Family home - renovate prior to sale or cheap for quicker sale

badger09

I would strip out all carpet, curtains and anything else which soaks up stale cigarette smells. Then do a really deep clean, or have a professional do it. Then I would market as it is. No point doing major work if someone is going to rip it all out & start again.

babyblade41

some sugar soap and a big bulk of magnolia, destroy all soft furnishing and sell 

Crashy_Time

Price to sell, lick of paint maybe, don`t do extensive renovation, people are looking at price/location/size, if they are even looking at all in this climate?

badger09

babyblade41 said:

some sugar soap and a big bulk of magnolia, destroy all soft furnishing and sell 

Unfortunately sugar soap doesn't completely get rid of the smell of ingrained cigarette smoke. Several scrubs with dilute white vinegar works quite well, but leaves it smelling like a fish & chip shop  

xylophone

Remove all carpets and curtains as a priority.
If you are going to decorate, try Zinsser Cover Stain sealer/primer before painting.

Pennylane

I would fork out for a deep cleaning company personally.  It is very hard work getting rid of years of nicotine damage. it seeps into paintwork, carpets, glass and fabrics.  Chuck all the furniture as well as curtains.  Paint in neutral colours and get it on the market.

What is your Mum going to do in the care home if she can’t have a smoke?  I hope she settles in anyway.  

Pennylane

seradane said:

AdrianC said:

Clear it out, get shot of the carpet, give everywhere a bloody good scrub (or four), and maybe a once-over with a bucket of magnolia.

Why do people still suggest magnolia?? That colour just makes me think of a low-effort rental that hasn't been updated since the 90's.

Pure white or a very light cool grey are your up-to-date neutrals this decade, I would suggest instead.

You are SO out of date!  Grey is well past it’s sell by date. The on trend shades at the moment are coffees, creams, beiges, caramels etc.  grey is a cold, boring colour at least these shades have some warmth to them as does magnolia.  5 years ago my friend’s husband painted all their internal doors pale grey ... he is now having to repaint them all in a neutral shade as they look dated. 

Vasquez65

We cleared and deep cleaned my Dad’s house,  he was a smoker and the kitchen walls were the colour of toffee 🤢
It’s on the market as a ‘fixer upper’  but every viewing has had the same feedback - ‘needs a lot of work’ 🙄
Well yes, that’s why it’s £20k  lower than it would be if modern and perfect.
10 viewings since September with no offers, not even a very low one, so last weekend we stripped the stained and peeling hall wallpaper (last decorated in 1993) and the hideous tile effect paper in the kitchen and painted it all cream.   It looks 100% better already, we’re painting the living room as well and with a new living room carpet someone could move in. 

We might put some cheap new vinyl flooring down in the kitchen and bathroom if the 2 viewings this week still have the same feedback but that will be the limit of our work.  

 It will need a new bathroom as it’s the height of 1970’s chic and probably rewiring due to lack of sockets .
The kitchen is ok,  could do with new worktop and sink and definitely new flooring. 

I think the problem is that it’s not bad enough to deperately need total renovation but it’s all very dated.  I’d knock another £10k off it but my Sister won’t budge,  she’ll soon change her tune when Council tax becomes payable on it though.  

We can’t rip out all the carpets,  if it hasn’t sold in March, my Daughter and her family will move in whilst they look for a house to buy,  their tenancy will be ending so it makes sense rather than signing up for another year, unfortunately Dad’s house is 3 bedrooms, they want 4. 

polgara

What is your Mum going to do in the care home if she can’t have a smoke?  I hope she settles in anyway.  

Whilst they aren’t allowed to smoke inside there is the faculty of a ‘smoker’s patio’. I’m hopeful she will dramatically reduce her smoking (60 a day habit). She’s in and out of hospital and manages even without patches then. I think she smokes because she’s bored so hopefully some company will help.  

Robby1988

I personally would clear the whole house out, take down all the curtains and pull up all the carpets. Give it a good deep clean & then just sell it has a blank empty canvas for someone. If it obviously needs stuff like rewiring doing, thats messy work involving plaster being ripped off so decoration is pretty pointless.

If the house is otherwise structurally sound, there are always people about who like a bargain & a renovation project.