Selling unique property requires a specialised approach that highlights distinctive features, targets niche buyers, and often takes longer than conventional sales due to the smaller pool of interested purchasers.
Market data reveals that around 80% of unusual properties listed for auction sell on their first attempt, demonstrating strong demand among the right buyers. However, unique homes face distinct challenges, with Reddit users reporting extended sale periods and pricing difficulties due to the lack of comparable properties for valuation purposes.
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What Makes a Property Unique or Unconventional?
Unique properties encompass a broad spectrum of unconventional homes that differ significantly from standard residential dwellings. These can range from converted structures to architecturally distinctive buildings:
Converted buildings: Former churches, schools, windmills, water towers, and Martello towers
Historic properties: Listed buildings, period homes with historical significance
Unusual architecture: Properties with distinctive design features, unusual layouts, or non-standard room configurations
Commercial conversions: Former pubs, shops, or industrial buildings transformed into homes
Specialty structures: Lighthouses, nuclear bunkers, houseboats, or floating homes
Land plots: Woodland, unusual shaped plots, or land with development potential
Why Do Buyers Want Unusual Properties?
Understanding buyer motivation helps in marketing your unique home effectively. Purchasers of unconventional properties often seek:
Lifestyle Appeal: Many buyers want something that offers a different way of living, with unique layouts or features that don’t exist in modern houses.
Investment Opportunities: Property investors and developers see potential for creating multiple rental units, bed and breakfasts, or tourist venues.
Status and Exclusivity: Some buyers view one-of-a-kind properties as positive status symbols, particularly those with historical significance.
Creative Potential: Artists, architects, and designers often place the highest value on living somewhere unique and are willing to pay premium prices.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a Quirky House?
| Property Type | Average Sale Time | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Standard unique property | 6-12 months | Requires targeted marketing |
| Listed/heritage buildings | 12-18 months | Additional regulatory hurdles |
| High-value unique homes | 3-6 months | Attracts serious investors |
| Auction sales | 4-6 weeks | Faster but requires preparation |
The table above shows realistic timeframes, though these can vary significantly based on location, pricing, and marketing approach. Properties requiring extensive renovation or those with regulatory constraints may take considerably longer to sell.
What Are the Main Challenges When Selling Unusual Properties?
The most significant hurdle is the reduced number of potential buyers compared to conventional homes. This smaller demand directly affects pricing and sale duration, as one Reddit user noted: “The unusual house is harder to sell as the group of buyers is smaller than the normal house and smaller demand will affect the pricing”.
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Valuation Difficulties
Determining accurate pricing proves challenging due to limited comparable properties. Professional RICS surveyors become essential when dealing with unique features that significantly impact value.
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Mortgage Complications
Many lenders hesitate to provide mortgages for unconventional properties, often requiring cash purchases or specialist lending arrangements.
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Regulatory Constraints
Listed properties face additional complications, with one Reddit contributor explaining: “The property is designated as grade II listed, which poses significant challenges for many potential buyers in the current regulatory landscape”.
How to Market Your Unique Property Effectively?
High-quality visuals remain essential, including twilight shots that showcase the property’s character and lifestyle appeal. Every unique property has a story – whether architectural history, previous famous residents, or the inspiration behind its design.
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Targeted Marketing Channels
Moving beyond traditional estate agent listings, consider specialist publications like architectural magazines, historical property websites, and social media platforms that cater to specific interests.
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Highlighting Practical Benefits
While celebrating uniqueness, don’t overlook essential aspects. Address any structural concerns promptly, as centuries-old homes can present survey-related issues that deter buyers.
Should I Sell My Unusual House at Auction?
Auction sales offer compelling advantages for unique properties, with success rates reaching 80% for unconventional lots. The competitive bidding environment often drives prices above reserve levels, particularly for premium properties or plots in high-demand areas.
However, auctions require significant upfront investment in marketing, legal packs, and have no guarantee of reaching your reserve price. Consider this route if you need certainty of sale within a specific timeframe.
What If My Unique Property Won’t Sell Through Traditional Methods?
When traditional sales methods fail, alternative solutions exist. Take Hanna from Liversedge, whose converted chapel had been on the market for 18 months with multiple estate agents. Despite its stunning stained-glass windows and vaulted ceilings, buyers were deterred by the unconventional layout and heating costs. After contacting Property Saviour, she received a guaranteed cash offer within a week and completed her sale in just three weeks, avoiding further months of uncertainty and mounting costs.
As one Reddit user perfectly captured the frustration: “We are struggling to sell this house – it’s been in the family for over half a century and it’s… quirky! It’s also much-loved”. When emotional attachment meets practical selling challenges, professional cash house buyer services provide valuable alternatives to lengthy traditional sales.
How Much Is My Unusual House Worth?
Valuing unique properties requires specialist expertise due to the absence of direct comparables. RICS-approved surveyors can provide professional valuations that factor in distinctive features, while considering local market conditions and potential buyer demographics.
Remember that unusual features can significantly increase property value when marketed to the right audience. Properties with historic significance, architectural merit, or development potential often achieve premium prices at auction.
We Buy Any House: Alternative Solutions for Unique Properties
Property Saviour specialises in purchasing all types of unconventional properties, offering guaranteed sales for homeowners who need certainty and speed. Whether you’re dealing with a listed building’s regulatory complications, a property requiring extensive renovation, or simply a home that’s proven difficult to sell through traditional methods, our team provides fair cash offers without lengthy chains or financing complications.
Our approach eliminates the uncertainty of finding that perfect niche buyer, offering peace of mind for sellers who’ve experienced the challenges of marketing truly one-of-a-kind properties. We understand that behind every unique property is a homeowner seeking a straightforward solution to what can become a prolonged and stressful selling process.
Sell with certainty & speed
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.Â
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.Â
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.Â
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
