We have been on the market for a little over 1 month, and have had a few viewings (four, I think) and one even offered - although this was pretty punchy and we rejected it. Now we're worried we were too hasty, and I'm panicking that we're never going to sell (patience was never my strong point! )

However, we have had a couple of people say the bedrooms are too small. Now, they aren't big, but that is clear from the details. The only thing I can think of is that I could change our chest of drawers for a smaller model, and this might enable us to move the bed away from the wall in the main bedroom. But is this a waste of time/money?

What do people think?

These are the details and if you want a virtual tourclick here and choose properties for sale, Bovey Tracey Office, and ours is the Modern 3 Bed in Chudleigh Knighton at £157,500... The main bed is described as Bedroom 2 in the virtual tour, but it is the blue one!

Feedback gratefully received (generally as well as specifically), as I will go and do the Ikea thing, but only if will help!

Your comment of small bedrooms is correct however, this is the curse of modern new build whereby the Developer turns a 2 bedder into a 3 bedder by making the bedrooms smaller and thereby obtain more money for the property in the selling process.
I believe your viewers are probably correct in what they are saying.

I think people do find it difficult to work out exactly how small a room is from the details - and I'm afraid that your main (blue) bedroom does look very small. I say that as someone with a very small bedroom myself! Could you lose the chest-of-drawers altogether? Is there somewhere else you can store clothes?

Lovely house. I'm sure it will sell if you have it priced for the market. Your EA has valued it according to the local market. Don't be tempted to reduce it or you may look desperate. Someone will come along soon enough. It's only been 4 weeks... Just be patient...

I wouldn't bother getting a new chest of drawers. Surely folks can see beyond someone else's decor. Can't they?

I love your cat!!

quote:

Originally posted by Hatster:
Could you lose the chest-of-drawers altogether? Is there somewhere else you can store clothes?

What! A fashionista like me!

Seriously, we need something to keep underwear in! It's that old thing, we have already put a ton of stuff in storeage, and are struggling to "live" in our "show-home"!

And following on from a comment on another thread... I have two of those cats and cream carpets (and I couldn't live without my Dyson Animal!!!)

Hi
Firstly I would like to say what a lovely house you have and I also know exactly how you feel about worrying over your sale (been on the market about 2 months and nothing!! but think that is down to price and another story!). What I will say is that as a buyer myself I too find it hard to visualise size just from printed details. I think also that it depends on the layout of rooms eg where the window, door, fitted wardrobes etc can also affect the whole suitability of a room and not just the size.
Looking at your details I would say that you have one double and 2 single bedrooms. Although from the pictures your main bedroom (blue one with wardrobes)seems smaller than bed 2!!In bed 2 is the bed there also pushed up against a wall? Again it may be due to only being able to have the bed in one position as seems the case in bed 1.
The only thing that I can think of to make the room look bigger is to possibly put your double bed in storage and buy (or rent if you can?) a single bed? However you may not want to do this if this room is being marketed as the main bedroom.
Anyway Im sure that you will have no problems selling. Good luck!

If you are getting anything for the room I would get a 3/4 size bed and lose the chest of drawers. There are underbed storage drawers that you can get fairly cheaply, around £20. Use that for your underwear instead.

quote:

Originally posted by iguana:
If you are getting anything for the room I would get a 3/4 size bed.

Does anyone know if Ikea or anywhere similar make 3/4 size beds - usually non-standard stuff costs a fortune and I don't have one to spend on furniture I don't need! (The intention was to put a new chest of drawers in our new guest bedroom...wherever it may be )

Yes, Ikea do them. You can also get beds designed for older children from Argos. stick an adult duvet on, and no-one will know it's not a full single (for a single room).

Try E-Bay for cheaper second hand 3/4 size beds for a smaller double bedroom.

That said, it's only been a month. You obviously thoought the house was big enough. If you can create a sense of space with enough empty surfaces (floor / shelves), then you should be able to sell your property without any extra purchases.

The under bed storage was an excellent idea, which should allow you to remove some of the clutter (nothing personal, we all have it. It's part of life) from view without inconveniencing yourself too much.

Ary.

Whatever you do, don't move the bed away from the wall (unless you get a single) as it will (imho) give the impression of even less space as you end up with minimal walking space on both sides of the bed, rather than proper walking space on one side - I always insist on at least 2.5ft walking space.

P.S. Your cats are beautiful!

We really can't get a single - this is the Master Bedroom afterall, for better or for worse!

