Refurbish or not before selling?

meerkat2007

Thanks for the link, Owain Moneysaver - it looks like just the trick. I'm not exactly a dab hand at DIY, I have to admit. Already got the new shower curtain and towels, though (and yes, they have made a difference). The budget's very tight at the moment, so I'm not sure the flooring is feasible for the time being (there's quite a lot of floor to cover), but I should be able to pick up a bathroom cabinet from somewhere, that won't break the bank.

lollipopsarah

no easy answer to this as you are not looking to sell right now,
we moved a few months ago and the buyers got a real bargain (current climate and all that) and ripped the hole house apart to make their own, including kitchen, which only really needed a good clean and a bit of love, but hey ho.
best wishes to you
x

meerkat2007

Thanks, lollipopsarah. I've been mulling over this question for around 12 months now, and posted here because I really couldn't decide what would be the best course of action, once I'm in a position to actually take action! I'm the sort of person who likes to have things planned out, even if only at a high level, and with having to rely on my salary alone, I'm really worried about making big financial mistakes (made enough of those in the past!).

I think one option that I'm favouring at the moment - whether I still favour it tomorrow morning is an entirely different matter! - is to have a new bathroom put in, but not a stupidly expensive one, then make the most of it myself for a couple of years, while I'm saving up for the move. Hopefully it would be enough to attract both potential buyers who would want a reasonable bathroom until they could change it to their taste, and those who would be happy to start ripping it out immediately.

I think the current bathroom is probably about 25 years old! :eek:

lollipopsarah

just be carefull who you choose to supply/fit new bathroom, it's a bit scary out there with so many companies closing down.
again, good luck and best wishes
x

KateLiana27

meerkat2007 wrote: »

I think one option that I'm favouring at the moment - whether I still favour it tomorrow morning is an entirely different matter! - is to have a new bathroom put in, but not a stupidly expensive one, then make the most of it myself for a couple of years, while I'm saving up for the move. Hopefully it would be enough to attract both potential buyers who would want a reasonable bathroom until they could change it to their taste, and those who would be happy to start ripping it out immediately.

I think the current bathroom is probably about 25 years old! :eek:

I think this is a great plan, given that you'll have use of it for a year or two, so it's not purely for sale value. Buy a simple, plain white suite and get a local plumber to fit it, then go for simple cheaper options to decorate the rest (as others have said, vinyl rather than tiles, shower curtain rather than expensive bath screen). Then enjoy using it.

meerkat2007

Thanks, lollipopsarah and KateLiana27. I know it's silly, but I'm not used to employing tradesmen to do jobs - however, I do have friends who are, so I will be asking them for advice regarding who to ask and who to avoid. There are some bathroom suppliers locally who have been in business for many years, although I do realise that having a long history is absolutely no guarantee of having a long future in the current economic climate!

I've been fretting over this for months, but now things are getting back on track generally, and the discussion here has been invaluable, so thank you all. I'll benefit from a new bathroom, once the finances are in order, and it will be there to make the property a little more attractive - or less unattractive! - when the time comes to put it on the market. And there are thigns I can do to it in the short term to benefit me immediately.

Thansk again.