Your house is great and has plenty of architectural interest with the other dormer and gable. I think you might need a new realtor.

I agree with marti, you have a beautiful house, I wouldnt change a thing.

Don't change the house change the real estate agent!

Ditto!

Tell him you'll do it if he takes the cost of it from his commission.

Wow! That's a new one! I've heard of, "you need to paint" or "get rid of the clutter"....but Change ther roofline? Time to say goodbye....

Before I read the others' comments, I had the same reaction. Change realtors.
Dee

What they said. Are you freaking kidding me? Change the roofline??

There is nothing about the look of the front of the house that turns me off. Of course, I haven't been to "Realtor school."

Maybe prospective buyers are still shying away from signing on the dotted line -- in general, not just your's -- because they don't have faith in the economy. But I can't possible imagine the roofline being the reason they don't want to tour your house.

If you can't get out of your contract with the agent, insist that he/she return to take new photos for posting on the listing, for starters. (Not that the one you linked us to is bad--I just think this Realtor needs to be more creative, after 9 months.)

"Tell him you'll do it if he takes the cost of it from his commission."

Perfect response.

That's the most cost-inefficient recommendation I've ever heard. From the agent, I mean, not Pal.

As a fellow Realtor, let me just say that your home looks fine the way it is. This market is horrible and it takes a much longer time to sell. Are you priced right? Can't afford to be overpriced in this market. With unemployment so high the buyers are few. Sorry for rambling.

Wow, I cant believe your realtor told you that!! Your first course of action would be to fire your realtor. I could never trust someone that would give me such an expensive solution.
On the other hand, 9 months is a long time to be selling your house. It sounds like you chased the market instead of most likely pricing the home correctly. Doing this can result in getting an even lower price for your house because prospective buyers are probably at the point where they are wondering what's wrong with the house because it's been on the market so long.
I would hire a new realtor and find a new strategy to sell your home.

That is ridiculous!

If you really want to find out why your house isn't attracting potential buyers, post a link to the listing (with all the pictures of the house) on the "Buying and Selling" forum here on Garden Web. They will give you some good feedback.
Diane

Nothing wrong with the roof line... everything wrong with your Realtor!

That's crazy. It's clearly the economy that's the problem. What planet is your realtor living on? Your home is beautiful as is. And even if it weren't, the LAST thing you'd want to do is to undertake a major renovation project when the home is for sale, because you wouldn't be able to sell the house until the project is complete, and if you're moving, you'll have your hands full with other stuff. Not to mention that you'd NEVER recoup your investment in the short term. Staging and sprucing up can be worthwhile investments when selling, but a renovation should be considered only when a home has a MAJOR flaw (for example, all the bedrooms are on the second floor, but the only bathroom is on the first).

If you were planning to stay for the long term, AND had just won the lottery, a second dormer over the garage to match the existing one could look nice and give you more natural light and ventilation in your bonus room. I obviously haven't seen your bonus room from the inside, but IMO bonus rooms often lack interest and end up being under utilized. But again, that would be a project to undertake only for your own longterm enjoyment.

Have you been over to the Buying & Selling board? The have some really good advice there. And, I don't think they're going to tell you to change the roofline!

IME, there are two things you can do to help sell in a bad market. First, make sure the house is squeaky clean from top to bottom. I never want anyone to look in a cupboard or open a drawer and say "ewww." Even if they can see past those things, it leave a subconscious impression about the condition of the house. When I am selling, every surface is clean enough to eat off of! My realtors think I am crazy, but we have sold two houses in as many years in a bad market.

Second thing is really fabulous pictures for the listing. Next time you hire a realtor (which I hope is soon) take a look at everyone's listings and see who has the best on-line pics. If the photos are sloppy or amateurish, you can expect the realtor will be, too.

I just sold a condo in FL that had been listed for 1 1/2 years. It was a realtor/friend situation. Well, I had enough the last time it expired and changed realtors. The condo sold in 3 days. The energy difference in these two people amazing. I had listened to what was wrong with it enough. The new realtor had a what is so nice about attitude and it must have come through. I'm still surprised it sold because I was so used to it not selling. Glad I smartened up. I thought your home was going to not look nice from what the realtor said then I looked at the picture and thought you have got to be kidding. Like the others said, it is the realtor that needs changing.

