Tips on doing up a flat for a profit!

amsutt98

Hiya
I would be greatful for any help on tips (do's and dont's) on doing up my one bedroom flat to make a profit.

My partner and i have just bought our first flat off of our landlord for a good price as we have already lived here for two years and he needed money quick with no fuss, so we're really pleased. We have decided that we are going to live here for a year or so and do the flat up and then look for a 2/3 bedroom place.

We have about £3000 spare to make it better to sell but we don't know where to start, i was reading a thread earlier and it said not to put laminate in as it de-values the property and i would never have guessed that and was going to have it put in. What do people want when buying a one bedroom flat?:rotfl:

PoorDave

If possible leave the decorating until near the end of the time your staying there! If you're like us you'll get it all nice, then get it dirty/less impressive looking by the time comes to sell.

The usual - neutral colours, good finish. New kitchen if it needs it, same with the bathroom suite.

If i was buying to live there i want nice decor. If buying it to let out i want robust decor and fittings that aren't going to need re-doing/fixing every month. Somewhere between the two would be perfect.

Laminate can look ugly, and isn't friendly if your flat is above ground floor level (think of the noise for the people below).

BT_man

I've heard a coat of magnolia on the wall's can add at least 20K to a property...

goingonholiday_2

Couple of quick tips having done similar myself...

Do...
look out for big discounts on kitchens and bathrooms e.g. Jan sales, it's surprising but with decent DIY skills and enough time a cheap kitchen can make a big difference.

Same applies to bathrooms!

Don't
Use dodgy DIY skills to bodge, it'll affect the price and can be a false economy.

The sound like they contradict each other but you can use skilled labour to do part of the job then finish yourself.

Good luck.

PoorDave

BT_man wrote:

I've heard a coat of magnolia on the wall's can add at least 20K to a property...

I hear a lot of things.

Sometimes voices...they often say things like this, in a voice that sounds like yours! I try not to listen.

Go for colours like "magnolia" or beige, but NEVER buy a can of paint with either of these words on it! Go for the sophisticated edge that "natural calico" provides.

PS: Before anyone says anything, my post is tongue in cheek and i know the quoted poster is joking - unless you have a LOT of walls that were painted black/orange/woodchip wallpapered

tomstickland

Aha, I bought a tester pot of "natural calico" and it perfectly matched 5 year old grubby magnolia, so well that you couldn't actually tell I'd painted it on.

barnaby-bear

amsutt98 wrote:

Hiya
What do people want when buying a one bedroom flat?:rotfl:

Probably a bigger flat and storage. You forget how much stuff you have and you can make the flat look bigger by moving most stuff into storage before you sell - you don't want people seeing suitcases stuffed in cupboards/above beds etc and thinking where are we going to put .....
Don't have a clothes horse anywhere it raises where do I dry clothes issues.
Any outdoor space, access to patio a few window boxes.

Fresh decor. To be honest painting a bedroom clean light colour and putting a really nice bed in it rather than cheap ikea/argos tat looks more classy and you take the bed with you.

Bathrooms and kitchens get pricey it's the little stuff like if you go for ceramic tiles (lots of work expensive grouts) - change the fittings taps (ebay is good for plumbers merchants), towel rail, and retile (topps tiles) but replacing the suite big job, electricians in for bonding etc, unless hideous colour and if plain white even if old leave it - although if bath slightly discoloured use beige not white tiles so doesn't look like rotten tooth in mouthful of white teeth.

DON'T consider laminate if forbidden in lease a solicitor when seeling could cause probs. If not staying long carpet right etc do 'neutral carpets' for £5 psm, it'll last a couple of years especially if ask for offcuts and put under furniture, on high wear areas such as doorways etc, and don't go too light or too flat, a fleckle or slight waffle hides a couple of years use.

Good luck - but remember it's a home not an investment. Enjoy it and I wish you well.

amsutt98

Thanks for all your help