Advice on Selling My House

Slinky

Ribena1987 wrote: »

My neighbour broke the fence. I'm annoyed at having to pay money to fix something that is not my fault. She of course denies knowledge of breaking it but I have photos of how she broke it. They aren't particularly clear though. Where do I stand on this?

She's not the one wanting to sell her house. Whilst it's annoying spending money like this, if it gets you a better offer on the house it will be worth while.


Agree the patio looks a bit wierd, could you try turning the furniture around so you're not looking at the back of the wide one and see if that improves things. A BBQ stood on that odd slab at the front would give it some purpose.


Definitely could do with some colour adding to the garden and getting rid of that conifer out the front.


ETA agree with the person who suggested getting your computer out of the lounge.

Ribena1987

themagicword wrote: »

All free to do suggestions:
I'd cut the front tree down.
Move that shoe pot to between your front door and the next door neighbours.
Remove anything that is in the carport that is not attractive.
If that is a weed between the drives (looks like a beech tree maybe?).
Put the bookcases, CD towers etc and their contents from the landing and lounge (and anywhere else) into the loft/store with family/friends.
Put coats in the wardobe and keep shoes out of sight if any are on show.
Put the chair from the bedroom into the lounge and put the computer in your bedroom instead.

Looks like we will be cutting the conifer down this weekend!
Shoe pot is concrete and can't be moved.
It seems like a tree and always been there since we moved in. I don't know who it belongs to so we always just left it as it didn't bother us.
I'll be moving CD/DVD towers as they are just there for the sake of it.
I'll move coats into the cubby out of sight.
My partner did suggest moving the computer so will look at doing that.

Thanks for free suggestions. Selling a house is blooming expensive!

Ribena1987

Rosieandjim wrote: »

I hope I don't cause offence but the house looks unloved. The front has no appeal and the dark window frames are off putting ( I know that they will need changing so there is one expense) Lounge cluttered and on floor plan I can see that there is no storage another minus. I would need to change the tiles in kitchen as I don't like them. I could go on so for me a no no

I do need to make the front more appealing so we will work on that. There are 8 houses like this and they all have dark windows. Everyone else has the dark brown (they came with the houses) and we have the lighter uPVC brown. White windows on this house would look out of place. It doesn't look dark in person but I suppose may do on the picture.
There is a cubby under the stairs. I'll speak to EA about getting it added to floor plan.
I don't like the kitchen tiles either. Changing the kitchen is a very last resort for me. I figured someone would move in and rip the kitchen out anyway.

Feel free to offer more feedback. The house is loved so not sure what to do about that...

Ribena1987

davidmcn wrote: »

Does everyone you're marketing to know where "Hempshill Vale" is? It's not recognised by Rightmove as a placename, and the competition all seem to have "Nottingham" somewhere in their addresses. Even a postcode would help.

They do know where it is but I know what you mean. I've just had a look and most of the EA put Nottingham and first part of postcode. I'll ask the EA to change this. Thanks

Ribena1987

Hoploz wrote: »

I'd try and put a second sofa, perhaps under the front window in the lounge, and clear the top halves of the bookcases to make it easier on the eye.

Also I'd put a table in the kitchen.

The garden is disappointing. A little colour - some planted pots? And defo fix the fence up straight.

When you've made some changes make sure the agent updates the photos.

It looks quite nice to me.

There is a footstool in the window and I am looking at moving the PC upstairs and replacing with a chair.
I know the bookcases look cluttered so I'll look at scaling it back. We are bookworms!
We are going to put barstools at the breakfast bar and get a new picture added and see how that goes. I agree we need a table.
Agree garden needs some landscaping.
That blooming fence. Grrrrr!

Thanks for saying it looks nice. It was a state when we bought it and we have worked hard to try and bring it up to speed. It's not the best but we did put our heart into it.

Ribena1987

bigisi wrote: »

Sounds like someone else isn't quite with the times (you!).

Why do you think yours is worth more than the one StumpyPumpy posted which is less than half a mile away, similar size and actually SOLD for (not had an asking price of) £110k?

I wasn't aware that houses sold for £110k. EA told me I can get £125K and that others in the area did. This is my first time selling a home. Thank you very much for your kind words. Much appreciated.

Ribena1987

Sunny_Intervals wrote: »

Things that might put me off a bit:
The ugly tree in front.
The weird pink patio out back (looks like somewhere you'd perform rituals).
The precarious back fence.
The living room feels more like a hallway.
The 50 shades of nicotine/brown colour scheme.

In other words, it's all personal taste stuff. The house itself isn't bad, but it's very meh. I bought a filthy rip-out/start over property, so yours is rather off putting for me because it isn't bad enough to rip out or get a big discount, but it isn't nice enough to make me want to live there as is.


ETA - Disclaimer, in case that came off as b****ier than intended: you probably wouldn't like my tastes either. Just trying to give honest feedback about why I wouldn't offer if I viewed. I do like your couch and it's nice to see bookcases containing books.

Honesty is the best policy. It's hard to swallow but I did ask for it and at least I now know whats's wrong. We were FTB when we bought the house. Everything was a state and we bought it cheap. We did it up as best we could with the little money we had. Its not the best and we have learnt from our mistakes.
The conifer at the front is going to go now.
The patio tiles came with the house and were located there. I may change as a last resort.
Can't explain how angry I am about the fence. My neighbour broke it.
Any suggestions on how I make the living room less like a hallway?
I don't like the kitchen either but that was my taste 5 years ago. I will change it as a last resort.

Thank you

Ribena1987

ReadingTim wrote: »

Whilst the likely buyer of your house isn't likely to have school age kids, August is still a pretty popular month in which to take holidays, therefore I wouldn't be too concerned - you're only a month in, when quite a number of potential buyers might be on a sunny beach far, far away....

As for feedback, an EA can't give it if they don't get it from viewers. So, cast your mind back to when you were looking last, and whether you gave open, honest and constructive feedback on every property you viewed....did you? Or did you come out with some sort of wishy-washy "it's not quite what we're looking for..." or words to that effect.

I know a month technically isn't a long time but I was concerned as I've had viewings and people seem to like the house but not enough to buy it. Thanks to all the responses on here I know why. I do take your point that viewers are wishy washy with their feedback. I just really wanted to know what was off putting but now I know. I'm going to have a very busy BH weekend! I do think EA should try and obtain proper feedback though. Anything helps especially negative comments (although not nice to hear!).

Ribena1987

ProDave wrote: »

Is that side space wide enough for a car? If so park a car there and take a picture and sell it as a car port.

Yes, it's the drive and can fit two cars. At the time of the EA taking pictures, our car was on the drive but he moved it out of shot of the picture! It is a car port but when we bought the house, structurally it was on its last legs and we have not updated it. EA needs to take new pictures anyway so i will ask him to leave car on the drive next time.

Ribena1987

Crashy_Time wrote: »

Actual sales have been stalling for some time, banks are lending less, a potentially very messy Brexit is upon us, and globally interest rates are rising. IMO you should think carefully before letting this buyer slip away.

I know, you are right. I'm selling this house for the first time and I am still learning. In hindsight, it would've been better if I came on here for advice instead of listening to my EA. EA aren't known for their honesty and mine doesn't care if I sell the house or not. The reason I am selling now is all of the above. i want to be out of here and in a new place before March 2019.