The real estate agent works for you, you can fire him/her at any time. The contract you signed does not change that. We had to do that in the past and our home was sold almost immediately.
I'd send this guy off to never never land faster then he can say, "what?" What a dope!
You have a beautiful home that's beautifully landscaped.

A a former Realtor with a fantastic sales record when interest rates were 17% or more, my advice would be to change realtors. You need someone who can highlight the positives of your property - not suggest "improvements" that appear to be totally unnecessary, especially during a sluggish economy.

Enough people here have already told you that they don't see anything aesthetically wrong with your exterior, it looks fine just the way it is.

I agree: Change the realtor. Also, have the house, as amysrq said, absolutely spotless, in every drawer and every place else. We also have had incredible luck selling houses, which I think is because I try to make it look as though no one is living there at the moment, so no ewws or subconscious negatives,but welcoming at the same time. We put lots of pieces in storage, take down all the family photos, etc., and our houses sell when no one else's does. Best of luck to you!

*chuckling*

As a former Realtor, I agree with other posters.

I'm all for staging (ie, getting rid of clutter, and maybe painting where necessary if there's some really offensive paint). Other than that...the sale of the home has nothing to do with your roofline.

*chuckling again*

Roofline?...Really?

Something you can do is go to other open houses which are in your same price-point, and find out for yourself what your competition is offering for the money. Be honest with yourself while you do it. You'll get ideas. You may meet another Realtor while you're at it. Roofline is not the answer.
Gayle

Let me guess.......

This Realtor has an out of work brother-in-law that's a contractor ??

charming house. bad realtor.

You guys are funny! Thanks for the nice comments. Actually it wasn't MY realtor that said it, it was a realtor who showed the house and was offering "feedback". I have always thought the roofline looked plain but didn't know what in the world could be done to change it.
I have more pictures from the listing attached. The picture of the front of the house is also from the listing.
I guess the house just has to strike you in your heart that it is the right one for you when you're looking.
I have had my realtor for 9 months though...should I consider changing? How do I find out who sells the most in my area? My current realtor lists the most.

Here is a link that might be useful: pictures from listing

Well I wouldn't worry about that other realtor either. We had one call our home and went on and on about how her client loved our home. It reminded him so much of the home he grew up in and he really really felt at home in our home. She went on for at least five minutes like this. Then the "but" came. He hated the way the bathroom was painted! After stating that she bluntly stopped as if I was suppose to know what to say to that. I finally asked if he wanted to make an offer.
HER: Oh no, not with the bathroom turning him off the way it did.
ME: Would he make an offer if we painted the bathroom the color of his choice?
HER: No he would not.
ME: Well what's your point?
HER: That your bathroom walls are horrible.
ME: Well if that's all you called me for...
No comment from her so I quietly hung up.
Talk about rude!

If other homes are selling in your area I think I would look into finding not only another agent, but another agency. You said your realtor lists the most, well maybe he has more than he can handle. Doesn't mean he's not a good agent but possibly that he's taken on more than he can chew. Good luck!

Your home is beyond beautiful. The only thing I can see is that the kitchen/eating/dining/living room paint might be a tad taste specific - you might think about going to a nice taupe. It is beautifully decorated, but someone else might not be into those colors. I think your back yard is to die for. But on the other hand, it is probably daunting to anyone who doesn't want to maintain it. I wish my yard looked like that.

Sounds like that realtor has some available space under his/her roofline. :-)

Say what?? I think your house is beautiful too!
I certainly wouldn't be changing the roofline...

Good luck with the house...and your new agent,lol.

You have a beautiful home with plenty of curb appeal. I'm with the others---get a new realtor. It's too bad the one you have now has to give you such ridiculous excuses to keep the listing. Everyone knows it's a buyers' market and the one thing that will move a house is price. If she is too afraid to be honest with you, she's not the right person to sell your house. I really wonder if, when you found that it would cost $10K or more to do what she's suggesting, she would propose that you not do anything and just reduce the price of the house by that same amount.

I'd get a new realtor and talk realistically about the price.

"Sounds like that realtor has some available space under his/her roofline. :-)"
Homemaker I think you got that right. Yep, the lights are on, but nobody's home.

I've never heard of anything so off the wall! Sound as though he's trying to find fault with something, and that's the only thing he can come up with cause he certainly has to know you're not going do something so extreme to what looks to ge a gorgeous house.

