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New windows and central heating - imapct on value?
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adonis10
Posts: 1,810 Forumite


There isn't a clear cut answer but I'm just looking for opinions/past experiences.
Bungalow currently being refurbished. 5/6 windows are a little aged now and clearly need to be replaced and a price in the region of £3k has been quoted. Also, it doesnt' have central heating and this can be installed for ~£4k.
My question is - is it worth spending the best part of 7-7.5k on these improvements? Do you think it'll add enough to the selling price?
Bungalow currently being refurbished. 5/6 windows are a little aged now and clearly need to be replaced and a price in the region of £3k has been quoted. Also, it doesnt' have central heating and this can be installed for ~£4k.
My question is - is it worth spending the best part of 7-7.5k on these improvements? Do you think it'll add enough to the selling price?
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Comments
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No.
Sell to someone who'll see it needs worth and think they can add value.
Your quotes sound high unless it's huge house and windows.0 -
Are you actually selling, or are you just thinking towards the future? Are you doing up a house/a developer, or is it your home? Do any improvements have to add value?
Jx2024 wins: *must start comping again!*0 -
This is exactly what I did, with one thing and another it took a fair while and in a falling market I have probably lost money. What I do have now is a house that is far more appealing and will hopefully (let you know, it's going on the market soon) will get closer to the asking, as I am certain a lot more money would have been chipped off the asking than I actually spent.
With the carpets, we replaced those and then did a straw poll of people asking how much they thought new carpets would have cost in our house. They guessed between £2k and £3k when in fact we got them a lot cheaper, so I think the lesson there is that people often panic about how much it might cost, plus there is disruption (loads of brick dust) and needing to move out/not move in and potentially additional costs while it's being done.
You have to factor in plastering and redecoration costs, plus we had to have all new carpets as there were holes from the legs of the storage heaters as the radiators were a different shape/size and the removal of the heaters damaged them too. I don't think there is a right or wrong or blanket rule, as you say there is no one definite answer, we got estate agents to value it before and how much they thought we'd achieve for it after, I am guessing you will be doing that?0 -
There isn't a clear cut answer but I'm just looking for opinions/past experiences.
Bungalow currently being refurbished. 5/6 windows are a little aged now and clearly need to be replaced and a price in the region of £3k has been quoted. Also, it doesnt' have central heating and this can be installed for ~£4k.
My question is - is it worth spending the best part of 7-7.5k on these improvements? Do you think it'll add enough to the selling price?
I think having them would give potential buyers less reason to knock you down on price in current market, whether it actually adds the value i guess depends on what else is available locally.
If it was one or the other I would do the central heating as the inconvenience of having this done after someone moves in is far greater than replacement windows
When you say windows are a little aged are they already double glazed older style? If so leave them. If not and they are wooden frames then tidying these up by sanding and painting will be a lot cheaper than full replacement
Also ensure you ask local agents for their opinion0 -
Are you actually selling, or are you just thinking towards the future? Are you doing up a house/a developer, or is it your home? Do any improvements have to add value?
Jx
As it is an inherited property, it will be going on the market once it has been finished. It just needed a fair bit of work. When I said 'add value' what I should have said was 'increase value to cover the cost'. No point spending 7k if it'll only add 3.5k to the value.You have to factor in plastering and redecoration costs, plus we had to have all new carpets as there were holes from the legs of the storage heaters as the radiators were a different shape/size and the removal of the heaters damaged them too. I don't think there is a right or wrong or blanket rule, as you say there is no one definite answer, we got estate agents to value it before and how much they thought we'd achieve for it after, I am guessing you will be doing that?
There are no re-dec costs as it's being done by the beneficiary at no cost to themselves. The only labour will be a small amount of plastering in the kitchen, windows and heating.
It's been valued and I assume that this was discussed with the agents.0 -
sunshinetours wrote: »I think having them would give potential buyers less reason to knock you down on price in current market, whether it actually adds the value i guess depends on what else is available locally.
If it was one or the other I would do the central heating as the inconvenience of having this done after someone moves in is far greater than replacement windows
When you say windows are a little aged are they already double glazed older style? If so leave them. If not and they are wooden frames then tidying these up by sanding and painting will be a lot cheaper than full replacement
Also ensure you ask local agents for their opinion
They're not double glazed. A couple of the windows look a bit tatty as they're quite old.0 -
Also, is 4k a bit much for central heating?
It's a relatively small bungalow - haven't got the measurements but it has:
- kitchen
- main bedroom
- small bedroom
- lounge
- bathroom
Assuming 6 radiators (each room plus hallway)? I know little about this so am guessing.0 -
I spent £3.5k on 8 rads (many of which are double) and a good quality boiler (and more coverage as it was a house not a bungalow), I could have got it cheaper (as low as £2.5K) but wanted a job well done as I knew the plumbers and was thinking of letting the house so wanted a reliable boiler. That's in Birmingham, it will depend a lot on where you live but again, I assume you've had several quotes.0
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I spent £3.5k on 8 rads (many of which are double) and a good quality boiler (and more coverage as it was a house not a bungalow), I could have got it cheaper (as low as £2.5K) but wanted a job well done as I knew the plumbers and was thinking of letting the house so wanted a reliable boiler. That's in Birmingham, it will depend a lot on where you live but again, I assume you've had several quotes.
Dorset.
No quotes yet as still sorting out the basics such as bathroom, kitchen etc. Obviously will do when required. Just trying to get advice as don't want to spend 3-3.5k if it won't be re-couped when selling.0 -
Dorset.
No quotes yet as still sorting out the basics such as bathroom, kitchen etc. Obviously will do when required. Just trying to get advice as don't want to spend 3-3.5k if it won't be re-couped when selling.
Have you asked local agents as suggested. They will know the local market better than anyone on here? Anything else from here is just guess work0
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