Honest and critical views on this house invited...
Discussion
Hi All,
Our house has been on the Market for just over a week now and we were looking for some general feedback on the property portal listing... There are two tweaks I have in mind for the estate agent to action (detailed below), however it would be good to gather any further suggestions from the PH collective...
We are highly motivated vendors and have priced in the lower half of the 3 estate agents valuations we had carried out before picking our agent and going to market. Initial interest is quite positive, 2 separate viewings complete with one of the couples booking a second viewing and then cancelling as the shared access was an issue for them...
Here's a link to one of the portal listings:
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/36725221?...
The tweaks I have in mind are:
1) Include Photo of Garage - to me this was one of the biggest attractions for the property and feels this could draw more attraction from those whom a good garage is a priority.
2) Include further text surrounding the solar panels - these are mounted on the south facing elevation of the garage and not the house as we felt this would detract from the cottage.
Any further obvious improvements, suggestions on pictures, how the house is presented or changes to the particulars and honest feedback you have would be much appreciated
Ben.
Our house has been on the Market for just over a week now and we were looking for some general feedback on the property portal listing... There are two tweaks I have in mind for the estate agent to action (detailed below), however it would be good to gather any further suggestions from the PH collective...
We are highly motivated vendors and have priced in the lower half of the 3 estate agents valuations we had carried out before picking our agent and going to market. Initial interest is quite positive, 2 separate viewings complete with one of the couples booking a second viewing and then cancelling as the shared access was an issue for them...
Here's a link to one of the portal listings:
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/36725221?...
The tweaks I have in mind are:
1) Include Photo of Garage - to me this was one of the biggest attractions for the property and feels this could draw more attraction from those whom a good garage is a priority.
2) Include further text surrounding the solar panels - these are mounted on the south facing elevation of the garage and not the house as we felt this would detract from the cottage.
Any further obvious improvements, suggestions on pictures, how the house is presented or changes to the particulars and honest feedback you have would be much appreciated
Ben.
Is this the house from a previous thread with the skanky neighbours? Is your garage out of shot to the left in pic 15? Did you clean up their bit? Anyway, you have absolutely made the most of it, lovely decor and house congratulations.
I was slightly confused by no front door though...
You'll get a buyer for that if it's priced right for the area (no local knowledge).
Re: the listing, Pic 8 is out of sequence, and I can't picture where the garden is in relation to the house... so if you could give some sort of clue with pics then I'd do that.
Edit, oh I've worked it out now. Yes I'd include a pic of the garage looking down into the garden behind it, taken from the driveway. Completes the picture, so to speak.
I was slightly confused by no front door though...
You'll get a buyer for that if it's priced right for the area (no local knowledge).
Re: the listing, Pic 8 is out of sequence, and I can't picture where the garden is in relation to the house... so if you could give some sort of clue with pics then I'd do that.
Edit, oh I've worked it out now. Yes I'd include a pic of the garage looking down into the garden behind it, taken from the driveway. Completes the picture, so to speak.
Edited by hornetrider on Tuesday 12th May 08:22
Slightly confusing rear view from the pictures - is the garage the other side of the courtyard area from the extension? A photo showing that would probably be more desirable than a photo drawing attention to the neighbours' right of way.
Of the other photos, a couple make it look like the ceilings are low. They might be low, but if the photos were taken from a bit lower down it would be more enticing in the pics. Particularly no.7 with the varnished tongue and groove ceiling.
If you've only had it on the market a week (within which the general election fell) and interest seems good, I don't think there's much to worry about. Ads are there to get people through the door.
ETA: just noticed the word 'LIFESTYLE' in caps in the text; that needs changing
Of the other photos, a couple make it look like the ceilings are low. They might be low, but if the photos were taken from a bit lower down it would be more enticing in the pics. Particularly no.7 with the varnished tongue and groove ceiling.
If you've only had it on the market a week (within which the general election fell) and interest seems good, I don't think there's much to worry about. Ads are there to get people through the door.
ETA: just noticed the word 'LIFESTYLE' in caps in the text; that needs changing
Edited by Jobbo on Tuesday 12th May 08:25
It looks to me that the drive is shared with neighbors, and the garden is beyond that? If adding a garage pic (I agree you need to), it'd be good to show what the garden layout is.
Also, whilst it's good for privacy, that main gate is well minging! Was it not imposing enough before it was painted battleship gray?
Also, whilst it's good for privacy, that main gate is well minging! Was it not imposing enough before it was painted battleship gray?
Minor points:
Cut the lampost out of pic 1
Sack the midget photographer, I feel like gulliver
Personally I'd remove or at least paint the wood ceiling
Pic of garage is essential - I never understand why agents don't take photos of outbuildings - to me they are the most important parts.
I agree the gate looks harsh - could it be softened with a pattern or something
Cut the lampost out of pic 1
Sack the midget photographer, I feel like gulliver
Personally I'd remove or at least paint the wood ceiling
Pic of garage is essential - I never understand why agents don't take photos of outbuildings - to me they are the most important parts.
I agree the gate looks harsh - could it be softened with a pattern or something
Looks nice but as above, photo of garage rather than shared access.
Maybe front view with the gates open?
Why so many bunk beds? :-) looks like a hostel dormitory.
Just looks very sparse. Maybe a few pictures? Bit of dressing up?
Overall you've done a lovely job with it.
Great kitchen and bathroom.
Maybe front view with the gates open?
Why so many bunk beds? :-) looks like a hostel dormitory.
Just looks very sparse. Maybe a few pictures? Bit of dressing up?
Overall you've done a lovely job with it.
Great kitchen and bathroom.
The neighbouring property appears to have vehicular access rather than simply access on foot?
