Unable to sell house

BobT36

GDB2222 said:

There's a budding poet at the estate agent: "WELCOME TO A SUN-KISSED SANCTUARY ON  ... AVENUE WHERE VIBRANT HUES AND TIMELESS CHARM UNITE TO CREATE A WHIMSICAL YELLOW HAVEN THAT WILL STEAL YOUR HEART. "  I don't think it matters, though.

Complete load of bollo******* that just detracts from actual useful information that people will want to know about a property and what is has. Once again agents disappearing up their own a*** and not knowing how to actually "sell" something, because the majority of houses simply sold themselves for the entirety of their professional careers. 

I only saw the pictures (which looked alright) so I don't know if you have one or not, but another thing for me I like is a good, accurate and clear floor plan. Make sure you have one. No stupid photographs of scanned documents etc. 

Regarding pet smell, if it's just something as loose as that, don't worry too much. However, if you DID have pets there, then definitely get an objective second opinion from someone who hasn't got pets, just to make sure. If it's an issue, replace the carpets with cheap ones. If they're not completely destroyed or smelly then don't bother. 

Main thing will be the price. "Some areas are not selling", yup, coz the houses are not worth the price anymore. Things have changed, a lot. Gotta remember mortgages are percentage based and the greater the price, the bigger the hit. Rather than just valuations, put yourselves in the buyer's shoes and look for similar properties in your area, and think objectively what theirs have that yours doesn't and vice-versa. 
"I think at the time it went on the market it was rightly priced but that was before mortgages went mad"
^ There's your exact problem. Now calculate what a mortgage will actually COST a buyer (with an avg deposit for that sort of house) now, compared to what you put it up at. See the difference? Mortgages have gone mad, so your price has to too (downwards), unfortunately. It's simply not worth the same as it was before that. It's like buying a load of something before a stock market crash, and expecting to sell it for the same (or just a minor amount less) afterwards..

gazfocus said:

Just to give another perspective…

If I was looking to buy your house and I wanted to have new carpets fitted, I’d be much happier buying the house with the carpets and underlay already removed as whenever we’ve had new carpets laid, we’ve had to remove the old ourselves and it’s a big hassle. 

As others have said, there’s too much uncertainty if you choose to put new carpets in because the buyers may not like the colour you choose (I’d personally have grey but other people prefer browns/beige/etc). 

So my advice, for what it’s worth, would be to take the carpets and underlay out but don’t put new carpets in. 

Experienced buyers with money to spare would be alright with that, but that would put off first time buyers on tight budgets, who might want to wait until later to replace them. 
He should only bother replacing the carpets if they're SUPER old / tatty or pet smelly. (And not bother with replacing underlay unless also pet-soiled). 
Make sure they're given a good hoover, too. There was bits of cardboard or something allover the place in the pics?? Just spend 2 mins tidying that up. That's just getting presentable but not going overboard like "staging". 

markin

The only thing i would 100% do is replace that rad and smarten up the entrance, Also Buy a bottle of Fabreeze and empty it.

Are you ventilating and Heating the house? A cold and musty house could be a problem. 


And do you have Empty home insurance? 

RAS

Having seen the listings, pity about the off-white and about the estate agents over-selling. You really can see why selling houses furnished helps, even with the clutter of family life, and the leftover paint from the main rooms used in the bedrooms.

Describing the house as immaculate doesn't cut it when the drive is full of weeds, the bathroom less than contemporary and the lawn obviously not been mown as frequently as previously. And your viewers are greeted by that stained radiator. You need a few weekends, or perhaps two long weekends, to clear the clutter from the garden, sort out the front fence and gate and the niggles in the house. 

Since you've had off-white painted over bold solid colours, check that coverage. Consider adding a feature wall or two so people can properly differentiate between rooms. The chipped shelf to which I referred is in the downstairs loo. In the absence of any defining features, I didn't realise that there was a second loo.

As said, even some coloured handwash and a towel or two would help people work out what they were looking at. Just make sure you use different colours. It doesn't matter what. If you got some nice fluffy ones at home, use them. If not buy something you would use again. Or check your local charity shops etc. If you've got a local town that posh, they can be very good.

