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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

Help! Should we fix this before sale?

24 replies

JoyofSpring · 03/04/2016 20:46

We are selling our home next week (completing). It has quite old plaster that doesn't like nails being put in it so we have quite a few holes behind our pictures on the walls. Where there isn't a hole the plaster has sort of bulged out around the impact of the nail.

Should we do anything about these? It's ruddy hard to get a nail in the wall in the first place and DH had to buy a special drill because there is concrete just behind the plaster so I was going to leave the nails in the wall for the new people... But what about the holes?

And if we fix them with polyfiller then surely I need to go and buy new paint too because it will stand out a mile.

Help! What should we do.

Help! Should we fix this before sale?

Help! Should we fix this before sale?

OP posts:

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wowfudge · 03/04/2016 20:56

Hang sonething from the nails? Or just fill them. It's not likely to put someone off.

SoupDragon · 03/04/2016 20:57

I would fill around the nail. If they hang something in it, all well and good, if they aren't going to, they'll have to remove the nail and fill anyway.

TremoloGreen · 03/04/2016 21:06

If I was feeling generous, I would remove the nails and fill but not repaint, as they may well repaint anyway. If I wasn't feeling generous I would just leave them for the new owners to sort. I wouldn't use Polyfilla though as it's a bitch to paint over. Something like Toupret is much cheaper and paintable.

jojosapphire · 03/04/2016 21:11

Personally i would just leave it....

Lighteningirll · 04/04/2016 07:24

Leave it they aren't going to take your pictures off the wall and inspect the hanging methods and they are going to redecorate.

OhWotIsItThisTime · 04/04/2016 07:46

Just leave it. I was really pleased that the previous owners did that, as it gave me instant picture hangers.

DelphiniumBlue · 04/04/2016 07:55

If you remove the nails, then you need to make good. That would technically include repainting, I believe.

Blu · 04/04/2016 07:57

Just leave it, with nails in.

JoyofSpring · 04/04/2016 09:02

Thanks everyone.

I'm thinking that we should fill in around the worst of the holes but leave the nails in unless it looks awful or if the nail is in a weird place. I don't really want to repaint the entire wall but could perhaps dab a bit of paint around it... I think we still have some of the original paint but at 4 years old I am guessing this is too old to use?!

DH is worried that if we take the nails out a big chunk of wall might come with it! Our buyers have been quite persnickety (!) so I am worried about leaving anything for them to find fault with. Ugh! Can't wait until this whole move is over!!!

OP posts:

wowfudge · 04/04/2016 09:24

whatever you do, they aren't going to sue you over those two nails in the wall.

JoyofSpring · 04/04/2016 18:53

Thank you! That's true...

Although sadly there are about 7 or 8 that. But point taken!! I really, really hate confrontation. Get extremely anxious about it so even the thought of receiving an email from them post-move complaining about this would send me a bit loopy! Plus they have been a bit odd about a few things so far - demanding we leave curtain rails in order to avoid damaging the walls... So I think we will do something. But it's reassuring to hear most people wouldn't be too worried about it!!

OP posts:

spongebob5 · 04/04/2016 23:17

I would leave it as it is.

Jeremysfavouriteaunt · 04/04/2016 23:22

I would be pretty cross if the curtain rails were removed, for me that's not demanding at all, but the nail holes are part and parcel of what happens when you move.

PippaFawcett · 04/04/2016 23:24

I thought curtain rails were considered 'fittings' so had to be left, I know I have factored that in for our move.

Jeremysfavouriteaunt · 04/04/2016 23:34

They have always been in every house move that I have done. I can't believe that's seen as demanding. I have heard that some people take loo roll holders off the wall though and lightbulbs out.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 04/04/2016 23:36

I'd probably fill them.

Jeremysfavouriteaunt · 05/04/2016 00:00

Ah, the op posted a couple of months ago about curtain poles and some posters suggested that she could take them. I think she offered for the purchaser to buy them seperately

Blu · 05/04/2016 07:22

I have always cleaned like a demon, done everything I can to be fair and honest when moving out, but have never packed far in advance enough to have had time to re-plaster or paint nail / screw holes!

In fact the last couple of times we have had the removal co pack the day before then they turn up at 7.30 to load the van.

JoyofSpring · 05/04/2016 08:32

Thanks for all your replies!

I wouldn't be so worried if it was just a normal nail hole but it's more the chunk of plaster that's come away around the nail that made me concerned. Good to hear people wouldn't be so worried!

jeremy yes that's right! And it was the tone that bothered me. They literally said "curtain rails will be left to avoid damage to wall". But they are on the fixtures and fittings list as something you can choose to include or not. The people before us had taken them with them so these are nice ones that we had bought. Anyway, that's all sorted out now. We are definitely not the sort to be taking loo roll holders and the like!! We have included some wardrobes and cupboards and mirrors and things. just didn't like the tone as I said.

I think I just want everything to be perfect. Clearly it won't be!! We have small children so the house has been a bit battered here and there!

OP posts:

BovrilonToast · 05/04/2016 08:40

I moved in to a house once where the previous owner had damaged lots of walls in the house by taking off TV stands, picture hooks etc.

It was a total pain in the arse because they didn't make good I had to redecorate. If they had left them there it wouldn't have been a problem...

And I did threaten to sue them... It was a contractual requirement that they make good any damage caused by removing their fixtures and fittings, so I would check your contract with your solicitor!

Sorry Joy, that's probably not what you want to hear!

SoupDragon · 05/04/2016 08:42

It was a contractual requirement that they make good any damage caused by removing their fixtures and fittings

This isn't damage caused by removing them though.

BovrilonToast · 05/04/2016 08:44

I know - I was simply saying what had happened to me, and to check the contract if she does remove them!

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MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 05/04/2016 13:17

Also even if it was a contractual requirement the cost of legal action is usually more than the cost of doing the work.

DustOffYourHighestHopes · 05/04/2016 13:43

I would leave it. As people say, it hasn't been damaged as a result of removing something.

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