Doing up house prior to selling?

Fireflyaway

I don't know whether to spend on a replacement kitchen floor ( its lino) prior to selling. The estate agent says its a waste of money as the new people might change it anyway, if I chose something that's not to their taste. He doesn't think it will prevent offers as our area is very sought after.

However my brother says different. He thinks it will encourage higher offers. Same with painting the skirting boards and doors - estate agent says no - brother says yes!

How much of a difference will this stuff make? I don't want to spend out for no reason, but do want to reach the best price possible. Is spending £500 on improvements really going to mean people offer more?

neneromanova

You're not going to get a whole load more money TBH. Like you say, the new owners will come in and put a new one in if it's not to their taste. Doing it up would just help a quicker offer being put in as the place looks nice. If the floor is tatty and brings the place down then maybe, but if it's ok, I'd leave it.

Paully232000

If your area is 'very sought after' then i don't think that having lino in the kitchen that the viewers don't like is going to make much of a difference in whether they offer or not if the rest of the house is structurally sound.

Seems, on the face of it to be a waste of £500 unless it is in such a state of disrepair that it looks very off-putting.

MadelinesMum

Hi, my house was on the market for a while and I only received an offer after I had vinyl put in the bathrooms and new carpet where needed.

Make sure the floors are free from dust / grit as any little piece shows through the vinyl and can make a hole.

You may get away with cleaning the doors and skirts with sugar soap instead of painting.

Fireflyaway

Thanks guys this is what I was edging towards thinking.

The house is in good repair in general and seeing as buyers would only have to spend a small amount doing a new floor I can't see it will put many people off.

I think my brother thinks I am risking getting lower offers and that maybe the estate agent might not try and get us the best price as he could use the floor as a reason to put forward lower offer.

laurathree

If you're in a sought after area (South East/ London?) it probably won't matter. That said, dirty/ untidy/ cluttered rooms will have an effect on the overall property impression. If it's clean, in good repair, and undamaged/ not discoloured, I'd leave it. Paint touch ups are always a good idea, but glossing all the woodwork might mean showing up the age of the rest of the decorating!

Paully232000

Fireflyaway wrote: »

Thanks guys this is what I was edging towards thinking.

The house is in good repair in general and seeing as buyers would only have to spend a small amount doing a new floor I can't see it will put many people off.

I think my brother thinks I am risking getting lower offers and that maybe the estate agent might not try and get us the best price as he could use the floor as a reason to put forward lower offer.

they could do that, yes. But I would be telling them where to go for such a small item that isnt to the buyers taste. Give it a clean, even a steam clean to make it look its best, but beyond that, leave it.

kathrynha

Unless the current floor is hideously ugly and distracting from the good things in the room or got holes in it that could indicate bigger problems it wouldn't effect my opinion of the house.


Sometimes obviously new stuff, or really fresh paint can make the buyer think you are trying to cover something up

Fireflyaway

Yes we are in South East. The floor isn't the most attractive( a plain boring colour and a few scratches if you get down and look!) but it doesn't have holes etc.

Good point about the paintwork. Yes that's true that painting some bits might make other bits looks even worse!

TBeckett100

if your target market is first timers, then it may be worth investing in a cheap bit of lino as mentally it is one less expenditure (and could be the difference in your house or another similar). First impressions count and a kitchen (associated with cleanliness and hygiene) should be presented in such a way.

I was terrible when we put our house on the market. The paint was cracked open Friday at 3pm and I was still doing it come Monday. By the time we had decluttered, turned it into a showhome, we quite wanted to move in ourselves.

Fireflyaway

Funny thing is there is an identical property already on the market and they have bright red carpets so I am quite hopeful !
Yes its first timers or investors. Will be doing a lot of cleaning. I think maybe I have become oblivious to bits and bobs like you do over time but people new to the house will pick up on.