Kick the dog to the curb. ;o)

You guys gave me a sanity check. It's not me, it's them!
Houses are not selling here at all, especially in this price range. Some of the starter price homes have sold, but not many of them either.
I know it's all taste specific, I was just trying to think of ways to get more people in the door to see the inside. But in the spring guess what they'll say...my yard is too big and too much work. I guess it just comes down to find THE right buyer, whom I haven't found yet.
By the way, the house behind me started at $549k and after more than 2 years sold for $388k last spring. And now it's coming on the market again. It's bigger and newer than mine, and they are using my realtor also, as are 3 other houses on that block. I'm going to see what they price theirs at and then adjust mine.

You are so smart to ask the opinion of others. Right before I clicked on your picture, I was expecting to see a 60's ranch with an absolutely straight roof line and no interest at all - in other words, an old brick box with a straight roof.

I gasped when I saw your home - it's beautiful! Not only is your roof line interesting, your house has lots of appeal and it looks new and clean.

He's nuts!!

Oh your home and your gardens are gorgeous.

Regarding your agent being the listing agent for so many houses in your neighborhood--is this agent selling anything? Or is it just everybody knows her name kind of thing? I would seriously start to look in the newspaper and look at the recently sold houses, try to find out who those agents are that are selling houses in this price range. Time to move on.

I also believe that once you have had someone listing your home for so long, don't they get a little bored? And now she has all these "fresh" listings that are competing with yours.

We sold that same exact house, roofline and all five years ago after it was listed for six years (dh home prior to our marriage)

Why did his home not sell? First, it was too masculine, and to sell you need to be more gender neutral. Second, there were five other houses basically the same for sale on the same block! So the taste issue (too masculine) was killing us in showings. And third, the landscaping was well not there. Interestingly enough, his neighbor, who had a garden I'd compare to yours, had as many negative comments on his yard as we did on our lack of a yard.

I took over the project and it sold, above the others on the block because I alleviated the three issues. I painted color in the rooms and hung drapes. I removed all dead animal heads from the house as well as the picture of a deer they shot which was on the coffee table...yuck lol. I removed the golf pics and hung mirrors or other gender neutral art (no golf, dead animals or flowers). And last but not least I added foliage to the landscaping, using plants that were easy to care for.

when it received it's offer a couple of weeks later dh was shocked at how much those little things mattered (I'd given myself a two thousand dollar budget). No major construction, just a neutralizing of the space, using many colors that you have in your home actually.

Your home reads female pretty heavily to me. I would suggest you pack up a few things...anything pink (the dining room end chairs for instance) and anything picture wise with florals. Replace the pics in the dining room for instance with one large mirror and put the chairs in storage. Your home is lovely, but in a tough market with lots of competition you have to grab them at the door. You are likely grabbing the females, but leaving the men behind, the opposite of our home.

If you can get them sold prior ti entering the back yard by gender neutralizing the house so it hooks either sex, they will fall in love before they see the beauty....or scary, issues with your yard. It's scary because it appears to be a lot of work (I didn't want our current home because the gardens were too extensive but after the tour I let that worry go).

If you are going to make any investments I'd consider simplifying the garden areas closest to the house so that when they step outside they see a taste of the beauty but are not overwhelmed with the future work. Some simple but colorful shrubs that are low maintenance instead of lots of flowers....let them work their way into it softly if you understand what I'm saying?

Your home is lovely...you just need to work a bit harder because of the competition. :).

Must be just me -- I can't get into your album to view the photos .....

BUT I did get to see the exterior photo of your home -- and it is lovely!

igloochic - you are genius!
I know my home is absolutely clean, and I have put away every family picture and small totschke. But I didn't think about the decor seeming overly feminine. Obviously I love flowers. I was also wondering about a big mirror in the dining room instead of that picture and removing the pink (actually coral) chairs.
That gives me an action step I can actually do. 12 months of neither of us being employed means no $$ to spend on larger projects.
Wow - I'm looking around my kitchen and great room, and I see flowers everywhere! But I guess I'm so used to them I didn't really see them anymore.

can you post the pics? I don't know if your photo account is set to private but I can't see the pics. I don't have an account there either.

Yes indeed -- IF you can -- please post the photos here!

Our home's decor is considered to have a "masculine" look -- several men have mentioned that to me .... but no dead animals here (just teasing! :))!! I think that Igloo makes an excellent point about the need to show a "gender-friendly" look for a tough real estate market.

