Unable to sell house

Bailey1980

lika_86 said:

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.

Ok, I guess I just don't know what else to do to stage the living room other than put up a curtain pole and some voile curtains. Can't afford to buy furniture for every room (even on facebook marketplace) to put into the house and if we say we will buy a cheap sofa and tv cabinet for the living room it will look odd if the other rooms are unfurnished. 

RHemmings said:

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. 

Thanks for this. I think the estate agent did some AI staging for another property they marketed but not for ours so again its a query we can raise. 

BobT36

The AI stuff is pretty cool! 

Eh, don't be spending loads of money "staging" it for NPCs with nothing between the ears. 
Price it right and wait, keep it neat, maintained and tidy and you'll get the right buyer. 

Get a nice floorplan (the flat kind where room sizes, shapes, measurements and doors are all easily visible) and put up accurate info about what it has (especially noting garage, any maintenance fees or whatever) and it will sell. 

All the stupid "poetry" from the estate agent is just fluff and detracts from the actual information. People might miss reading some relevant information for them because of that. Highlight any schools or stations or shopping places in a reasonable distance.

Note down anything positive like new garage, boiler or any recent general stuff that has been done, so buyers know they won't have to bother for a while (if there's anything). 

From the pictures it just needs a bit of tidying inside and out, other than that, looks in a better state than most houses. 
Really spend some time scrutinising the price, comparing it to houses sold recently nearby, or on the market right now. And think whether you're targeting FTBs, mortgage buyers or people with families and existing houses to sell, etc. The former will really be bothered about the price, and certainly won't want to be spending money putting in carpets etc if they're not there already. 

catclaires

Absolutely agree with the silly estate agent descriptions not being helpful. I would get rid of the 'sunkissed sanctuary' and similar - it tells the buyer nothing useful. I'd also remove/tone down the 'immaculate', 'beautifully presented' and 'recently renovated' language as to me, this all implies a perfect house, and although to me your house looks absolutely fine and totally liveable as is, it's not showhome standard. Perhaps just replace all that with 'new kitchen fitted in year xxxx', etc. Changing estate agents (at the same time as changing the listing price - it does seem as if reduction is inevitable, sorry) would seem like a good idea at this point.

I would definitely include the external wall insulation in the description as this is expensive/disruptive and I'd have thought would be a great selling point - it would be a massive plus point for me! I also like someone's idea above of mentioning where/when the garden gets the sun - and listing useful local amenities and other practical points. 

I see lots of differing opinions about the carpets above - for what it's worth, they wouldn't bother me unless they really smelled, so it's good that you're double checking that and that you're sorting the radiator too. As we're soon coming into spring, I'd consider trying to make the garden look a little more appealing if you can - neater grass and shrubs if nothing else - do you have any spare garden furniture (not old/falling apart!), or could you borrow any, that you could strategically place in a nice sunny corner? I say this because our garden went a very long way towards 'selling' our previous house - it was a mess before the house went on the market, so we spent time (not money, other than a few bright pot plants to cheer it up) tidying it up and turning it into a nice place to sit, had viewings on a nice sunny day, and everyone loved it!

Good luck

Bailey1980

BobT36 said:

The AI stuff is pretty cool! 

Eh, don't be spending loads of money "staging" it for NPCs with nothing between the ears. 
Price it right and wait, keep it neat, maintained and tidy and you'll get the right buyer. 

Get a nice floorplan (the flat kind where room sizes, shapes, measurements and doors are all easily visible) and put up accurate info about what it has (especially noting garage, any maintenance fees or whatever) and it will sell. 

All the stupid "poetry" from the estate agent is just fluff and detracts from the actual information. People might miss reading some relevant information for them because of that. Highlight any schools or stations or shopping places in a reasonable distance.

Note down anything positive like new garage, boiler or any recent general stuff that has been done, so buyers know they won't have to bother for a while (if there's anything). 

From the pictures it just needs a bit of tidying inside and out, other than that, looks in a better state than most houses. 
Really spend some time scrutinising the price, comparing it to houses sold recently nearby, or on the market right now. And think whether you're targeting FTBs, mortgage buyers or people with families and existing houses to sell, etc. The former will really be bothered about the price, and certainly won't want to be spending money putting in carpets etc if they're not there already. 

catclaires said:

Absolutely agree with the silly estate agent descriptions not being helpful. I would get rid of the 'sunkissed sanctuary' and similar - it tells the buyer nothing useful. I'd also remove/tone down the 'immaculate', 'beautifully presented' and 'recently renovated' language as to me, this all implies a perfect house, and although to me your house looks absolutely fine and totally liveable as is, it's not showhome standard. Perhaps just replace all that with 'new kitchen fitted in year xxxx', etc. Changing estate agents (at the same time as changing the listing price - it does seem as if reduction is inevitable, sorry) would seem like a good idea at this point.

I would definitely include the external wall insulation in the description as this is expensive/disruptive and I'd have thought would be a great selling point - it would be a massive plus point for me! I also like someone's idea above of mentioning where/when the garden gets the sun - and listing useful local amenities and other practical points. 

