New Kitchen - is it worth it.

wannabe_sybil

Looks like the house move has stalled. I am a bit desperate, but sometimes stuff happens, so moving on...

Or not...

The kitchen is in a bad way and the sink unit is literally collapsing. Drawer fronts are missing or stuck, doors are hanging, all the plaster blown... This means that if we do sell the house it is only worth selling to investors.

Is it worth trying to get a new kitchen in? If it is replacing a new kitchen would it need building regs? I don't expect to get our money back but it may just make it easier to sell when we do move (hopefully next year).

All suggestions gratefully received.

(btw neighbouring property with hole in roof - looks like landlord being prosecuted, don't want to fix roof etc to impede prosecution as he has let out houses with carbon monoxide fumes and got his own plumber to 'fix' the numbers, not the problem and I think I should not make things easier for him).

brighterlight_2

Either you, or if you cannot be objective, invite a friend who speaks their mind around, and start by looking at your property from outside, and see what would put you off buying - first impressions. Then go around the whole place doing the same, what would put you off. Then decide if the kitchen alone is the issue, or whether you have a lot of things putting off buyers.

princessamy86

What's the rest of the house like? If it's just your kitchen that's off putting it might be worth doing it if you can keep costs fairly low (ex display kitchens are always a good bet). It might just be worth it for you, as you said you'll not be moving till next year why not make it nice for yourself while you're there?

nomoneytoday

Maybe get the cheapest kitchen on offer from a high street chain?
Even a £1000 spend on a kitchen should make the property easier to sell IMHO

mlz1413

have you finally got your OH to agree to spend money on the house now then? good for you if you have.

new things within the house walls, like kitchens and bathrooms, do not need building regs, only alterations to the house structure.

if the wall has blown plaster that needs doing first, no unit is going to stay on a wall that is damp without having mould problems.

New worktops and fablon on the doors can give a much better appearance for a cheap and quick fix - I doubt any of it will help a better sell price but it will make you feel much better and whilst you have to use it daily that is worth a lot.

wannabe_sybil

Thank you for all your replies.

The big thing bringing the house down is the area.

Then that the kitchen is falling to pieces.

Then that we haven't decorated since we moved in in 1994. (obviously apart from my son's room)

Also boiler is elderly and there is something wrong with the vent, so that may be worth replacing, just for us. In theory we would save a lot in reduced energy costs.

As to dear heart agreeing, well, he has agreed that I can get the sink unit repaired.. :rotfl::rotfl: But I think he will agree after some rather horrible valuation experiences that it may be worth spending some money. Just in order to get a sale.

He is really lovely and going through a tough time, so I will have to see how it goes, but I was just wondering if it would help a sale go through.

btw the problems caused by the drain backing up and flooding the kitchen have been sorted now, it is just the effects :rolleyes:

I really appreciate all the advice and input. It is tough selling these days.

princessamy86

If it really is just the area bringing it down it's probably not going to increase your sale price even if you made the whole house extra extra beautiful with knobs on ! I'd be tempted to make it as nice as you can as cheaply as you can, just for yourselves if nothing else.

wannabe_sybil

princessamy86 wrote: »

If it really is just the area bringing it down it's probably not going to increase your sale price even if you made the whole house extra extra beautiful with knobs on ! I'd be tempted to make it as nice as you can as cheaply as you can, just for yourselves if nothing else.

I am quite confident that anything we spend on the kitchen will not be recouped in the sale price. I am just hoping that it will extend the likely group of people interested from investors only to investors and first time buyers and perhaps make it easier to sell.

It is such a hard decision, because if we start it, it is going to be quite a job, but if it is the difference between getting a sale and not getting a sale it could be worth it. I am intermittently taken with the idea of just replacing the sink unit, which would be quite cheap and take away the worst eyesore.

I am very poor with any DIY so any work I would be paying someone to do something.

And I do agree, I keep repeating that we are worth a nice house, so I think you are right in doing it as cheaply as possible and for us.

princessamy86

Have you got any friends/relatives who might help? Some companies are offering deals on kitchens at the mo (don't forget most of their staff are on commission!) why don't you have a look round and see how much it will cost and whether or not they will throw in a discounted fitting service to get your business? When you do come to sell you can advertise it as needing work, then you won't get timewasters who don't want to do the work. If you sell for the right price there might be quite a few people who don't want to pay a premium for someone else's work. Good Luck!

elona

Sometimes people who are getting a new and expensive kitchen put in either advertise the "old one" which may only be five years old in the local paper or on freecycle.

It migh be worth checking on freecycle locally.

zone

Is it the units under the sink that are broken or just the doors coming off? You maybe able to replace just the doors and cabinets quite cheaply if you have the right tools. If not, measure the units you have in place and buy new or ex display ones then hire some tools for the weekend. That will be the cheapest route unless you can salvage the old ones.