Bailey1980

BobT36 said:

GDB2222 said:

There's a budding poet at the estate agent: "WELCOME TO A SUN-KISSED SANCTUARY ON  ... AVENUE WHERE VIBRANT HUES AND TIMELESS CHARM UNITE TO CREATE A WHIMSICAL YELLOW HAVEN THAT WILL STEAL YOUR HEART. "  I don't think it matters, though.

Complete load of bollo******* that just detracts from actual useful information that people will want to know about a property and what is has. Once again agents disappearing up their own a*** and not knowing how to actually "sell" something, because the majority of houses simply sold themselves for the entirety of their professional careers. 

I only saw the pictures (which looked alright) so I don't know if you have one or not, but another thing for me I like is a good, accurate and clear floor plan. Make sure you have one. No stupid photographs of scanned documents etc. 

Regarding pet smell, if it's just something as loose as that, don't worry too much. However, if you DID have pets there, then definitely get an objective second opinion from someone who hasn't got pets, just to make sure. If it's an issue, replace the carpets with cheap ones. If they're not completely destroyed or smelly then don't bother. 

Main thing will be the price. "Some areas are not selling", yup, coz the houses are not worth the price anymore. Things have changed, a lot. Gotta remember mortgages are percentage based and the greater the price, the bigger the hit. Rather than just valuations, put yourselves in the buyer's shoes and look for similar properties in your area, and think objectively what theirs have that yours doesn't and vice-versa. 
"I think at the time it went on the market it was rightly priced but that was before mortgages went mad"
^ There's your exact problem. Now calculate what a mortgage will actually COST a buyer (with an avg deposit for that sort of house) now, compared to what you put it up at. See the difference? Mortgages have gone mad, so your price has to too (downwards), unfortunately. It's simply not worth the same as it was before that. It's like buying a load of something before a stock market crash, and expecting to sell it for the same (or just a minor amount less) afterwards..

gazfocus said:

Just to give another perspective…

If I was looking to buy your house and I wanted to have new carpets fitted, I’d be much happier buying the house with the carpets and underlay already removed as whenever we’ve had new carpets laid, we’ve had to remove the old ourselves and it’s a big hassle. 

As others have said, there’s too much uncertainty if you choose to put new carpets in because the buyers may not like the colour you choose (I’d personally have grey but other people prefer browns/beige/etc). 

So my advice, for what it’s worth, would be to take the carpets and underlay out but don’t put new carpets in. 

Experienced buyers with money to spare would be alright with that, but that would put off first time buyers on tight budgets, who might want to wait until later to replace them. 
He should only bother replacing the carpets if they're SUPER old / tatty or pet smelly. (And not bother with replacing underlay unless also pet-soiled). 
Make sure they're given a good hoover, too. There was bits of cardboard or something allover the place in the pics?? Just spend 2 mins tidying that up. That's just getting presentable but not going overboard like "staging". 

Thank you.  We are getting a second opinion about the pet smell but we have bought some plug in air freshners and odour neutralising spray. 

I am minded not to leave the floors bare so I think either a further more thorough deep clean or replacing them. 

markin said:

The only thing i would 100% do is replace that rad and smarten up the entrance, Also Buy a bottle of Fabreeze and empty it.

Are you ventilating and Heating the house? A cold and musty house could be a problem. 


And do you have Empty home insurance? 

We have bought plug in air freshners and odour neutralising spray and getting a quote next week for the replacing the radiator. 

House is being heated, but I don't think it's being ventilated as we handed all keys to the estate agent so we aren't there before or during the viewings so not sure if they are arriving early and ventilating the house. 

We do have empty house insurance. 

RAS said:

Having seen the listings, pity about the off-white and about the estate agents over-selling. You really can see why selling houses furnished helps, even with the clutter of family life, and the leftover paint from the main rooms used in the bedrooms.

Describing the house as immaculate doesn't cut it when the drive is full of weeds, the bathroom less than contemporary and the lawn obviously not been mown as frequently as previously. And your viewers are greeted by that stained radiator. You need a few weekends, or perhaps two long weekends, to clear the clutter from the garden, sort out the front fence and gate and the niggles in the house. 

