Selling a house

There was a lovely large utility room in the house I grew up in which was known as the Dooferall (do-for-all) and maybe in my next (last?) home I shall use that term again!

He hasn't gone with this agent BTW
We all know how agents work. There was £35k difference between the highest and lowest valuation. I'm not sure where his came.

A utility room is definitely a selling point. Get another agent, as it does sound like a ploy to get a quick sale (as Synonymous said).

It's really nothing to do with the agent how the house is configured - it's his job to concentrate on its best points and to sell it, not critique it.

Rather than clutter up what sounds like a very attractive kitchen/dining area, I think it is far preferable to have a separate utility room where the washing machine, tumble dryer, vacuum, and other domestic bits and pieces can be housed.

Anyone would have a utility room given space. We have moved many times and now have a utility room the size of many kitchens. It has coats, boots, washing machine and tumble dryer, dog and cat food and bowls, bread maker, spare fridge, clothes airer, wine rack. .....and a lot of crap other useful stuff along with a 'dirty sink' for washing dog bowls and paint brushes. Wouldn't be without one. Ignore him
He is likely 23 with spiky gelled hair and no idea of what makes a home tick!

mollie I could not agree more. I have a shower in a fully tiled bathroom and if it is described correctly, if people want a bath in the house they will not view.

My kitchen was designed by a man who must have lived on takeaways and took his washing home to mum to do because the kitchen is so small.

We lack a utility room here! I have to make do with the downstaies loo which has to house the washing machine ..and understairs cupboard which has all the "clutter". If I coud have had one added I would!!

Wouldn't take any notice, wouldn't change anything either. We took our bath out and installed a large shower and everyone said it would affect a sale. It didn't. We got 9 offers and sold the house two days after it went on sale. No one who viewed (and we had 15 viewings) said the lack of a bath was a problem. As long as the description is accurate people make their own mind up. If it's a deal breaker they don't view, if it's something they don't like but are willing to change they'll view. Don't waste money making changes.

And get three valuations

and brooms, brushes, buckets, polythene bags, picnic bags, the ironing board and iron plus plants that are a bit dormant.

I bet the estate agent was a man!

We built on a utility room, it was invaluable when the DC were young. Shoes, coats, washing machine, tumble drier, fridge/freezer and another freezer plus a sink and cupboards. I keep tins and home-made jams and chutneys in one of the cupboards because it is cooler out there plus a lot of spare junk and other essentials.

change agents, they are fault finding and nit picking in my experience and Ive sold 3 houses in my lifetime. Two when my DH was alive and one alone and they really try to take advantage. You have to be on the ball. Anyway nowadays you can sell a house via the internet and it is supposed to be much less costly.

The only thing my utility lacks is a large sink and it would not be a big job as water is there for washing machine but we have never got round to it and rather late in the day now.

I would love a utility room personally, I have my washing machine, freezer and tumble drier in the garage which can be accessed through an internal door in the hall. Not the same as a purpose built utility room imo.

I really value having a small separate utility room. It's where you can keep the "stuff". A cupboard with brooms and garden coats etc. its cooler than the kitchen and we can keep food to cool out there. We also have an overhead rack for clothes drying. Plant cuttings in jars on the window ledge etc etc.

I would love to have a utility room and I guess that most women would! Different if he said that the house would sell more quickly if the flock wall paper was removed from the lounge and the wall painted white but to make remarks about what sounds like a lovely kitchen and utility, he should sling his hook.

One potential purchasers no-no is another potential purchasers, yes-yes.

Look at the houses on any new housing estate and almost all come with utility rooms, so I suspect your agent was just voicing a personal preference. Personally, DD extended her house simply to add a utility room.

The agent may be wanting to use the presence of the untility room to get you to agree to accept a lower price if you get an offer.

Estate agents often lack social skills.
I think my nomination for the worst was a chap showing us around a Muslim household where there was a notice asking people to remove their shoes at the door. Yes, you've guessed it, he didn't .

But really no point in him giving an opinion on this and certainly no point in worrying about a thoughtless comment. just don't accept the first offer. Ask for more. Estate agents always want a quick sale and never try to get the best price in my experience.

I well remember a few years ago now, one of our neighbours whose house had a very lived in look, told us of her indignation when as agent ,having looked round, suggested her H perhaps should get acquainted with a pot of paint and a brush.
Not his place but we all agreed.

The Agent had no business giving his opinion on what should or shouldn't have been done. His job is to sell the property, not criticise it!

I'd hate not to have a utility. We have the washer and 'spare' fridge in there, it's where the pets are fed and I dry clothes in there on a hanging rail. The kitchen is big enough to eat in and we have a window seat and I wouldn't want all that going on as well.

DD3 is extending the kitchen in her new home partly to have a utility.

Tell the agent to go away!!

I would hate to be without my utility, I have all my white goods in it. The only appliance in my kitchen is the cooker,so anyone used to one will appreciate it. So tell that to the agent and get another one in. I would have loved a large kitchen, family,conservatory when my family were at home. My ex DiL has one and it is the most used room in the house. The sitting room is hardly used.

No, no point changing it, and he has no intention of doing so. I'm just curious as to what most here would prefer.
Yes, he's very savvy, has had three agents look and done research. There is a major shortage of three bed semis on the market in the town which bodes well.

Every person who comes to see it will change it in their mind's eye but since it is an agent I would watch carefully that he doesn't try to knock the price down for a quick sale and resultant commission. Hope you have more than one agent coming to see it anyway and that you do your research regarding 'sold' prices in the area.
No point on changing anything anyway as whoever buys will customise to their own taste. It sounds nice and 'if it ain't broke then don't fix it'!

Well if it's being sold, does it matter? The buyers can change it if they want.