Dilemma - to furnish or not when selling

blabberwort

Hi everyone
I hope I have posted this in the correct area Im basically after some advice regarding a flat my OH has. We have decided to buy a place together, but his flat needs a lot of work doing on it to make it presentable for selling such as new bathroom and kitchen.

As with most people he doesnt have any money and what little he can get together will be for replacing his bathroom and kitchen on a budget. Basically just something that looks okay and prospective buyers will be happy to use just until they can get around to putting a better one in.

The dilemma we have is this, my OH has little furniture in there. It's more like a student flat if you know what I mean. The bare necessities and not much else. What I was wondering is, as he doesnt intend to stay there when it's being done up anyway would it be better to remove all the furniture and sell as an empty flat, or would it be better to buy budget furniture and dress the flat for potential buyers?

I realise this probably seems a daft question, but does dressing a flat look better to a prospective buyer (albeit budget stuff, and probably wouldnt look particularly lived in) or is it better to have a flat thats literally just decorated etc with no furnishings at all?

I cant decide one way or another. I lean towards non furnishing as money is so tight, but then if furnishing it will improve the chance of a sell then it may be worth the extra money. Please help as this is driving me mad as to what to do :eek:

<sebb>

Where is the flat?

Have you looked at other similar flats for sale and the condition they are in?

The reason I ask, is because where I'm looking in London, people seem to make little to no effort to "dress" properties for sale, and therefore I would say it's not worth it. However, in other areas of the country it would seem you need all the help you can get even to get viewers through the door.

blabberwort

It's only one of 2 flats in that particular area, so unfortunately theres nothing to go on. The other flat was sold about 12 years ago, it was originally owned by an elderly lady, so chances are it wasnt modern in furnishings etc. I guess being one of only 2 flats could actually work in his favour when it comes to selling. I hadnt thought of that.

LandyAndy

I think it needs to be either properly furnished or totally empty.

In your case I guess that means empty.

In which case the decor and carpets should be clean and fresh as there is no scope for the judiciously placed rug etc.;)

Fire_Fox

What is the point in replacing the kitchen and bathroom just until the new owners can replace it again? How bad is it really, what colour is the bathroom suite and are the kitchen cabinets themselves falling to bits?

blabberwort

The bathroom is pink and could definently do with modernising. The kitchen has drawers broken etc. Basically nothing has really been done in the flat for a good 25 years. The only reason I know this is because my OH bought it from someone he knew hence how I know it's been that long the kitchen and bathroom have been in it.

We're just looking at a plain white suite for the bathroom and a cheap kitchen because as it is I would be put off if I was a prospective buyer at the state of the kitchen. Whereas at least with a budget kitchen and bathroom I would beable to put up with it until I could afford to replace it. It would at least beable to be moved into then without the need to panic straightaway on replacing these items immediately

He's had various lodgers over the years all single blokes and very studenty so im sure you can imagine the care taken over cabinets etc lol. His flat was never really a home to him, more a step on the property ladder years ago, so it's never really been cared for as well as it could have been. I think it was always the mentality of him and his lodgers that if something worked it would do. Thankfully he's seen the error of his ways, but unfortunately it has left a lot of work needing doing on a budget.

Fire_Fox

The only problem with your idea is that the buyer is basically going to have to pay for the kitchen and bathroom twice. If the bathroom is pink do that on the cheap - you can actually get gorgeous waterfall taps on eBay very cheap to add to a basic modern white suite. Kitchen you may be able to repair the carcasses and drawers, possibly replace the door fronts, worktops and flooring? If the units are beyond repair try Freecycle, Gumtree and eBay for second hand. Whiten the grout with a grout pen if the tiles are plain and freshen up any paintwork.

DVardysShadow

blabberwort wrote: »

The bathroom is pink and could definently do with modernising. The kitchen has drawers broken etc. Basically nothing has really been done in the flat for a good 25 years. The only reason I know this is because my OH bought it from someone he knew hence how I know it's been that long the kitchen and bathroom have been in it.

We're just looking at a plain white suite for the bathroom and a cheap kitchen because as it is I would be put off if I was a prospective buyer at the state of the kitchen. Whereas at least with a budget kitchen and bathroom I would beable to put up with it until I could afford to replace it. It would at least beable to be moved into then without the need to panic straightaway on replacing these items immediately

As Firefox says, the new buyers will end up paying for it twice. If you do it, your heart will not be in it anyway.

By doing this work, you will make the flat more expensive and more like all the rest of the housing possibilities on the market. The fact that the kitchen and the bathroom need attention means that you can price it lower, which might bring it within reach of people who could not afford it but who would be very happy to put up with a pink bathroom till funds permit and put in the kitchen they want. In essence you will destroy the thing that positions your flat uniquely in the market.

Annisele

Unless the property is in such poor condition that buyers wouldn't be able to get a mortgage on it, I'd leave it alone.

A pink bathroom and a few broken drawers wouldn't make the place unmortgageable - and since your OH has managed to live with them, buyers can probably live with them too.

dander

I agree, with the above comments. Plenty of people aim to buy "projects" or just want to buy as cheap as possible, so just price it right and save yourself the work. Clean it though, and clear it completely so it looks tatty but tidy.

BlondeHeadOn

We bought our current house with a grotty pink bathroom and broken kitchen units, and didn't mind at all because we knew we could change them when we got around ot it. We did want the location and the space, and so didn't care about the bathroom and kitchen. In facrt it was good news for us, because it made the price a bit cheaper.

As other posters have said, maybe change the doors or handles on the units, or paint the doors, or slap a bit of paint on generally. I wouldn't bother changing the kitchen and bathroom just to sell though. Cheap units aren't really going to make the flat look any better, believe me!