Open Plan kitchen/Dining Room or not if trying to sell

golly99

Hi

Had our house up this year for a few months and recently taken it off the market, had around 20 viewings 2 offers but both wanted us to go into renting and didn't want to do that with kids and costs involved etc.

Was thinking of putting it back on the market in the new year sometime, one thing we are picking up a lot of families like is the open plan dining. It's a 4 bedroom house, but separate kitchen and the lounge is separated through double doors to dining room then conservatory.

Would it be worthwhile knocking the wall down between kitchen and dining room and bricking up the lounge doors (so it's a separate room). Obviously would need to sort the flooring/decorating cost too but thinking it would make it more appealing to families (just not sure we would get the cost back!).

Kitchen is approx 16ft x 10 and dining room 11ft x 10, so would be 27ft x 10 if knocked through.

HappyMJ

Let the buyers do that. You could get some quotes to show buyers what would cost but I wouldn't do it.

You've had two offers so it's fine as is. Why you turned them down I have no idea...the reason you've stated about not wanting to rent for at least 6 months whilst looking for a dream home doesn't make sense to me. I would have sold.

Conrad

I prefer open plan.


In the end if a place wont sell it's always the wrong price. Anything at the right price for buyers will sell. A wreck will sell as long as the price is right.


Sellers like Parents always have a higher opinion of their homes and children's talents than outsiders, and friends tell you what you want to hear ("your house wants nothing doing to it / your child has an awesome singing voice").


I've met many a person that think they have the best house in the road!

LittleDutchgirl

I'd agree with getting some quotes and leaving them out for anyone viewing the property. Buyers often assume building costs will be waaay higher than they actually are. Of course there is the disruption and the mess but let them deal with that bit!
Good luck
LDg

chappers

Kitchen diners are all the rage again now, back in the 80s it was all lounge diners and separate dining rooms.

chappers

HappyMJ wrote: »

I would have sold.

Your choice, personally I wouldn't, extra expense lack of flexibility as you would be tied to a fixed term contract unrelated to your move in date on your future new home. Untold extra hassle of moving twice, possibly having to put some of your stuff into storage and therefore not having access to it.

Poppy9

chappers wrote: »

Your choice, personally I wouldn't, extra expense lack of flexibility as you would be tied to a fixed term contract unrelated to your move in date on your future new home. Untold extra hassle of moving twice, possibly having to put some of your stuff into storage and therefore not having access to it.

I did. I sold house with nowhere to go. Rented a flat until we found the house we wanted. As we were chain free and EA knew this we often got to see houses before they were marketed as lots of sellers want a quick, chain free sale. The house we bought never had particulars drawn up by EA. He viewed, valued and said he had a buyer, rung us we came and looked made an offer. If we had been in a chain we wouldn't have got this house as we had missed a couple of others we liked as were not chain free.

OP as you had two offers then you don't need to change and incur extra expense. I don't understand why you marketed your house for sale though if you had no intention of moving. I would have been annoyed to have wasted my time viewing a house a seller had no intention of moving out from.

missbiggles1

chappers wrote: »

Your choice, personally I wouldn't, extra expense lack of flexibility as you would be tied to a fixed term contract unrelated to your move in date on your future new home. Untold extra hassle of moving twice, possibly having to put some of your stuff into storage and therefore not having access to it.

Compared to the hassle and cost of living in a house while you knock a wall down, redecorate and refit a kitchen? No contest.

Davesnave

chappers wrote: »

Kitchen diners are all the rage again now, back in the 80s it was all lounge diners and separate dining rooms.

As a 80s/90s family, we preferred the separate dining room, which could be dedicated to homework, away from distractions.

But there you go, different lifestyles and priorities now, and lots of lurvely technology in the kitchen area to entertain and impress.

Linton

I wouldnt start tearing walls down. Lots of people wont like open plan kitchen diners with nowhere else to eat. Think about the kitchen smells and the mess after preparing a large meal. Hardly a good environment to enjoy dinner.

I cant see why you took the house off the market. In my view you should simply have told your 2 people that you werent prepared to move into rented accomodation, left the ball in their court, and waited for potential buyer no. 3. You are looking for a house to buy arent you?

Waterlily24

I like a separate dining room but we can eat in our kitchen too. I wouldn't change it or move out.