House doctor time?

topsales

I have been renting out my house (rural Scotland) for the past year but, with the improvement in the market and my tenants leaving, now want to sell. Thing is it needs a repaint, carpets, garden tidy etc etc. Should I do all this before putting on the market - what do people think? It isn't an expensive house - less than £130,000 - is it worth spending the money? Obviously it is now unfurnished so looks less than wonderful!!

BitterAndTwisted

Of course it's worth doing!

Which property would you choose if they were priced the same and were of equal quality in the same neighbourhood: the one which needed decorating, carpets etcetera or the one which doesn't?

Selling a "tired" house might not get you more money but it might save it lingering on the market looking like some sad, neglected reject. No-one falls in love with a reject

LisbonLaura

topsales wrote: »

It isn't an expensive house - less than £130,000

Some might think you are trying to talk the market up.

-taff

If spending the money on it means it either gets more return for it, or makes it quicker to sell, and if either of those two are considerations for you, then do it.

AdrianC

topsales wrote: »

Should I do all this before putting on the market - what do people think? It isn't an expensive house - less than £130,000 - is it worth spending the money?

Is it inexpensive compared to similar houses locally? The rest of the country is irrelevant, because your potential buyers won't be looking at places in London in comparison. They'll be looking at places half a mile down the road.

Obviously it ... now ... looks less than wonderful!!

And that's exactly what your potential buyers will think when the EA hands them the details.

BitterAndTwisted

Yep, and your viewers will be thinking "Heck, we won't even be able to unpack our furniture until we've located a supplier, decided on what carpeting we need, been given a quote and had it fitted". That's quite a deterrent for the sake of a grand or two.

bouicca21

I'd certainly paint. Carpets? Depends on what they are like. Shabby dirty and worn? Says uncared for. Replace. Dark blue? Says ex rental. Replace. Brown swirly? Says this place is a bit dated, structurally sound but needs a bit of work, possibly a bargain. Consider leaving as is.

trailingspouse

Yes - tidy the garden (pay a gardener if you have to).

Yes - give the place a damn good clean.

Maybe - paint the walls. An experienced buyer will spot that it's been tarted up for selling - but to me that means you care enough to bother, and that's better than nothing.

If you can afford it - replace the carpet. Or invest in a couple of artfully placed rugs?

As a previous poster said, it probably won't add to the value, but it will make it easier to sell.

Most people struggle to see past the decor, so you have to make it easy for them.

Contessa

About 2 years ago someone I know was selling a house they'd rented out.

They got quotes for new carpets and painting throughout.

The EA ( a small local independent) marketed the property and got a buyer after 6 days. House was SSTC before the new carpets and painting were even started so saved the seller quite a lot of money!

AdrianC

On the flip side, I spent a week or so painting our old place before it went on the market, and replaced the hall/stairs carpets. When the EA came back round afterwards, she upped her previous suggested asking price by quite a lot of times the cost. Probably my most lucrative week's work ever.

hazyjo

Don't forget stamp duty level at £125k so whatever you spend on it probably won't increase value (unless you think it'll make a massive difference!). Chances are it'll still be worth £125k, but it'll probably make it more appealing to buyers!

Jx