Is everyone too stunned to comment? Overpriced, entiely impractical, cluttered and unwelcoming. I wonder why AW didn't ask them why they thought it hadn't sold?
While I had every sympathy with AW in trying to talk some sense into these sellers, I do hate the way he wants to banish the children. Even young professionals know what children are.....
And did I hear correctly that the child was sleeping in the sitting room. So when he went to bed - in the sitting room - they'd either have to be there with him or go to the bedroom? Well, at least they had a bedroom door by the end. After Grand Designs as well, I'm feeling very old-fashioned for wanting to close the door before I do the necessary.......
This couple expected their flat to earn them £200k in 5 years, or £40k per year, and to increase in value by 3x in the same period. And then they justified the price, not in terms of what someone else might feel happy to pay, but by what they *needed* to live somewhere decent! And then a cash buyer turned up ... surely not more window dressing for a happy ending? Not sure who was on what planet.
They must have been kicking themselves for not accepting the £290K they were offered originally. By the end of the prog they were glad to take the £280K on offer. I know nothing at all about prices in Islington, but the flat didn't seem grossly overpriced, not when compared to other London properties I've seen advertised.
What I didn't like about it wasn't so much the price as the state of the place. The kitchen was hideous, the lack of doors barmy, and the general clutter didn't help. I'd never want a property with a freestanding kitchen, either the vendors whip everything away anyway, or you are left with dirt collecting crevices everywhere. Freestanding kitchens went right out of fashion somewhere in the early 1950s, and for a very good reason - fitted units are far more hygienic. Cannot imagine why anyone would want one now, chef or no chef.
What Andrew said was sound commonsense. Although it sounds very heartless "getting rid" of the offspring and their belongings, you can see it makes sense.
hmmm - interesting - crazy lay out I know but the flat they took them to seemed like comparing apples to pears. It was modern with no garden and no 'character' - I'll take their word on the area not being so good too. Yes, it did seem overpriced but then again I don't know Islington of late. I suppose the question is - would any one viewer ever weigh up their period conversion against a new build - ie are they really the same market?
Yes, a fantastic offer for them and close to what they wanted too.
Connie - I think freestanding kitchens are making a come back - there are a fair few in the Ikea kitchen catalogue!
I'm becoming a bit suspicious about these kind of programmes. The buyer who always materialises but we never see them and all that... Also, wouldn't these houses have sold if they'd just got the price right? I'm sure untidiness is a problem as it means people can't really see the house but does it really have to look like a show home? The flat last night was a problem because it had no bath and the bedroom was off the sitting room.
No wonder they were so tetchy with Andrew, how on earth did they play 'mummies and daddies' with the children sleeping in the same room and there being no doors?! By the way I'd love my next house to be a £1million mansion, does that mean someone has to buy my flat for £1million?
The other thing they didn't mention is that their flat was on a really busy road. If you look it up on Hamptons its on Liverpool road which is one of the main thoroughfares in North London. Its also a basement flat. I can't believe anyone is mad enough to pay £280k for it. And the vendors did come across like complete spoilt brats.
I think it's a typical example of a couple who bought a studio because it's all they could afford (tho if they could fork out £50k for an extension it does make you wonder why they didn't buy a 1 bed in a slightly less expensive area)then when the babies came along needed to move and had big ideas. Studios are a disaster as a first home. Babies- I was advised to hide cats - difficult if viewings are during the day at work without you being there and you have one that stays all day - agreed with Andrew tho - the potential buyers were seeing it as a family home which it really wasn't and yes the kids could go out during viewings. Nice garden and the tidied up bedroom was terrific.
I meant to mention the fact that it was on a busy road. The garden was lovely and a big selling point but it was wiped out by the disadvantages. I was amazed when he said something on the lines of "We don't have any visitors". I'm not surprised when you consider that they would have had to sit in what was effectively a family bedroom and "powder their nose" in full view of the lot of them.
I agree that the kids could go out during some viewings but what if someone comes at 8pm. Is the toddler sent out in the dark? I did think his idea of them moving out was actually quite good. It really would have been impossible for them to live in that style.
Yes, that's it. It does look lovely but once you've seen the programme. It really was still a studio though the folding doors worked very well and the garden is fab. It's really only suitable for one person or - at a pinch - a couple with hardly any stuff.
I was amused by the girlfriend's comments when they were shown the comparable flat - Oh it's so bland and dull - well yes it would be until you moved in and made it your own. They were absolutely mad not to take the £290k they were originally offered and to hold out for more money which didn't happen as although they've now accepted an offer they have lost out. I applied to go on Selling Houses but my place must have just not been dirty or untidy enough.
Good to see an EA who knew what she was doing at last - it was clear that she had done her best but the vendors were completely impervious to her advice until Andrew came along. The guy was a nightmare, completely certain he was right despite all evidence to the contrary.
I have nothing against freestanding kitchens, but IMO they only work if the kitchen is a completely separate (and reasonably large) room. Having one in a studio flat just looked a mess.
This was one occasion when I thought Andrew was right, they had to get the kids out during viewings, simply because the property was so small.
If the initial offer hasn't come good, I wonder if potential buyers will be very disappointed - I bet the flat doesn't still look like it does in the pictures .
Right, I'm sticking my neck out here. I liked the flat before the makeover, I agree it had character and it was quite funky, yes it was cluttered but not massively, but in defence of AW I did love it afterwards esp the bedroom.
I felt it would have probably have benefitted more from a Matt James makeover to make more of an impact with that outside space though.
Originally posted by Cat Tyrrell: I was amused by the girlfriend's comments when they were shown the comparable flat - Oh it's so bland and dull - well yes it would be until you moved in and made it your own . . .
And also her comment that it sounded "hollow" - well, yes, it was empty!
Originally posted by dwaile: I really liked those folding doors - does anyone have any idea whether they were an off the shelf item (if so from where?) or made to measure
There is a list of stockists on the 4homes website, but it is not very helpful and I can't find where the doors came from. I thought they looked rather good, and were not that expensive either.
Maybe I missed a bit, but what did they do about the fact that it seemed you had to enter the flat via an understairs cupboard with a washing machine in it????
Originally posted by susiecam: Maybe I missed a bit, but what did they do about the fact that it seemed you had to enter the flat via an understairs cupboard with a washing machine in it????
Now you come to mention it, I don't think they showed that bit again. Odd
Well I only saw it up to the adverts - had to pop out somewhere. I've read all the posts and looked at the homepage at the "before and afters" - quite impressed, and the bedroom looked great.... but WHERE were the kids going to sleep!!??
the ea seemed ok BUT Andrew always talks like you have this one to one relationship with your ea where they are motivated and up to date with your needs and details. This is bull in my experience - they can barely remember who you are or what your house is like never mind making handy hints on decor or living arrangements. Ea's say 'drop the price' as a solution and this is what she had said. BUT I do not believe that she had pointed out to them that their home was so idiosyncratic in it's open plan lay out that it was putting buyers off. In my experience ea's simply do not go in to this level of detail with clients or even process information about your house sufficient to come up with any suggestions what so ever beyond 'drop the price'.
Didn't see the show but it sounds like I missed a corker!
My brother has a huge dining kitchen, with freestanding Ikea units - they look absolutely fantastic.
They also have the benefit of making the room look even bigger as you can see more of the floor space - with obvious implications for sweeping/ mopping.
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