Assuming that's corrrect, then my thoughts/fears as a viewer would be access disputes in the future because if they (the neighbours) wanted to drive in, they'd have to first navigate those prison style gates which presumably aren't electric? That's just a hassle......Then there's the privacy issue. Is the property genuinely priced to reflect the access issue?
Otherwise it's a really nice house. I would however loose the T&G ceilings or at least paint them all. The brick fireplace also looks a bit odd/contrived to me.
Do include garage photo if it's a decent facility and make sure floor plans are up.
Also, consider removing the access details from the particulars. It may be somewhat underhand, but it will get more people viewing - the agents could then explain the issue/non issue properly when the viewers can see it for themselves.
Assuming that's corrrect, then my thoughts/fears as a viewer would be access disputes in the future because if they (the neighbours) wanted to drive in, they'd have to first navigate those prison style gates which presumably aren't electric? That's just a hassle......Then there's the privacy issue. Is the property genuinely priced to reflect the access issue?
Otherwise it's a really nice house. I would however loose the T&G ceilings or at least paint them all. The brick fireplace also looks a bit odd/contrived to me.
Do include garage photo if it's a decent facility and make sure floor plans are up.
Also, consider removing the access details from the particulars. It may be somewhat underhand, but it will get more people viewing - the agents could then explain the issue/non issue properly when the viewers can see it for themselves.
Excellent response already... Just to clear up a few questions that already seem to have cropped up.
Yes next door have vehicular access through to the back of their property but seldom use it, they live away and when they do return for a weekend they park on the street and use front door...
The reason for the 2 bunks in one room is the exact same reason were upsizing (5 ankle biters in total and 4 girls in the one room). We did try auctioning off a few of them off but no takers on the day
Yes the sofa is configured this way as the TV is the opposite end of the lounge...
Point taken re: T&G in the girls room, I was considering splashing some paint around the room for freshen it up so will also do the woodwork in white.
The gates are indeed F&B green and not grey. Maybe not to everyone's personal taste but secure for the kids and dogs playing in the drive and garden. I don't mind removing and taking them with us if the purchaser doesn't like them...
Some good additional points with regards to envisaging where the garden is in relation to the house etc... If taken correctly then a good photo of the garage also showing the garden beyond will help capture this point. I also take the point of the shared access gates (field gates) re-taking the photo of the back of the property to remove some focus from this is another one to add onto my list.
Floor plans are on the listing already under (second TAB on the listing)
Thank you for all of your input so far, all taken onboard and will be discussed with the agent in due coarse. The more feedback the better, as previously mentioned we are motivated and need to move up the ladder so any little improvements we can make we are willing to implement so as we get people through the door and hopefully an offer on the table
Yes next door have vehicular access through to the back of their property but seldom use it, they live away and when they do return for a weekend they park on the street and use front door...
The reason for the 2 bunks in one room is the exact same reason were upsizing (5 ankle biters in total and 4 girls in the one room). We did try auctioning off a few of them off but no takers on the day
Yes the sofa is configured this way as the TV is the opposite end of the lounge...
Point taken re: T&G in the girls room, I was considering splashing some paint around the room for freshen it up so will also do the woodwork in white.
The gates are indeed F&B green and not grey. Maybe not to everyone's personal taste but secure for the kids and dogs playing in the drive and garden. I don't mind removing and taking them with us if the purchaser doesn't like them...
Some good additional points with regards to envisaging where the garden is in relation to the house etc... If taken correctly then a good photo of the garage also showing the garden beyond will help capture this point. I also take the point of the shared access gates (field gates) re-taking the photo of the back of the property to remove some focus from this is another one to add onto my list.
Floor plans are on the listing already under (second TAB on the listing)
Thank you for all of your input so far, all taken onboard and will be discussed with the agent in due coarse. The more feedback the better, as previously mentioned we are motivated and need to move up the ladder so any little improvements we can make we are willing to implement so as we get people through the door and hopefully an offer on the table
Tiny thing, but it grates with me how often the listing says "lifestyle" - it appears 4 times in 4 lines, made worse by it being written LIFESTYLE at one point with bad formatting around it.
I don't mean this in any kind of derogatory way, but at this level people aren't buying a lifestyle.
I don't mean this in any kind of derogatory way, but at this level people aren't buying a lifestyle.
Can't see much wrong with that other than the access issue. The fact that your current neighbours don't use it is neither here nor there - future neighbours may use it every day. However, there's nothing you can do about that so, provided it's priced correctly, that shouldn't be too much of an issue.
More pics of the garden and garage would be good.
Re the gate, I think having to get out and open it is a safety bonus. If you have an electric opener then neighbours may be tempted to breeze in at speed and flatten someone coming out of the back door.
P.S. get some tubs of flowers in the rear yard in front of your extension and to make a passageway from the back door into the yard. It looks a bit like a pub car park at present so something to lift it would be good.
More pics of the garden and garage would be good.
Re the gate, I think having to get out and open it is a safety bonus. If you have an electric opener then neighbours may be tempted to breeze in at speed and flatten someone coming out of the back door.
P.S. get some tubs of flowers in the rear yard in front of your extension and to make a passageway from the back door into the yard. It looks a bit like a pub car park at present so something to lift it would be good.
Edited by Bluebarge on Tuesday 12th May 10:20
Think your point about the lack of garage shots is the biggest factor, along with as mentioned the low looking ceilings and that the exterior layout is fairly confusing, I gave up trying to work it out.
Lovely house but it looks a bit like the house was decorated before colour was invented, which personally wouldn't put me off as I know paint exists but you never know.
Lovely house but it looks a bit like the house was decorated before colour was invented, which personally wouldn't put me off as I know paint exists but you never know.
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