House of the Day: 169 Westminster Road
At this point in spiking popularity of Victorian Flatbush, this house at 169 Westminster Road (in the sub-nabe known as Prospect Park South) is probably on the cheaper end of the spectrum at $1.25 million. The six-bedroom house is described as needing TLC but the place is hardly a dump and there are plenty of…
At this point in spiking popularity of Victorian Flatbush, this house at 169 Westminster Road (in the sub-nabe known as Prospect Park South) is probably on the cheaper end of the spectrum at $1.25 million. The six-bedroom house is described as needing TLC but the place is hardly a dump and there are plenty of old details to work with. There’s also a two-room office with private entrance for income-generating purposes. Looks reasonable to us but our street-by-street knowledge of this area is limited. What do locals think?
169 Westminster Road [Mary Kay Gallagher] GMAP P*Shark
OK – I am the one who said I would love to buy it if I could afford it right now – not the previous poster. I sort of agree with him or her though. You should take out some of the clutter to show the size and possibilities of the house. People are not very imaginative in that price range. Also – if it doesn’t cost too much, I would consider taking down the white metal bars on the doors and windows, they greatly detract from the beauty of the exterior and make people think the area might not be safe (which isn’t true anymore).
Too expensive.
Me again at 12:28, I’m looking at the photos again and I’d recommend taking down the white sheers. Looks like you have blinds up. Leave the shades, and take down the curtains. Let the “bones” of the house show. That’s your overall problem, we just can’t see the house.
Which is sad because the house is beautiful and I disagree with 7:10 completely about details. There are tons of details in your house. It’s just Edwardian details not Victorian. Which maybe is what 7:10 is comparing this house to, a Victorian brownstone, but that’s apples and oranges. Edwardian is more restrained. Victorian is decorative. And frankly I prefer Edwardian.
And yet, 7:10pm, everyone on brownstoner complains when a house is too small! I don’t think parquet floors make a difference as long as there are wood floors. Plain wood floors can be preferable to buyers who prefer more modern, minimalist interiors.
Which gets to the real problem with your house, Pasc. Clutter clutter! There are so many pieces of furniture in there, and clutter of figurines it’s a huge turnoff to buyers. I am not kidding when I say I literally get claustrophobic when I look at the photos of the house. This is a clear case of not seeing the house for the furniture and clutter. Have you counted the chairs? I think there are 50 chairs on the parlor level.
Most house buyers in Brooklyn are under 40. These are people with kids & families, that’s why they are buying a house not an apartment or condo. And buyers under 40 even if they do like antiques or traditional furnishings, do NOT like the “grandma” look. Decorating wise, just general principles, you have too many mixes of woods. Gilt furniture mixed with dark walnut stain, mixed with golden oak. Plus there are so many different styles of furnishings and decor in your rooms. It presents an impression of chaos.
You need to sit your parents down and tell them you all are getting a large storage unit, and are packing up no less than half the furniture in the house. And almost all the “stuff” sitting on shelves. Only keep one or two lamps per room, and ONLY if they match each other. Nothing with frou frou lampshades. As for furniture, all over the parlor level you need to pick ONE type of wood finish (and not the gilt – if gilt isn’t true French antique it’s tacky) and only keep the furniture in the house that fits that one type of finish of wood.
When your parents move into their new house they can pack it with all the styles of furniture they want, but right now they need to become minimalists. Sellers should furnish just enough to help show scale in a room, but never never clutter it. Lastly, take down all the family photos and baby pictures. When people are thinking about spending $2 million on a house they want to picture themselves living there, not somebody else. That’s a well-accepted principle in selling. Have to say I’m really really surprised your realtor didn’t tell you that already. Good luck!
Pasc, I saw the house a while back.
Let’s put the work it needs aside, all these homes need work.
The first floor is grand, and you walk in and it’s impressive but it does not have much wood detail and does not have parquet floors, pretty standard in these homes.
I have to say having parquet floors with nice borders really makes a huge difference in a home, and really add a lot of character and makes a home especially one like yours more grand.
The 2nd & 3rd floor where just bedrooms, I thought a bit dull and did not do anything for me.
All of that a side, I think the biggest problem selling your home is the size. It’s a very very large home that costs a lot of money to maintain, heat etc..
I think that is the biggest issue that it is so LARGE that many people just do not want to take on a home of that size..
Since everyone is discussing MKG’s listings, what’s the problem with #0421 at $1.599 million? That one has been listed for over a year, right? Ditmas is getting hot, but it has to make you wonder when any house sits on the market for over a year.
I saw a ladder propped up against the one of the columns at the 2.5 today… Looks like Pasc is taking this board very seriously!
I live in the area and we all have carpenter bees… they are just a nuisance but nothing terrible.
Thanks for the heads up 4:15 – if anyone else has some advice on what to do I’d really appreciate it. We’re going with a new broker and I’m trying to do as much as I can to get it sold.
Pasc – I agree that it was priced too high at first and probably the drop combined with the amount of time it has been on the market is hurting you (especially since the website actually puts the date it was featured in the NYT – which is good at first but looks horrible after almost a year – the broker should take that off). People are thinking something is seriously wrong with it. Having said that, the house is magnificent and, if I had that kind of money right now, I would be all over it. It is close to Church but on an amazing block with some of the most unique and beautiful houses I have ever seen. I know it needs updating, but this is a true mansion. I wish I could take it off your parents’ hands!