Want to sell property in a year or 2, is it worth putting a new kitchen in?

IAMIAM

Reason being, feel the property will 100% need a new kitchen and if I put one in it will 100% secure a good asking price. Or do I just leave it for the next buyers?

I have noticed when I am looking on rightmove now, I am immediiatly put off by either the kitchen or bathroom needing an upgrade....

DullGreyGuy

There is no right or wrong answer really. 

How bad is the current kitchen? If it's something someone could live with for a couple of years then probably not as most people under estimate costs plus if you put something in they dont like they'll still be budgeting for replacing it anyway. 

If its totally unlivable then probably replace it as whilst some will still want to replace it anyway you won't put off those that need to move in straight away and dont want to live in a building site. 

I'd certainly be doing it on the cheap and look at other options like just changing the doors and worktop or secondhand options etc. 

PRAISETHESUN

General rule of thumb is that you never get back any of the money you spend on renovations. You either do up the kitchen because you want to do up the kitchen for yourself, or you do nothing. Price it accordingly as "needing a new kitchen" and it will sell just fine.

IAMIAM

DullGreyGuy said:

There is no right or wrong answer really. 

How bad is the current kitchen? If it's something someone could live with for a couple of years then probably not as most people under estimate costs plus if you put something in they dont like they'll still be budgeting for replacing it anyway. 

If its totally unlivable then probably replace it as whilst some will still want to replace it anyway you won't put off those that need to move in straight away and dont want to live in a building site. 

I'd certainly be doing it on the cheap and look at other options like just changing the doors and worktop or secondhand options etc. 

It is not unviable. It is just dated...wooden door effect type kitchen. I suppose yes, 100% can live with and move into. But I feel it would knock 20-30k off the asking price then? Or is this dramatic.

IAMIAM

PRAISETHESUN said:

General rule of thumb is that you never get back any of the money you spend on renovations. You either do up the kitchen because you want to do up the kitchen for yourself, or you do nothing. Price it accordingly as "needing a new kitchen" and it will sell just fine.

Never heard this before. So aesthetics, do for myself only. Selling, ignore it, it will sell, price accordingly?

FlorayG

I'm the exact opposite. When I was looking I would see a brand new, often expensive kitchen and think "OMG I will have to live with that and I hate it"...I eventually bought a house with a kitchen in such a state I enjoyed ripping it out very quickly

Albermarle

IAMIAM said:

DullGreyGuy said:

There is no right or wrong answer really. 

How bad is the current kitchen? If it's something someone could live with for a couple of years then probably not as most people under estimate costs plus if you put something in they dont like they'll still be budgeting for replacing it anyway. 

If its totally unlivable then probably replace it as whilst some will still want to replace it anyway you won't put off those that need to move in straight away and dont want to live in a building site. 

I'd certainly be doing it on the cheap and look at other options like just changing the doors and worktop or secondhand options etc. 

It is not unviable. It is just dated...wooden door effect type kitchen. I suppose yes, 100% can live with and move into. But I feel it would knock 20-30k off the asking price then? Or is this dramatic.

At worst a buyer will think I will need to replace the kitchen in a year or so, and most people do not spend that much money on a new kitchen.
As said the opposite could be true if you install a fancy new kitchen. A buyer might think the price includes the cost of the kitchen and they do not like it and plan to rip it out, so are reluctant to pay the price. 

RHemmings

Can you post a picture of your kitchen? Not a photo that is online (e.g. Rightmove) as then people will be able to find your property and know your address. 

DullGreyGuy

RHemmings said:

Can you post a picture of your kitchen? Not a photo that is online (e.g. Rightmove) as then people will be able to find your property and know your address. 

Assuming the OP actually lives there

Sapindus

If the wooden doors are very dark painting them can make the kitchen look a bit fresher but can also look a bit shoddy if you're not careful.

p00hsticks

IAMIAM said:

I have noticed when I am looking on rightmove now, I am immediiatly put off by either the kitchen or bathroom needing an upgrade....

But there will be plenty more that will be put off by the higher price being asked for a property with a brand new fitted kitchen or bathroom that is not to their taste...