Marketing a special house

[Coco H]

My parents are going to sell up at some point in 3-7 years time. They have a large old country house with separate cottage, stables, pool, barns, land etc etc within 50 miles of London. Near enough to a good station.

The house was last done up well over 20 years ago and is very erm dated and floral.Luckily there is a vast kitchen with aga in a non-offensive colour. My father has been a part-time developer for over 30 years and is doing up the house again - more neutral, getting rid of rag-rolling and all those paint effects. It has a vast amount of character and filled with fantastic stuff.

I would be really interested to know if anyone here deals with this type of property or is looking to buy such a property - it is a true family home. My parents are now of the older generation - is there anything people are looking for today that they are unlikely to think of - such as cabelling etc. Any presentation ideas - I am trying to steer my mother to remove the items such as books and pictures that seem to cover all available tables and worksurfaces! I want to help them as best as I can - they don't want to go.

[Coco H]

Tonker I shall send you a message. I agree on the part done up bit and people wanting to put their own stamp on it - after all when they moved in they spent over 2 years re-doing it whilst we lived in the cottage.

[mk1fan]

Coco H said:

I want to help them as best as I can

If you know nothing of the market or the potential purchasers then the best you can do is keep your nose out. You're on a long slippery slope to a huge list of potential 'wants'. From CAT-6 IT wiring to home cinema to underground car parking to home gym.

If your father is a developer then he'll need no help.

If the property is as 'top market' as implied then why not suggest getting some advice from an interior designer with a brief to make it as widely appealling as possible. Their fee would be good value against the value of the property.

[K50 DEL]

Can't help with your query, but would love to see some photos!

[Coco H]

Thank you all. Tonker's thoughts are on the same lines as mine. I think for the moment I will keep my nose as I think my parents know what they are doing but I worry about them. They are not as young as they used to be and in this case, there will be a large emotional investment in the sale. Selling the family home is not going to be easy. I would not normally dream of poking my nose in as my father is the one people normally turn to when they are thinking of selling but I worry that the emotional side of things could cloud rational jusgement. I am glad that the list of expected wants is so varied no point doing any of them.
I don't think it is by any means top of the market. Just that large old family houses dont' come onto the market that often plus the area it is in is expensive to me at least.
Interior advice I am sure will be forthcoming from various friends all of whom regularly deal with this type of house.

My mind is at rest now. Sometimes just airing your thoughts can be enough !

Edited by Coco H on Thursday 9th December 11:39