Since you've had off-white painted over bold solid colours, check that coverage. Consider adding a feature wall or two so people can properly differentiate between rooms. The chipped shelf to which I referred is in the downstairs loo. In the absence of any defining features, I didn't realise that there was a second loo.

As said, even some coloured handwash and a towel or two would help people work out what they were looking at. Just make sure you use different colours. It doesn't matter what. If you got some nice fluffy ones at home, use them. If not buy something you would use again. Or check your local charity shops etc. If you've got a local town that posh, they can be very good.

Thank you. It is difficult to find the time to go back to the house and do all the necessary work as I am mentally and physically exhausted and need to organise someone to look after my sister whilst I'm gone. I know that it would be beneficial and help with selling. I'm going over next week for a day and will try to do as much as I can. 

I'm thinking of putting a rug in the living room but again I'm struggling with what colour to use; I keep being drawn to greyish colours but I know that it's not about my taste but I'm so worried about making the wrong decision. 

markin

No mention of the External insulation, that is a important point, is the EPC up to date?

Bailey1980

markin said:

No mention of the External insulation, that is a important point, is the EPC up to date?

Yes EPC is up to date and it came out at "C" (72) ( and an average household would need to spend £1,481 per year on heating, hot water and lighting in this property. It has the potential for B if the below are done: 

(apparently the average for UK properties is "D" (60) 

Step 1: Floor insulation (solid floor)

Typical installation cost

£4,000 - £6,000

Typical yearly saving

£100

Potential rating after completing step 1 74 C

Step 2: Solar water heating

Typical installation cost

£4,000 - £6,000

Typical yearly saving

£87

Potential rating after completing steps 1 and 2 75 C

Step 3: Replacement glazing units

Typical installation cost

£1,000 - £1,400

Typical yearly saving

£90

Potential rating after completing steps 1 to 3 77 C

Step 4: Solar photovoltaic panels, 2.5 kWp

Typical installation cost

£3,500 - £5,500

Typical yearly saving

£643

Potential rating after completing steps 1 to 4 87 C

lika_86

Bailey1980 said:

 

I'm thinking of putting a rug in the living room but again I'm struggling with what colour to use; I keep being drawn to greyish colours but I know that it's not about my taste but I'm so worried about making the wrong decision. 

I wouldn't put a rug in an otherwise empty living room, as someone looking at the photos I would 100% wonder what you're trying to cover up on the carpet!

Bailey1980

lika_86 said:

Bailey1980 said:

 

I'm thinking of putting a rug in the living room but again I'm struggling with what colour to use; I keep being drawn to greyish colours but I know that it's not about my taste but I'm so worried about making the wrong decision. 

I wouldn't put a rug in an otherwise empty living room, as someone looking at the photos I would 100% wonder what you're trying to cover up on the carpet!

Thanks, the living room is hardwood/laminate and I thought injecting a bit of colour with a rug would help differentiate the room and be a bit of staging. 

lika_86

Bailey1980 said:

lika_86 said:

Bailey1980 said:

 

I'm thinking of putting a rug in the living room but again I'm struggling with what colour to use; I keep being drawn to greyish colours but I know that it's not about my taste but I'm so worried about making the wrong decision. 

I wouldn't put a rug in an otherwise empty living room, as someone looking at the photos I would 100% wonder what you're trying to cover up on the carpet!

Thanks, the living room is hardwood/laminate and I thought injecting a bit of colour with a rug would help differentiate the room and be a bit of staging. 

The same applies, I'd think chalk outline and bloodstain, especially if the house had sat on the market. 

Staging is supposed to help people with no imagination see themselves living in a home, adding a rug isn't going to help someone feel like it could be a cosy family home when the living room is otherwise devoid of any furniture.

RHemmings

lika_86 said:

Staging is supposed to help people with no imagination see themselves living in a home, adding a rug isn't going to help someone feel like it could be a cosy family home when the living room is otherwise devoid of any furniture.

In the age of AI, it's now possible for the staging to be done virtually. The following is from one of the OP's photos.