Advice on what will and will not help a sale

minipenny_2

cattie wrote: »

I think I'd agree on changing carpets if they are old 40's onwards swirly types. These type of carpets can make a room look very small and claustrophobic and there are some buyers who can't see past this type of thing. No matter what the wall decoration is like, an ea will always label a property with this kind of carpeting as 'in need of updating'.

What is under the carpets? Are there lovely floorboards? If so perhaps get rid of carpets and let people see they can have a nice wooden floor to varnish, paint or whatever they prefer.

Or buy some very cheap neutral carpet. It was what the vendors had put down in some of the rooms in my house shortly before I bought the place. As soon as I moved in and had the place refurbished, this carpet was dumped on the skip, but I was delighted to find absolutely pristine and lovely floorboards hiding underneath.

Floorboards would need a bit of work to make them half decent.

Ok so what about we do the downstairs carpet - cheaply as suggested as its a massive room (2 rooms joined) so I want to emphasise (I cant spelll today lol) the space, but we leave the upstairs carpet as they are plain just (imo) horrible colours lol.

then maybe people will be like the house is lovely and big and just needs a couple of carpets upstairs at some point... ?

minipenny_2

or is laminate cheaper? Or would that look weird having the whole living room area laminate?

PasturesNew

I was advised to do nothing as people either want to do it themselves, or want it all done for them. Doing half a house makes them think they're paying the extra to cover the cost of you doing things to your taste - and they'd rather feel they spent the money choosing things the way they like them.

Every area, every house, is different though.

dimbo61

You wont spend that much on new carpets and after cleaning
and painting the walls it does the most to make the house clean and fresh.
20 year old carpets look old, dirty and worn out.
You MUST put in a kitchen or the buyers wont get a MORTGAGE so it needs a clean white bathroom with a seperate shower if possible and a fitted kitchen
Good luck

minipenny_2

dimbo61 wrote: »

You MUST put in a kitchen or the buyers wont get a MORTGAGE so it needs a clean white bathroom with a seperate shower if possible and a fitted kitchen
Good luck

The bathroom is done. It is a white suite and now a walk in shower has been added. Its White so just ready for people to do what they want with.

Kitchen will be fitted this next couple of weeks along with a new oak floor (already have) new tiles (already have) and new lights (already have)

property recently re-wired and new boiler system added

We've already done walls so cant take that back lol, I might leave carpet and if any viewers say as their walking around that its terrible and putting them off might then replace. Or better yet could I agree with a potential buyer that we will buy and fit the carpet if they come in at full asking price if they do mention it as a dealbreaker?

obviously dont let them pick an expensive carpet just say we'll put in a beige one if they want?

DRP

minipenny wrote: »

The bathroom is done. It is a white suite and now a walk in shower has been added. Its White so just ready for people to do what they want with.

Kitchen will be fitted this next couple of weeks along with a new oak floor (already have) new tiles (already have) and new lights (already have)

property recently re-wired and new boiler system added

We've already done walls so cant take that back lol, I might leave carpet and if any viewers say as their walking around that its terrible and putting them off might then replace. Or better yet could I agree with a potential buyer that we will buy and fit the carpet if they come in at full asking price if they do mention it as a dealbreaker?

obviously dont let them pick an expensive carpet just say we'll put in a beige one if they want?

this is a good idea and I would make this arrangement absolutely crystal clear to your estate agent (and remind them everytime they ring to give you notice of a viewing) - my experience of estate agents tells me they often turn up without preparation and a require constant 'coaching' from the vendor

dimbo61

Sounds like you have done most of the hard work !
New kitchen and bathroom
So why not get a local carpet company in and ask " How much to recarpet the whole house MATE "

Pricivius

I don't think there's a "one size fits all" answer to this - it will depend on the house, the area and the market.

For example, I looked around a load of properties when I boughtmy first flat and was disappointed by the number of places with brand new kitchens and bathrooms which were totally not to my taste. Whilst it was great that everything had been done, I couldn't see myself living with these rooms and could not justify ripping out pristine fittings but didn't want to pay for rooms I did not like. So I passed - I would rather have a 5 year old bathroom to my taste, then something brand new but imo ugly.

My mum is currently selling and has been advised by everyone she has asked not to bother replacing the 80s kitchen and the ropey stair carpet as the kind of person wanting to buy her house will want to do all of this themselves...

Just a thought...

minipenny_2

Everything that everyone has said on here has definitely given me food for thought so thankyou all.

~It leads me to believe their is no right or wrong answer here lol. The kitchen and bathroom are just plain white so their not to any paticular taste and free to be ripped out if they want.

We never had a kitchen had no choice on renovating that room. The bathroom was an avacado suite which I personally couldnt live with lol!

I may have a word with local carpet place. I may also get them to write the quote and then give that to the potential buyers if anyone says anything then they can adjust their offer accordingly - that way it saves us having to do it and they can get the carpet they really want and have an idea of the price

MacMickster

Pricivius wrote: »

I don't think there's a "one size fits all" answer to this - it will depend on the house, the area and the market.

For example, I looked around a load of properties when I boughtmy first flat and was disappointed by the number of places with brand new kitchens and bathrooms which were totally not to my taste. Whilst it was great that everything had been done, I couldn't see myself living with these rooms and could not justify ripping out pristine fittings but didn't want to pay for rooms I did not like. So I passed - I would rather have a 5 year old bathroom to my taste, then something brand new but imo ugly.

Exactly this. If you are marketing at young first-time buyers then you probably need the place to be in a liveable condition as it is as they are unlikely to be able to afford much in the way of improvements themselves.

If I was looking to buy somewhere however, I would want to do it up to my taste, and any offer would reflect the work that I felt needed doing. It wouldn't matter to me whether there was a new basic kitchen or no kitchen at all if I would have to spend the same amount of money instaling my own choice of kitchen.