Advice on selling

rosiemcposie

Hi all,

My house has been on the market for around 8 weeks now and we've had about 10 viewings, with a couple of those being second viewings, but no offers.

Originally advertised at 100k, and reduced to 90k after 5 weeks.

We're able to reduce more, but are worried that if it goes lower again that people will worry that there's something wrong with the house - there isn't (other than maybe our decoration not being to viewers tastes), but we've lived here 10 years and are ready to move on.

House is on with local estate agent and they put it on zoopla and rightmove.

s_glover

The property overall looks nice and bright but with virtually no storage space and is going to appeal to quite a limited group of buyers.

How does the price compare to sold price of similar properties in your area?

What feedback has the estate agent given you from the 10 viewings?

The boiler and pipes in the kitchen is fairly unsightly. I would be looking to tidy that up with a cupboard etc. The garden is a nice size outside space but looks very drab and sad. I would suggest some pots with nice bedding plants for the patio area and on the slabs to the left of the grass. It's easy to add some colour to the garden this time of year and it will make the garden look much more inviting.

Oh and get a shade for the light in the kitchen.

OldMusicGuy

What was the feedback from the viewings? We had about 15 viewings with no offers but the feedback was consistent which then helped us to decide what to do next (which was to drop the price and target a different type of buyer).

You need to know why people are not making offers. What houses did they make offers on and how do they compare to yours? Were they all just tyre kickers, ie not in a position to proceed?

davidmcn

The map and streetview link take you to somewhere round the corner.

rosiemcposie

The last house to sell in the area was this one, when we bought it 10 years ago. Similar houses in the area seem to be selling for 100k+, but not in the immediate area. We had three agents in when we were looking to market and they all said 100k (which we took to mean we'd hopefully sell for 90k)

Feedback was that the 3rd bedroom was too small for one, there aren't enough cupboards in the kitchen for another, and one of the viewings said the street smelled.... That's all the feedback people have given other than "it wasn't for us".

Thanks about your idea for the garden, there are actually slabs on the left and the right so I'll borrow some potted plants from my parent's house and pop them out there to brighten the space up. Shade for the kitchen light is an easy one too, just one of those things that I have blanked on.

Not sure how to change to street view/map, I'll ask my agent about that.

hazyjo

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61090290.html

Will go through pics as I see them (and try not to be too harsh! Sorry, I can be a bit straight talking):

1. Shows not a semi - would prob call it a 'link semi-detached' or 'link-terrace'. A little plain from the outside.
2. Looks very much like a basement conversion. Really don't like the words on the wall, but you may find a small % who like it. Would be tempted to lose it.
3. Kitchen - add a light. Shade might look odd in a kitchen so maybe get something fitted.
4. Not dressed particularly well, and not sure that bed's in the right place. Does it fit with the top against the wall facing us?
5. Should put a bed in here. And a shade. Not dressed well.
6. Small, but adequate as a box room. Not sure if room for a wardrobe, will have to go check details/sizes.
7. Sterile, but functional. Good to see a window.
8. More of a 'grassed area' than garden, but probably functional for families/football. Fenced off so good for dogs, but makes it look a bit odd as looks separate to house, like there's a public footbath between or something.
9. Oh dear - what's going on with that 'patio'? Is it a path? Can it be tidied up, or hidden with pots? Any room for a table/chairs?
10. The other kitchen one was good - lose this. I thought for a sec it was a utility room, then realised it's part of the kitchen. That boiler is very unsightly. Would definitely get that boxed in (needs ventilation, not entirely boxed). Glad to see a table finally, but shame it's nothing dressed, more of a foldaway type thing.
11. Ah, the same bedroom. Much clearer - lose the other one. I now see it's against the wall. Slightly strange, should really be the other way round for sure. Would mean moving drawers/wardrobe.
12. Lounge - FAR better! Lose the other pic.

Get the pics put in order. Too jumbled up.

Why does it say 'shower room' in the desc when there's clearly a bath and should be called a bathroom?

Presumed that garage and parking was for next door. Why isn't it in the bullet points? It should be. Desc says it fits a motorbike or storage. By my calculations you would get a small car in. I wouldn't be saying about the bike. If I did, I'd add 'small car'.

Finally, can you sort streetview out? It falls on a rather drab row of terraced houses. Makes me wonder what the EA is hiding re the house and its location.

Overall, a decent enough house. Good luck.

need_an_answer

I'm slightly confused by some of the wording on the listing....

"Garage will fit a motorbike or can be used for storage"....so its not big enough for a car?


I have a huge personal bugbear over "quotes" on walls...yours is an epic book by the looks of it ...sorry....I would be looking at that thinking lovely d!cor but ….

3 bedrooms....that's encouraging but I cant help but feel you are using only bedroom 1 and 3 as intended.For the purpose of selling can you not put the things from bedroom 2 into storage and show it as a proper bedroom or even perhaps move the bed from 3 into 2 and the stuff from 2 into 3....


Garden is lovely...you just need to give it some pots of colour and maybe a table and chairs …a hanging basket at the front wouldn't go amiss or even a potted tree or bush


"Not enough kitchen units"it looks well planned to me so that's not a major issue but I do agree that the boiler and its pipes could be a lot better concealed...not a huge job to do but IMO very worth it.


Your lack of a defined dining space might be an issue when people are looking for space...perhaps is there room in the kitchen to set the table more permanently or to maybe put it in the living room even if you have to lose a little of that giant sofa to do it.

Crashy_Time

rosiemcposie wrote: »

Hi all,

My house has been on the market for around 8 weeks now and we've had about 10 viewings, with a couple of those being second viewings, but no offers.

Originally advertised at 100k, and reduced to 90k after 5 weeks.

We're able to reduce more, but are worried that if it goes lower again that people will worry that there's something wrong with the house - there isn't (other than maybe our decoration not being to viewers tastes), but we've lived here 10 years and are ready to move on.

House is on with local estate agent and they put it on zoopla and rightmove.

Link is rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61090290.html

People know there is nothing wrong with the house, they just accept that house prices need to drop, 70-80k should get some interest IMO.

rosiemcposie

Thanks, both.

I agree that the garden needs a good sort out, which is a priority.

The garage is not the full depth of a normal garage, and it was recommended that we make it clear that it's not a "garage" so there are no arguments from potential buyers over it....

The bed isn't able to turn the other way without cutting in to the entry way of the room, makes the usable space in there much smaller (and makes the room seem tiny).

Bedroom 2 I am planning on putting a bed in there and maybe a wardrobe or some shelves, to dress it.

The "path" in the garden is just a small patio just outside the back door, the fence separating the grass from the patio was there when we moved in, so it's still there.

I will also look at covering over the boiler.

We're looking to move out in a couple of weeks and when we do, we'll see about removing the lettering on the wall and dressing the house a bit better. I'll also talk to the EA about removing some of the pictures and sorting out the streetview/map.

Thanks for feedback.

rosiemcposie

Crashy_Time wrote: »

People know there is nothing wrong with the house, they just accept that house prices need to drop, 70-80k should get some interest IMO.

Happy to drop the price, but worried about what impression it will give...

hazyjo

rosiemcposie wrote: »

Happy to drop the price, but worried about what impression it will give...

At least get the particulars sorted first.


Ignore Crashy - he gives that 'advice' on every thread. Resident doom-monger who has been predicting (and hoping for) a crash for many years.