ali-s Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Right, decision made our house is going on the market 3 years of fiff faffing around and we are still here I am madly de-cluttering, washing walls , cleaning vases ready for flowers , must get the coffee machine on Twelve years of memories stuffed in cupboards, boxes and under beds will have to be sorted. When we had our house valued a couple of years ago the estate agent said our garden was disapointing re the chicken run If I was looking at houses and the details mentioned a chicken run I would be jumping up and down with glee, but would normal folks think so? Should I include in the details that there is a chicken run in the garden. Our garden is not looking at its best at the moment, but will look better with a few Pansy plants in the borders. Any thoughts on the chicken run? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I agree I would be excited at the thought of a chicken run too, but as you say not everyone will be. If I were you I would make the rest garden look as tidy as possible some nice pots and flowers etc. You could offer to pay for returfing the area when you leave if you get objections, but provided you are taking the chickens away with you I wouldn't make too much of a thing about it, the good life is very popular at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I read somewhere recently that people are now actively looking for gardens with the potential for keeping chickens & growing veg, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 A bit of turf hides a multitude of sins. If it is the house of someones dreams (and it will be! ) they won't worry about a bit of worn grass. Chances are they might want to change things about a bit in the garden anyway. Good luck with the sale. I hope you find what you are looking for too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 If it is the house of someones dreams (and it will be! ) they won't worry about a bit of worn grass. Agree. I don't think it would stop someone buying the house if they had fallen in love with it. I can't understand people who think they are going to find a house painted and decorated exactly the way they want it, you have to have a bit of vision when house hunting and see beyond what's already there. I would love to find a chicken run in a house I was viewing Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 A bit of turf hides a multitude of sins. . The lawn is fine , little Bantam feet don't do much damage It is the actual fixed run I am worried about. The estate agent really upset me after his coments about the garden last time I was so upset I decided not to put the house on the market. OH and I are going to view a cottage tomorrow and the same estate agent will be showing us around Might have to mention the garden will perfect for Chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Oh Ali, good luck with the sale and the viewing, I hope it all goes smoothly I did choose (reluctantly) to get rid of my chickens and their runs before we put our house on the market, but that's only because our flock had started to run down because of a few incidents of illness and a fox attack , and moving with chickens was never going to be an option for us. Also they had wrecked the garden and in our very suburban area they were very much an oddity . But generally I can't see why a chicken run should put people off, it may well attract those that hanker for chickens and seems to be a growing passion, and if they really don't like the run and have no use for it it could be dismantled surely . I'd ignore the Estate Agent, what does he know anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Best of luck with the cottage viewing ! - Remember the smell of warm bread to go with the coffee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Would you be able to demolish the run and take it with you? Stick a bit of gravel and a few oriental grasses down when you go and they will be thrilled! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becka Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I think it depends on the area. I sold my house in August 2006 in a suburb of Glasgow and the Estate Agent gave me pointers to help me enhance the selling potential. I had my lovely orange eglu and run, a large dog kennel and run and not much in the way of grass in the fully enclosed back garden! I was advised to remove the chickens, consider removing the dog run and to sort out the garden. We rehomed the chickens ( I was also three months pregnant at the time and rather asthmatic when lifting them etc) left the kennel in situ and re-turfed the whole back garden. The house went on the market, sold within an hour to the first person who saw it! I was cursing myself as I rehomed the chickens thinking the house could take months to sell and I couldn't keep them in the run for that length of time as they had always free ranged. I did point out to viewers that the dog run was moving with me and they would be left with a patio in that area as it was on a concrete slab base. I hope your house search and selling goes as quickly as mine! Best wishes, Becka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 I suppose we could knock down the run but then the Chickens would have to go on the lawn in the Eglus and runs, or back on the same space They would need to be able to free range then, in their fixed run they have loads of space which saves them going in the garden. I need to think this one out a bit more. I am not getting rid of my chickens they are one of the reasons we are moving. I had wondered how I would clean out the run on the day we moved. The run is 24 foot long and half the width is 6 foot the other 8 foot. A lot of run to clean the same day as moving. I am already planning how to get the Chickens to the new house If all goes to plan I might need a Chicken sitter for a week prior to moving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Are