I see lots of differing opinions about the carpets above - for what it's worth, they wouldn't bother me unless they really smelled, so it's good that you're double checking that and that you're sorting the radiator too. As we're soon coming into spring, I'd consider trying to make the garden look a little more appealing if you can - neater grass and shrubs if nothing else - do you have any spare garden furniture (not old/falling apart!), or could you borrow any, that you could strategically place in a nice sunny corner? I say this because our garden went a very long way towards 'selling' our previous house - it was a mess before the house went on the market, so we spent time (not money, other than a few bright pot plants to cheer it up) tidying it up and turning it into a nice place to sit, had viewings on a nice sunny day, and everyone loved it!

Good luck

Thanks both; I guess the immaculate, beautifully presented and recently renovated refers to the fact that all the walls were redcorated/repainted a few weeks before going on the market. 

We are getting quite a lot of viewings so the fluff from the agents is attracting attention but I think quite a few people in the thread have mentioned that the use of this wording means it doesn't live up to the expectations when viewed. 

As such I'm wondering if "newly decorated throughout" would be better wording or if that would also imply that the carpets/flooring are new? 

Is it worth mentioning that a porch was added, which extended the footprint of the house? I want to also say how it helps heat the house because there's extra doors between the inside and outside of the house but without suggesting it's drafty I want to say that the porch was in 2022 but need to check my records. 

I think we thought the external wall insulation had been included in the description but obviously not. 

Schools, supermarkets, a number of pubs, the small local train station (it's not a massive one) and bus stop are all within walking distance - probably a maximum of 15 minutes but there are also good road links but it is a quiet street itself. 

The front of the house gets the sun in the morning, but the back of the house/back garden gets it from about 11am onwards, but even so, the living room stays nice and cool in summer. 

There is also planning permission with no time limit for a single storey extension off the back of the house and there's no time limit on this, but I don't know whether this would put people off because of the expense of actually building it? We've also previously had plans drawn up for a loft conversion and are happy to provide the plans but no other formalities have been done. Again not sure if it's worth mentioning because of the potential expense involved in going ahead with it. 

The loft is extensive - runs the full length of the house, the floor is boarded and you can stand up in the majority of it - some of the eaves are a bit low but I guess it depends on how tall you are. 

Unfortunately there is no garage or no new boiler. However, the front gated driveway can accomodate a number of cars. The back garden had a new patio installed at the very bottom of the garden in 2022 and some of the boarders had oak sleepers installed which should last about 30 years. 

There's also a metal shed in the garden, think it's 8 x 10 and has built in storage. 

RAS

It's definitely worth mentioning that the new patio gets the sun, but do clear all the fallen stuff off it if you want people to see the potential. Do any of your friends and old neighbours have a handyperson/gardener who could do a few hours tidying up around the garden and in front? 

Herzlos

How much would it cost you to get the house repainted in a less bold colour? Because that may be putting some viewers on.

Beyond that I'd make sure the carpets are clean, the house has been properly aired and heated before any viewings and get the garden and driveway weeks cleared at least before the estate agent takes better photos.

RAS

Herzlos said:

How much would it cost you to get the house repainted in a less bold colour? Because that may be putting some viewers on.

Beyond that I'd make sure the carpets are clean, the house has been properly aired and heated before any viewings and get the garden and driveway weeks cleared at least before the estate agent takes better photos.

You appear to have viewed photos of the house as Bailey1980 bought it? It's been repainted off-white as on page 1.

MultiFuelBurner

Alternatively take it off the market, do some things yourself and get ready for the Spring flurry of people wanting to move and put it back on the market then.

markin

RHemmings said:

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. 

I'm not sure any of that would fit in that room, AI room pictures are almost always poor and likely to just disappoint even more in person.

Bailey1980

RAS said:

It's definitely worth mentioning that the new patio gets the sun, but do clear all the fallen stuff off it if you want people to see the potential. Do any of your friends and old neighbours have a handyperson/gardener who could do a few hours tidying up around the garden and in front? 

No friends or neighbours have a handyperson/gardener, however, we have used the same renovations company  for all the work on the house over the last 7 years or so. They did do a garden tidy up before it went on the market but there was a delay between that and the photos. Again though I am worried about money; but deep down I know that spend a little now could make the difference. 

RAS said:

Herzlos said:

How much would it cost you to get the house repainted in a less bold colour? Because that may be putting some viewers on.

Beyond that I'd make sure the carpets are clean, the house has been properly aired and heated before any viewings and get the garden and driveway weeks cleared at least before the estate agent takes better photos.

You appear to have viewed photos of the house as Bailey1980 bought it? It's been repainted off-white as on page 1.

As RAS said it has been painted off white throughout. I'm going over to the house on Wednesday to check the carpets and get rid of the driveway weeds and check the garden weeds. 

Airing and heating the house before the viewings is difficult as we just handed all of the keys to the estate agents for them to just get on with it and plus due to work and caring commitments I can't be present before or during the viewings. 

MultiFuelBurner said:

Alternatively take it off the market, do some things yourself and get ready for the Spring flurry of people wanting to move and put it back on the market then.

We have toyed with taking it off the market so it is a consideration. 

markin said:

RHemmings said:

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. 

I'm not sure any of that would fit in that room, AI room pictures are almost always poor and likely to just disappoint even more in person.

The room did have a double bed, three door sliding wardrobe, two bed side tables and an ottoman but absolutely want to avoid setting high expectations which then disappoint.