Buyers flock to view 'shabby' Morpeth house

It is described as 'shabby', 'unremarkable' and 'in dire need of updating', but an end of terrace house in Northumberland has drawn an unusual level of interest thanks to a refreshingly honest 'warts and all' description from estate agents.

The four bedroom end of terrace house in Morpeth is on the market at £275,000 and is being sold by Mike Rogerson Estate Agents.

Their blunt appraisal of its qualities might have been expected to put buyers off but has in fact drawn a surprising response.

The property has had house hunters flocking to see it, with five viewings and one unaccepted offer in just six days.

"The property itself has a rather shabby exterior which is compounded immediately upon entering the property by a matching disregard to what may be generally considered habitable and, being untouched by the 21st century, will require blood, sweat and tears to haul it anywhere back to modern tastes”, the advert says.

The décor fares little better under the scrutiny of the estate agent, being described as including north-facing windows - stuck closed by paint, and having a gloomy downstairs toilet, 'tatty' carpets and spider webs on the ceiling of the reception room.

"A first floor landing may initially appear to be carpeted with pleasantly patterned silver strips, however on closer inspection, these strips are merely pieces of tape holding the carpet together" the description continues.

"For obvious reasons, an internal inspection is absolutely essential."

Views from the property are described as 'unfettered' but are unfortunately of a town car park, though a castle can also be glimpsed in the distance.

Other listed highlights include a 'cavernous' basement, a 'newish' boiler and water meter and 'an abundance of character'.

Faye Watson, sales and lettings negotiator at Mike Rogerson Estate Agents, said the vendor was inspired by an estate agent in the 1960s who used honest descriptions to sell houses and instructed the agents to follow suit.

"It is very honest, no-nonsense marketing," Ms Watson said.

"One viewer we had said it was quite refreshing to walk into a property and the description being completely correct. There's not that shock when people go in as it's all written in black and white."