A grandad who is struggling to flog his £415,000 home has resorted to using a doodle by his eight-year-old granddaughter in place of a photo on Rightmove. Simon Rowley has struggled to sell his four-bed home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, since October and estate agent Andrew Davy of EweMove has been worried the exterior images don't do it justice.
The 51-year-old playfully suggested a colourful sketch drawn by granddaughter Chloe Moss and to his shock Andrew added it as the online listing's first picture. Chloe's drawing shows off the detached home's impressive brick archway that leads to the front door - and the eight-year-old uses artistic licence when colouring the surrounding walls in pink pen.
It also features the property's extravagant stone porch and the sundial in the front garden. Andrew says he wanted 'something a little different' to help attract offers in the region of £415,000 and figured it would be a fun surprise for Simon and Chloe.
Simon admits he was surprised when he saw the drawing at the top of the listing on Rightmove and has revealed he's already given excited Chloe £5 for her work being used. And the idea seems to be working, with EweMove claiming the property now has an 'above average click-through rate' of 12.5 per cent on Rightmove.
The grandad of ten jokes he'll owe her even more money if the unorthodox sales technique leads to a sale - and it's already been gathering attention from eagle-eyed social media users. Simon said: "It's cost me a fiver now because she knows it's on the internet. If it helps get a sale I'll owe her a bit more!
"For a young one it's quite life-like. I'm impressed by it. She just drew it one weekend when she was bored. I sent it to Andrew as a joke and told him if he's struggling for any pictures for the house I've got a new one.
"It surprised me because I didn't think he'd put it on to be honest. He must have been confused when I sent it. She thinks she's an artist now. She told her mums straight away and I think she'll be telling her school mates too."
Joiner Simon fully renovated the house after buying it at auction in 2019 but he's decided to sell up to move closer to his ageing parents. The listing boasts how the property features a cellar, 'valley views' and a patio, while the open-plan kitchen and warm living room is said to deliver a 'wow factor'.
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Scunthorpe South branch director Andrew is the agent for the property Simon is buying so took the job of advertising his current home when he struggled to sell it with a different agent. Andrew said: "It's quite a big house and it's difficult to photograph at the front so I wanted something different and this fitted the bill.
"We were playing about with the listing because we've had it on for a little while and there were certain photos I wasn't particularly happy with. When Simon sent over the drawing I recognised the house straight away and it even had the sundial in the front garden.
"With it being half term I wanted to be a bit lighthearted about it and surprise him. It's definitely different and if it's got the house some attention and helps them sell it then great."
