Renovating a house to sell, how important is the CH/boiler setup?

Owain_Moneysaver

ijrwe wrote: »

the next buyer is likely to be a bit thick and a big fan of scary British Gas adverts.

Which is possible, I admit.

Very likely, I'd have thought, going by the number of otherwise intelligent people I know.

Star1

In sure this has already been said, but you need to think about you audience. Do you want to market the house as recently refurbished with nothing need doing to it? Then I do think you need to change the boiler (when we bought our house we wanted one that didn't need anything doing to it and a boiler like this would certainly have stopped us buying).

Otherwise, if you're happy for it to be marketed as in need of some work then don't replace the boiler, but it will obviously effect the total asking price and may make some of the other renovations worthless.

I certainly wouldn't go down the route of marketing the house as being fully refurbished then giving the buyers a surprise when they come to view - I wouldn't expect you to get any buyers that way x

Mojisola

ijrwe wrote: »

I like to try and understand the audience as well, since it's the reasons that might persuade me! But the only one so far is that the next buyer is likely to be a bit thick and a big fan of scary British Gas adverts.

Which is possible, I admit.

Star1 wrote: »

In sure this has already been said, but you need to think about you audience. Do you want to market the house as recently refurbished with nothing need doing to it? Then I do think you need to change the boiler (when we bought our house we wanted one that didn't need anything doing to it and a boiler like this would certainly have stopped us buying).

Otherwise, if you're happy for it to be marketed as in need of some work then don't replace the boiler, but it will obviously effect the total asking price and may make some of the other renovations worthless.

I certainly wouldn't go down the route of marketing the house as being fully refurbished then giving the buyers a surprise when they come to view - I wouldn't expect you to get any buyers that way x

It's been put several different ways already but Star has worded it well. It's nothing to do with the buyers being stupid.

Support_Peggy

Sounds like you have checked out the option of a new back boiler. Possibly the Baxi one that they say can be replaced without complicated changes ( On the Baxi site).
I think that would be a happy compromise. A new and efficient back boiler, at much less cost and upheaval.
And perhaps replacing the hot water tank if it is very old.

As already advised, check out your market and what has been done to similar properties and the expectations of buyers.
Though I am also the kind of person who would like and keep wooden framed windows, even a double glazed modern alternative.
Good luck.

teddysmum

ijrwe wrote: »

In renovating the house I have of course considered replacing it, which would involve at least:
1) Removing the fire and boiler
2) Buying and installing a new, modern boiler
3) Finding a suitable wall for this new boiler and replumbing everything to serve it
4) Making good the huge amount of damage done in the process

I've worked out that the cost is absolutely not worth it in terms of money I'd save on my energy bills. No way, I've never make even 1/5th of it back before the new boiler needed replacing, as we're talking several £1000 easily.

I've just had a system boiler replaced by a combi and the cost was not several £1000s (Under £3000 and included new radiators, fitting a gas fire, fitting a new tap and replacing a toilet flushing system ).


There was no huge damage to make good; just a little filler needed in the kitchen ceiling, as we had the new boiler in a different place. The new boiler will be nicely hidden in a wall cupboard, when the kitchen is refitted.


Our fireplace has a back boiler, meant for coal fire use, but it caused no problems.

egoode

Maybe because I'm from Australia originally but if I saw an old boiler system that didn't look like the modern ones I've been used to in the flats I've been renting I wouldn't even consider putting an offer in on the place. I would immediately think it's likely to breakdown in the next few years and will need to be replaced and as I wouldn't be replacing like for like the mere thought of the work involved in replacing it would send me running. Maybe that doesn't make sense to you but that's my thinking.

Also I tend to have my boiler on probably more then most British people and also at a higher temp as that's what I feel more comfortable with so the fact it's inefficient as well would mean much higher bills than I'm used to so again wouldn't be worth it to me. And it seems most of the posters here would be put of by the old system in a newly renovated place.

I wonder if you are just better off selling the place as a renovation project for someone else if you aren't willing to do the work to replace the really important things. As my priorities would be room sizes, layout, electrics and boiler. I really don't care if it's freshly painted and newly carpeted.