Why is this house not selling? Constructive criticism needed

Why is this house not selling? Constructive criticism needed

Author
Discussion

MajorProblem

4,700 posts

163 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Price is too high.

If you want to know what people will pay then enter it in a property auction.

Edited by MajorProblem on Monday 22 December 18:20

eldar

21,614 posts

195 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Muncher said:
I think the way it is presented is fine, in all honesty the photos don't really make a lot of difference to me, I would only be interested in area (streetview) and the floorplan, the photos are a secondary concern to be honest. Photo 7 may look a bit "old" to some people, but it won't stop people viewing. Everyone will decorate it anyway and I don't need a photo to show me what a 3x4m room looks like.

If it's not moving it's just too expensive I'm afraid.
It looks reasonable, nothing there to say avoid. As you say price, is it realistic. Has the estate agent be chosen because they valued it highest?

oldcynic

2,166 posts

160 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
I know nothing about the pricing in that area, but I do know the photos are awful.

Photo 1: has a tree blocking the view of the front of the house
Photo 2: kitchen is very cluttered. Remove everything except maybe kettle, toaster and kitchen roll. Definitely remove plastic draining board thing. Try to get a better perspective.
Photo 3/4: Rent some storage. Lose the desk, chest, DVD storage etc. Move the dining table & 4 chairs in there. Spread the lounge out.
Photo 5: lose the clutter - shampoo bottles, mats, towels. Work out if two photos would be better - it a bit odd looking in through the shower wall.
Photo 6: lose the clutter - everything on top of the drawers & wardrobes, also whatever is under the drawers
Photo 7: lose the clutter, sort out the bed with neutral bedding and a nicely fitting valence
8, 9, 10: look OK to me.

It's probably easier to take your own photos and ask the agent to use them and get some much better angles/perspectives, otherwise get the agent back for a fresh set and be much more directive - the current photos could probably be taken from much better angles.

She needs to sell a blank canvas - not her style. Overall the decor doesn't come across badly in the photos (to me), but there's stuff everywhere and it detracts from the presentation. Everyone knows you need shampoo and towels in the bathroom, but the bathroom looks better without!

ATG

20,480 posts

271 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
^ what eldar said. Assuming she talked to a few agents before putting the house on the market, what range of valuations did they give her? Is she getting viewings, but no offers, or not even getting viewings? Has the estate agent suggested dropping the price, or tarting the place up? I'd be asking what the estate agent thought before asking the PH collective.

jas xjr

11,309 posts

238 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Surely the agent should be advising the vendor. Lazy feckers

Edited for auto correct



Edited by jas xjr on Monday 22 December 19:44

h0b0

7,557 posts

195 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Two Issues I see.

1) your friend doesn't want to sell the property judging by the photos. Most people being "forced" don't. It's not the estate agents job to tidy up.
2) anyone that has looked at property in this price bracket has a moment of clarity. Surely the South East weighting of wages doesn't cover the double cost of property to live in an uninspiring I don't live in the SE but there seems to be a lot of misplaced snobbery about doing so.

panholio

1,078 posts

147 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Not really any help to you OP but it is depressing that nearly £400k buys you that.

Just to put it in perspective even at a 10% deposit you would be looking at £1600 a month on a 25 year mortgage. Affordability on that would be looking at a fairly hefty income. (80k-100k). Mental, it looks nice inside but it's a miserable looking house, and you need to have done pretty bloody well for yourself if you are under about 35 to even afford it.

My advice is drop the price.

RichB

51,430 posts

283 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
h0b0 said:
...there seems to be a lot of misplaced snobbery about doing so.
Maybe it's nothing to do with that, maybe it's simply random chance as to where one is born, grows up and establishes friends and family.

OP asked for constructive comments and while I've not added anything neither do comments about snobbery and Fredclogs remarks.

h0b0

7,557 posts

195 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
RichB said:
h0b0 said:
...there seems to be a lot of misplaced snobbery about doing so.
Maybe it's nothing to do with that, maybe it's simply random chance as to where one is born, grows up and establishes friends and family.

