buying a house when it's presented in this sort of fashion?
I personally wouldn't be. But since there have been so many TV programs etc on the subject of the positive effect on salability by decluttering your home, I was wondering what your views are on this.
So, would you be put off? Or do you perhaps just think a potential buyer would be? How far would you go or have you gone to declutter in order to sell?
We decluttered. We had three sofas in the front room which put off a couple of viewers because they thought the room was small instead of seeing it was big enough to have three sofas (comfortably - not jammed in). We also packed away most of the books/CDs/DVDs/videos and got rid of five bookcases. But the decluttering and re-photographing, (in our case) made no difference. The people who bought were local, knew what the house was like inside (layout wise) because his bestfriend lived two doors down. The price reduction got it sold, not the decluttering.
The only things that put me off this house are - you don't see the mould growing / damp patch behind the 'stuff' - that you don't get a good feel for the room sizes - the worry that their idea of packing is to take the things they want to keep and leave everything else
But I think the house is nice and if the kids were older and we were moving to that area (and I had the money) etc. then it would be worth a look-see.
I wouldn't buy it, not because it's cluttered, but because it's in Homerton.
That's the first thing that struck me. £360k for a 3 bed in Hackney! And some people still think that rising house prices are a positive thing for the UK. I just don't get it.
Anyway, whilst I'd like to think that I would see past clutter, there are 2 concerns. Clutter can hide various problems with damp etc (as mentioned above). It can also make rooms seem smaller.
That's actually quite funny - that someone made absolutely no attempt whatseover even to tidy up! That "Selling Houses" bloke would have a heart attack!
Clutter in itself wouldn't put me off, but if they live in this state, are they really likely to have maintained the infrastructure? Potentially a lovely early Victorian townhouse, it looks ropey outside, and could cost a huge amount if serious work was needed.
It's Homerton location makes it doubtful you would ever recoup serious investment unless you paid peanuts for it.
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Why would the EA publish those pictures!!! Surely a good EA would advise them to declutter first? We went to see a cluttered house and whilst I could see past their crap I find it bizarre that anyone has managed to miss all the house selling shows on TV.
It's a fabulous house. Not sure if I would be put off by the clutter, depends how bad it seems when you are actually there. But as another poster said - clutter can hide all sorts of problems so I may be dubious.
It's a beautiful house and I would be seriously tempted. But I wouldn't even go to view as I am a little bit squeamish and it looks as if it is that cluttered it also might smell.
Originally posted by decca: It's a beautiful house and I would be seriously tempted. But I wouldn't even go to view as I am a little bit squeamish and it looks as if it is that cluttered it also might smell.
I'd be less worryed about the smell and more worried about getting shot/stabbed/mugged.
Ok, put it this way. If your dying moments are going to be face down in the hallway- you don't want to be thinking 'What IS that smell off the carpet?'
I wouldn't touch the area with a bargepole, but that aside...
It's clean clutter, rather than dirty clutter, so no that wouldn't put me off. I would, though, request that they cleared space for the surveyor to take a proper look at the place, and factor in a redecoration reduction in my offer based on the fact that I would have to redecorate every single room to remove all the nails, fill them in, and make the place look nice.
It would depend how the place felt, but with the heaps of stuff in patches, I would wonder about the size of the property, if there was such a lack of storage that so many rooms needed to become junk rooms. The wall decorations... a matter of taste... not mine... and as I say, I would want money off to re-decorate after they have removed everything.... and probably try to stipulate that the house should be cleared before I move in.
Ary.
-------------------------------------- ***Do not, I repeat Do NOT feed the Trolls! *** *** All Hail the mighty hamsters! ***
Oooh-er! I especially like the fridge and huge hat in the, er, master bedroom. As for being put off, I think I would be. On the positive side it appears from the pictures that most rooms except for the paint effect kitchen are done in neutral colours, so perhaps not too much decorating. However, I couldn't help wondering if people who won't even tidy their home to sell ever tidied it, or maintained it for that matter. Would I therefore be taking on something that had been left to quietly fall apart for the last few years or longer?
When selling my last house I didn't declutter because I didn't have any clutter to start with, but I did clean and tidy all over. I think that creates a positive impression about the seller as well as the property.
To be honest I would be put off by the pics. To me they imply there isn't enough storage space. Also if the occupier is as dis-organised as their living space suggests I wouldn't be sure how smoothly any purchase would be. As I've been to Homerton a few times before I'd echo the views of some earlier posters. Absolute hell hole of a place - didn't feel safe there in daytime as a bloke. Complete no-go area at night.
i had my baby in the homerton hospital, when he's grown up he can pretend he's dead 'ard coz he was born in the ghetto.
wouldn't touch hackey in general with a bargepole, but house looks lovely underneath all that crap, still wouldn't pay that amount of money for it though
Originally posted by ovalyellow: £360k does seem a ludicrous price unless you could turn it into flats.
TBH the price is actually not that ludicrous.
Compare it to this much smaller one in the same borough, but yes a 'nicer' part (and I should know cause that's where I reside )
These prices are actually paid around here nowadays. And most (period) properties sell fast.
Honestly there are some really nice parts in Hackney. (Yes, perhaps Homerton isn't one of them, but even here, improvement might be on the way: it will be right on the Olympic Village's doorstep.
Originally posted by pont: Honestly there are some really nice parts in Hackney.
Are you sure?
There are some nice properties in Hackney and the one you linked to is proof of that, but the area is dreadful. I had the misfortune of living there for 6 months and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Originally posted by ovalyellow: £360k does seem a ludicrous price unless you could turn it into flats.
TBH the price is actually not that ludicrous.
Compare it to this much smaller one in the same borough, but yes a 'nicer' part (and I should know cause that's where I reside )
These prices are actually paid around here nowadays. And most (period) properties sell fast.
Honestly there are some really nice parts in Hackney. (Yes, perhaps Homerton isn't one of them, but even here, improvement might be on the way: it will be right on the Olympic Village's doorstep.
You're right Pont, there are some nice bits. 3 years ago I persuaded close friends of mine to move up from Essex but against my advice, rented a trendy flat in the middle of Dalston. They are not squeamish types, but after a year went running back to Essex shouting what a hellhole London was. There were, however, absolutely stunning Victorian houses (and a nice pub) just around the corner. Trouble is, you have to get there. The walk down from Hackney Downs has to be one of the most unpleasant experiences in London. (Said couple are now bored sh*tless in Essex and are moving back up, but to a slightly less grim area this time!).
Broadway Market is cool these days (and The Dove a fine pub), but again, I hate getting there on public transport. This is the story for so much of East London - I've often thought about starting a thread asking for others' experiences/opinions of the area.
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i want their guitars 
All Hail the mighty hamsters! 
