces that could be fair game for anybody. How would you feel if you came home and someone from the flats had decided to park their Chelsea tractor there.

I've lived on a couple of communal estates with allocated parking etc. The vast majority of residents park responsibly but, every now and then, someone comes along who has a different view of things. On my, very pleasant, very friendly, estate we had one particular person who created havoc. To such a degree we were seriously thinking about bringing in parking control which we really didn't want.

You say that there is unallocated parking at the back of the flats which looks very close by. The question I would be asking is why aren't you and your neighbour using it?

The more I think about it the more the parking, if I had more than one car, would put me off

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

All of which just comes down to the fact that it's overpriced.

Every house has drawbacks and negatives. Nothing makes a house unsaleable. Every negative just brings down the price.