OP asked for constructive comments and while I've not added anything neither do comments about snobbery and Fredclogs remarks.
Point 1 I made was constructive though. Anyone that wanted to sell their house would at least straighten the towels. Point 2 was social commentary.

CoolHands

18,496 posts

194 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
pics look alright to me - who cares about stuff on the kitchen counter?

Price. Drop 10k every two weeks and suddenly you'll hit the price point where everyone wants it.

Sheepshanks

32,522 posts

118 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
FredClogs said:
My suggestion would be that nobody wants to spend £350k+ to live in an 'orrible 3 bed place on a charmless estate in Maidenhead. Seriously. People of the SE - the writing is on the wall.
A colleague recently sold a semi in Maidenhead for asking price, shade under £500K, the weekend it went up for sale. EA thought he could get more but colleague was concerned the stamp duty step might cause a problem and he needed a quick sale. Loads of people came to look and several offered asking price. Many were renting and appeared desperate to buy. His biggest problem was choosing which buyer to go with. Sale went through fine.


ETA: Just noticed the house in question isn't in Maidenhead. It's in Holyport.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Monday 22 December 20:25

oldnbold

1,280 posts

145 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
I don't know the area specificly, bit a quick search on rightmove would lead me to believe that it is very overpriced. A 3 bed detached for the same money half a mile away

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Obviously just before christmas is not a great time to sell, but I think she needs to drop the price at least £15k and see what responce she gets.

RichB

51,430 posts

283 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
h0b0 said:
RichB said:
h0b0 said:
...there seems to be a lot of misplaced snobbery about doing so.
Maybe it's nothing to do with that, maybe it's simply random chance as to where one is born, grows up and establishes friends and family.

OP asked for constructive comments and while I've not added anything neither do comments about snobbery and Fredclogs remarks.
Point 1 I made was constructive though. Anyone that wanted to sell their house would at least straighten the towels. Point 2 was social commentary.
Point 1 - I agree
Point 2 - sounded more like ignorance about why people may chose to live in the SE.

I notice you ignored my point about why it may be something other than snobbery.

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Purely the price.

People look on street view and what other houses have sold for.

Presentation not a biggie anymore as £10k can sort most bathrooms and decorating.

Is she getting viewings? Presumably not.

Drop the price to offers over £200k and it will sell for market value as people will bid over asking.

Looks very dear to me for an old small house.

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
CoolHands said:
pics look alright to me - who cares about stuff on the kitchen counter?

Price. Drop 10k every two weeks and suddenly you'll hit the price point where everyone wants it.
Bingo. I'd do £20k every 2 weeks.

CAFEDEAD

222 posts

114 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Price.

It's so ugly I'd never want it, but if it's cheap enough someone will. Nothing else significantly wrong with the marketing of it.

russ_a

4,568 posts

210 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
I'm glad I don't live in the SE if that what £380k buys!

sjg

7,444 posts

264 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
A colleague recently sold a semi in Maidenhead for asking price, shade under £500K, the weekend it went up for sale. EA thought he could get more but colleague was concerned the stamp duty step might cause a problem and he needed a quick sale. Loads of people came to look and several offered asking price. Many were renting and appeared desperate to buy. His biggest problem was choosing which buyer to go with. Sale went through fine.


ETA: Just noticed the house in question isn't in Maidenhead. It's in Holyport.

Edited by Sheepshanks on Monday 22 December 20:25
Yep, a friend had a similar experience selling in Maidenhead recently. Big difference - hers was 5 mins walk from the station. This is nowhere near it.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
If £370k can buy the second property then she needs to reduce the price or wait until the second one is sold and hope people are still as desperate.

There was a property in New Malden that didn't sell for £450k. Needed a st load of work according to my sister who viewed it. Seller pulled it. Put it back on the market at £490k about 3 months later. Sold!!

nightwalker

3,553 posts

186 months

Monday 22nd December 2014
quotequote all
Wow! I sold one of a similar size and style two years ago and being in Wilmslow, Cheshire attracts a premium but I was genuinely shocked when I clicked the link, and saw that price! It's is on for nearly double what mine sold for, as others have said on face value it's hugely over priced, especially if other properties locally have sold for much less.

Drop the price gradually as mentioned and you will find the buyer.