Does re-decorating help sell a property?

pink123_2

Hello all,

I am after some advice. My sister's flat has been on the market for a year and still no offer!! She has been with several estate agents and has reduced the price. Admittadley, some rooms are a funny shape but its a really nice, very very clean flat. However, the decor is very dated (long story), so my question is shall we strip the patterned, old fashioned wallpaper and re-paint it to a more nuetral colour such as magnolia? Or would this be a waste of time and money? Has anyone else re-decorated and had success in selling their property?

pink123_2

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-4717995.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy

This is the link to the flat on rightmove!

Bogof_Babe

I think the bathroom is lovely. Maybe the wall decor in the living room gives an impression of claustrophobia, and it would undoubtedly look better for a lighter less cluttered look.

How does the asking price compare with similar in the area?

pink123_2

She has now had to reduce the price so she is under as the price range is 170 K -230K for apartments in that area. It is a built up area with many apartments as it is in the city center of Southampton. it may be that the competition is too great?

silvercar

paint the wallpaper - too much hassle stripping it down. If it doesn't last (and who knows how long paint will stick to wallpaper) you'll be long gone.

I'd also be tempted to paint the kitchen tiles white with tile paint.

pink123_2

Tile paint- that is a really good idea! didnt know it even existed!! We tried to paint a wallpaper sample but it looked really awful as the patterns showed through the paint.

RAS

Ditto re stripping. Don't bother.

Paint the sitting room wall paper something pale that goes with the blue suite. De-clutter to make it "bigger". remove those rugs.

Make something of the balcony. Can't tell it it has plants and or eating space?

Any good views from the windows?

The kitchen units and tiles contrast with each over and the white goods. Consider a quick makeover.

In addition to the decor, she seems to have a lot of rather dark furniture and curly bits and pieces which make it look even more dated. Store them elsewhere, take down some of the pictures etc.

We are talking a couple of hundred max here

silvercar

pink123 wrote: »

Tile paint- that is a really good idea! didnt know it even existed!! We tried to paint a wallpaper sample but it looked really awful as the patterns showed through the paint.

Two coats or even 3 - trust me, it works.

International do a tile paint very easy to use, we just used the primer and it gave a satisfactory white finish.

pink123_2

Thank you all so much. Just spoke to her on the phone and she is not that keen to paint over the tiles as they were expensive and she thinks the paint will ruin them. However, I had a bit of a lightbulb moment and thinking of suggesting painting over the red cupboards? Any suggestions as to what colour would go?

cattie

What are the kitchen units made of, is it wood or melamime? If melamine she would need to prime them first with a suitable primer to get the paint to 'take'. Applying the paint with a small roller gives a much more professional finish than using a brush.

To tone in with the colour of the tiles I'd go for a very soft yellow, say buttermilk, or even good old magnolia for the units, or even white would look good as it would bring everything together nicely with the white goods & boiler.

bubblegum2

I agree you should paint - Not everyone can look past the decor

I can look past decor and spot potential in properties but my mate can't unless a property is to her taste then she isn't interested - ummm maybe this is why she's still looking

Cream colours throughout is not only neutral and will make every room look bigger. You can add a bit of colour to rooms by adding a nice bright bedding set, vase or cushions but keep it simple

I would also de-clutter and remove the rugs etc as it will again make the flat look and feel bigger than it is