you moving far, Ali? I seem to remember you were complaining about the gales not long ago I did see a house with a chicken run for sale when I was idly house-hunting online (no plans to actually do so just yet, but I wanted to compare prices) - of course that was a selling-point to my mind I think people have been spoilt by all these makeover programs, such that they expect to find a house that looks as good as on the telly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I wouldn't knock down the run before you put the house on the market. As others have said, chicken keeping is becoming the 'in' thing at the moment and you may just put an idea in a viewers head. You could offer to dismantle if they were positive they wouldn't need such an enclosure, but run enclosures are handy for a variety of animals, so it could always be a selling point Why not try tarting the area around it up with pots of plants? Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Becka Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Mine went to a friend so maybe someone nearby could help out to enable you to deal with the run just before you move? We bought before selling and took three months to decorate the old house before putting it on the market. I can safely say it was an exercise in grass preservation on a grand scale. Our buyers didn't have a problem with the dog run or the dogs so you may find it's easiest just to keep the fixed run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Why not try tarting the area around it up with pots of plants? Helen I agree, just freshen it up with some nice flowers/pots etc. Everyone's garden is a bit sp"Ooops, word censored!" this time of year anyway, so some bright pots or even some hanging baskets with pansies etc will add some colour. Are you staying in the same area Ali? I look every day at property in the Skye and lochalsh/northern highlands area as we do plan to move there one day and we could still get a bargain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 Hopefully we are not moving too far from here. Jack and Natalie (more Natalie) do not want to change schools. The chicken run has Honeysuckle growing up and over it. Hollyhocks and perininals also planted outside the run. I think it looks very nice It would make a great Dog or Rabbit run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 sounds good, hope it works out for you. I have seen pics of your run before Ali and I think it looks lovely - it doesnt impose on the garden. I would definitely keep it and if it were me I would add it into the estate agents details saying "chicken run" could make useful aviary/dog run. It has multiple uses really. A lot of houses I see advertised have similar in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I would love to find a chicken run in a house I was viewing Tessa I'd be happier if it was in the garden rather than inside the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Chicken run, I think you'll find that is a fruit cage! Buy a load of fruit trees in pots and whack them in the run, and hey presto! Just say that the local wild birds are hard as nails so you had to use weldmesh to keep them off your raspberries!! Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Just what I was going to say Kev! - only not as eloquently A ready manured veggie plot.............. add trees as Kev says Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Just say that the local wild birds are hard as nails so you had to use weldmesh to keep them off your raspberries!! I imagine Scottish sparrows could be well hard I look every day at property in the Skye and lochalsh/northern highlands area as we do plan to move there one day and we could still get a bargain! Same here (although I'm being realistic and looking at Fife, since I would still need to work to help pay the mortgage, even with lower house prices). This house has been on the market for a while: http://www.look4aproperty.com/property/00445732 - such a pity it has a rather small garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 A pre made chicken run in the garden would clinch a deal for me!! i do agree with the others though, try and market it as a chicken run/dog pen/fruit cage etc etc. That covers everything. Good luck with the house hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 We had a big walk in rabbit enclosure in our last garden, and the estate agent marketed it a a bird/pet enclosure. Most people liked the thought of it, and those who didn't - well it was easy enough for the estate agent to describe how easy it would be to get rid of it, and even imply that we would do it for them - luckily the people who bought it kept it for their dogs - Find a more persuasive agent I reckon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 http://www.look4aproperty.com/property/00445732 - such a pity it has a rather small garden Thats lovelt rediculous that our small 3 bed ex council house is only about 15,000 less just because we have brill transport to london , nothing to do with wages here kids will never be able to afford anything to buy here when you pay 150/160,00 for a tinnnny 2 bed ex council Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I wouldn't worry about it - so long as the garden looks good, then any new owner would remove the run if they didn't want it. Most people when they buy a house end up changing things, even recently-done things. Assuming it doesn't make your garden look too small or like a s"Ooops, word censored!"-yard, I'd leave it (I've not seen it, remember! Pls don't be offended! it does actually sound really nice.) Some people will see it as a "lifestyle"thing, am sure. When we sold our house I had a 90 gallon fish tank in the living room, which I just pointed out would be a great spot for a big telly, which seemed to be a big plus for a fair number of people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...