If we get rid of the chest of drawers completly, won't people think "oh, there's obviously no room for a chest of drawers" (this is on the assumption that they can't see past the existing decor, Donnadonna! )

Besides, I can't be the only person out there with a bed against a master bedroom wall? As Melboy says, this is modern-house-syndrome... does it bother anyone else? Or am I alone?

(Don't get me wrong, in an ideal world, we all go for as much space as we can of course, but the house is realisticly priced taking this into account...)

quote:

Originally posted by englishriviera:

Besides, I can't be the only person out there with a bed against a master bedroom wall? As Melboy says, this is modern-house-syndrome... does it bother anyone else? Or am I alone?

Hehe! I have a double bed against a master bedroom wall (but there is only me sleeping in it!). I moved it to make room for a small setee and treat the space as an occasional living room. Reminds me of my student bed-sit days!

For the devon area, and considering the room sizes, I would say its fairly expensive for what it is. Try holding out for a bit, and see what happens. 4 weeks is too early to get worried. If after a few months there is no interest, then its overpriced!

If I am buying furniture that I have no intention of keeping long term I buy it on e-bay, and when I'm done I sell it on e-bay. That way it ends up costing very little, or if you're lucky you can even make a small profit.

quote:

Originally posted by englishriviera:
I can't be the only person out there with a bed against a master bedroom wall? As Melboy says, this is modern-house-syndrome... does it bother anyone else? Or am I alone?

I had heard that bedrooms were small in newer builds, but I am gobsmacked to see just how small they are (having always lived in older houses).

How can two people sleep in a bed which has one side against the wall? The unlucky one has to get in and out of the bed by climbing out of the end. And no bedside table, just wouldn't work for me. We live in a very ordinary Victorian terraced house but your master bedroom is the same size as our smallest bedroom - we have a 4ft bed in there as it is only for occasional use by guests.

But that aside it's a lovely house, good luck with finding a buyer soon.

My bedroom's the same size as my living room. Okay so the living room's a bit small but it's what you get for two up/two down!

quote:

If we get rid of the chest of drawers completly, won't people think "oh, there's obviously no room for a chest of drawers" (this is on the assumption that they can't see past the existing decor, Donnadonna! )

Besides, I can't be the only person out there with a bed against a master bedroom wall? As Melboy says, this is modern-house-syndrome... does it bother anyone else? Or am I alone?

You are right. no chest of drawers / wardrobe will say "no room for clothes".

No, you aren't the only person with your bed against the wall. I have mine tucked away against the wall to give me more room. By choice.

Ary.

Your house is gorgeous!!!!
We have a 3 bed new build and what has always let us down on the sale is the 3rd bedroom is only 6ft 6 by 6ft 9!!!!
However,someone will come along who doesn't mind and really onlt needs 2 beds and will use the 3rd as a study,just like happened to us.You just have to wait to get the right person through your door!!!You haven't been on the market that long so just sit tight.

wow, that's a tiny bedroom dd... I would call that a 2.5 bed house, or 2 bed plus nursery house... but as you say, some people will just be grateful to have a 3rd room to put something / someone in within a property in a price bracket they can afford.

Ary.

ps. House looks fine. 1 double room, 2 singles, that's all most people need anyway. You should be fine.

Ary.

Its a lovely house englishriviera. I hope you get a sale soon.

Just had a review of the property spec of my flat and even the only bedroom (+ airing cupboard) is larger than your master bedroom (13'7 x 8'6).

I hate new build, but as "recently built" (but not modern) houses go, it looks quite neat to me. My bro is trying to buy in North Devon at present, and I would have said the price looks reasonable - but I don't know the area well enough. Agents have done a nice job by the way.

The bedrooms are minute - there's no way around that - which, were it a cutesy 150 year old cottage packed with period charm, folk would put up with, but are less likely to in a new build. I had the same problem with the house I have just sold; a 2 bed 1902 terrace that I bought totally refurbed by a developer 4 years previously. As usual, he had turned it into a 3 bed by knicking space from front bedroom and squeezing bathroom to make a tiny 3rd bed.

For buyers really needing 3 beds it was a problem, but it flew (and at a good price) as the main bed was still very decent size-wise, and the rest was very cute/full of character.

I actually took the bed out of my 3rd, and just showed it as a storage room saying "you could can easily get a single bed in". Your main problem is that all 3 beds are tiny.

Like everything else, it will go if the price is right. If cat was to remain, I pay full asking (absolutely gorgeous!!).