I love your gardens -- but again -- Igloo makes another excellent point about considering switching to a few small bushes.

I think your house is beautiful but I can see your gardens scaring people off. I think Igloochic has some great suggestions.

Your name is kind of a clue that you're a flower chic :).

I just went through the pics with a little faster computer. I have a couple of other easy suggestions if it's ok (not like you can stop me now lol). Those coral chairs...take them up to the room with the brown valance. It's reading a bit too masculine or somber so you need to chic it up just a bit.

The beds could use their regular pillows in clean cases behind the fancy ones. It plays a bit softer (less formal) inviting the dudes in for a nap verses having beds that just say "keep off, I'm gorgeous".

Here's a controversial one....remove all ALL non live plants and flowers. If you search this forum and see people debate about live verses fake plants you will see that people have strong opinions about fakes. In selling you want to avoid anyone disliking an aspect of your home. I know it's silly, but it's a simple fix that won't hurt you :). They are lovely and you haven't over used, but you would be money ahead to replace them with clean ivory or white candles (cheap as chips at ikea). I always use them in place of flowers for a sale. Be sure they do not have fragrance! They don't need to be burning by the way, but during an open house I would light them.

I bought all of the mirrors I used at dh's place on the cheap at used stuff stores. If I didn't like the frame color I painted it (spray is quick). I also took them off of the dressers and used them in other areas. In the bath I would enhance the spa feel with canisters of white soap and bath products (ikea again). I put Epsom salts in one, ivory soaps unwrapped in another, cotton balls in another....leave those on your counter where the flowers are. They say "spa" and again are gender neutral.

Aside from the flowers you've done a great job getting the house ready. And they are pretty, but as dumb as it is, you have to keep a home up for sale as gender free as possible! I've always been successful, even in down markets by following that silly rule :).

One way you are allowed to break that rule is during the season. If you have gorgeous flowers outside, be sure to make simple but beautiful arrangements and tuck them about the house, which highlights the value of the garden to just about anyone.

I think you should hire igloo. Seriously, your realtor is nuts. With some elbow grease directed toward staging your home to appeal to a broader buyer pool, you should have a very good shot at selling your home without dumping loads of money into changing the roofline (which seems perfectly fine to my eye.

Best of luck to you.

Change realtors when your contract expires if you don't get a contract before.

Make mine one more vote to say your real estate agent needs changing. Your home looks lovely. Nothing is selling right now, hon, as we are in a deep recession. We're showing signs of pulling out, but this is just a really bad time to sell a house. If you don't HAVE to, I'd just take it off the market and sit tight for a few years.

More good ideas igloochic. we have a showing tomorrow so I'm going to see what I can implement by then.
I'm not sure I understand about pillowcases behind the shams in the bedrooms as they all have the bed pillows behind the decorative sham.
I checked what has sold in this area and since last June only ONE house sold in this price bracket! But I have some foreclosure competition down the street.
Funny I kept thinking my house looked too traditional inside, but instead I think it is too florally feminine. I can't help loving botanicals. I took a style finder test online and it says my style is Asian Modern. You can tell I'm ready for a change because my house definitely does not look asian modern - just the opposite.
I don't know how to get the other pictures to show for those who can't see them. Any ideas?

The best thing for those that want to see the pictures on Snapfish is to sign up for an account. I did years ago and have never received any junk from them. Not sure if I had to check or uncheck a box that said I didn't want email, but that's easy enough to do.

oohlala, your house is gorgeous. I'd buy it. Igloo is right, and whoever said she is a genius is right. Personally I love all the rooms as they are, and my husband loves what I love, lol! The only room I would change is the green study with the purple sofa... it is, as someone else said, pretty taste specific. Also, and this is getting really really picky, the loft study looks a little cluttered next to the pony wall. Your back yard -- DROOL!

And the front is just so handsome. BUT if you really want to shorten that long roofline (which I personally think looks just fine), you could put a vertical tree at the far left of it (to the left of the garage). Perhaps something conical, or a topiary evergreen. That would effectively make the roofline only as long as the garage.

You have a beautiful house and the little realtor who shot his mouth off just couldn't find anything negative to say about it. Just make the simple inexpensive gender neutral changes and go forward. We made a mistake with our last house thinking we could sell it by continuing to improve it. All that happened was we spent a lot of money and ended up having to sell it for a low price.

Best wishes! It will sell.