Desperate to get my flat on the market but the kitchen and bathroom are not up to scratcg

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

The rest of the flat is in excellent condition - newly plastered and painted walls, original floorboards throughout sanded and varnished, high ceilings, deep alcoves, original wooden doors etc.

However we haven't really been able to afford to bring the kitchen and bathroom up to the same level (two maternity leaves plus a ton of family events and trips that were non negotiable).

What can I do to smarten them up without spending big money? The kitchen needs replastering, so we are getting that done and putting new sockets in, but what else can I do?

The bathroom is tiled all over in those horrible plain white square tiles. Im nervous about removing them tbh as lord knows whats happening underneath, but no-one is going to fall in love with the bathroom the way it is now.

Im thinking people will knock a lot off the asking price if the kitchen and bathroom aren't immaculate.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

The kitchen cupboards and worktops are fine, if not really bland, as it was a rental before we bought it and we never replaced. I thought new handles might make it seem a bit fresher. We have a white sink which I hate hate hate - would this put someone off? It also has a free standing oven/hob rather than integrated.

The bathroom is off the kitchen (very very typical of flats round these parts), so I was planning on buying new lino throughout.

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

Personally, I'd be more inclined favourably towards a house that had the bathrooms in that white tile. It means I can go with whatever colour in the bathroom that I want. I am so tired of blue in my upstairs bathroom, because that's the colour of the stupid tiles.

As long as the kitchen and bathroom are clean, with no major work to be done on them, I think it'll be fine.

[EugenesAxe]

Yes I agree you should just leave them and get it on the market. Projects that involve reworking the entire structure of the house are a big commitment, but people may actually like the fact they can personalise two keys parts of the house without much hassle.

It's hard to know without seeing but if they are seriously tired and you can't replace them I don't think 'tweaks' would protect you from any potential markdown because of them.

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

New lino would be okay, but only if it absolutely needs it (like tears or scrapes on the old one) and make sure it's relatively neutral IYSWIM.

I wouldn't have an issue with a white sink (we have a dreadful rubberised one that stains easily and I hate hate HATE that!!!! One day I am replacing that thing!). Free standing oven/hob is fine. Easier to replace if they want.

I also wouldn't worry about new handles. Just make sure it's all clean.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

If only DC2 was the same sex and DC1 we could stay here forever, I adore thia flat Sadly they will only be able to share for a small time.

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

You can always post pictures. Can you tell I love looking at houses? I need to win the lottery just so I can go look at houses to buy.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Yep definetly need new lino. It looks worn and faded. Will just go for plain and probably grey.

[Innocuoususername]

I agree with RudyMentary, clean and uncluttered is the way to go. If there are cheap and quick things you can do like a lick of paint and new handles then that's all good.

We are kind of house hunting at the moment and I'm really put off houses with brand new kitchens and bathrooms that are not to my taste. You are usually expected to pay a premium for "recently modernised" and we therefore couldn't justify the expense of re doing it after we move in. I'd rather put up with a dated but useable bathroom that I could afford to change in due course than a spanking new one that I hated, IYSWIM.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Hahaha maybe...am nervous!

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Our DC still share - DS is 10, DD 4, moving into separate rooms shortly but neither are that keen. Don't assume you have to move while they are still little.

[AgathaF]

Make sure the grouting is clean and white, sealer around bath/sinks etc is nice a clean looking. Accessorise with nice new coloured towels in the bathroom - maybe a nice blue. I wouldn't bother changing handles in the kitchen, it will probably leave you with holes in the cupboards anyway. Again, ensure grouting is clean and add some nice accessories that you can take with you when you move.

[bakingaddict]

If your bathroom is white then get some nice bright colourful accesories think bright pink or teal towels and stuff. Put up a cheap roller blind in the same colour, Argos do ones for about £20. If you are putting in new sockets, splash out a few quid more and get the chrome ones. Little things like this can make a difference

[TRexingInAsda]

Plain white tiles are perfectly fine for a bathroom. I'd replace the lino if needed, and make sure it's clean, tidy and as nicely presented as possible (not cluttered, fluffy towels etc). The kitchen - it's difficult to know what to suggest without seeing it, you could put a photo up. In general though, as long as the rest of the flat is lovely, and the kitchen is clean, people won't be too put off.

[wotlarks]

I wouldn't spend too much, just focus on decluttering as previous posters have said. When we sold our flat we had a similar issue with bathroom tiles. I gave the grouting a good scrub, then in places where it needed it, painted it with a bit of white undercoat - sounds like a pain in the arse but honestly it made a world of difference.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

We will need to spend some time on the grouting in the bathroom (we dont have any tiles in the kitchen should we put some in?) Im not photographing thw kitchen til the plastering is done but agree re: accessories and fresh towels etc.

We are quite cluttered (lack of storagw which I really dont want to highligh!!) So when we plan on selling we are going to rent a container/storage thingy and move most of our stuff out.

[WhatKatyDidnt]

Ironmongery Direct sells good kitchen knobs/handles - we replaced all of ours for less than £25 and it made a big difference.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Have gone for brushed chrome sockets and light switches.

[SunTree]

Plain white tiles in bathroom sounds ideal. Really don't like coloured bathroom tiles. Gets monotonous fast. Colour comes from bath towels!

Just make grout white, taps shiny, paintwork fresh, and get a nice wooden loo seat and keep accessories stone colours, nice and neutral. Nothing jarring to the eye.

I also don't want to pay a premium for someone else's choice of kitchen!

[Cakealicious]

We sold our house without doing up the kitchen and bathroom (which we had planned to do after we bought it). The estate agent said it wouldn't add any extra value to the house so we didn't bother and it sold anyway.

[Cakealicious]

Wooden loo seat? That would put me right off and would get replaced the minute I bought a house!

[Mintyy]

.

My dc shared until they were 10 and 8 (or 9 and 7) something like that, anyway.

[avocadotoast]

Plain white tiles are fine in my book.

As far as the kitchen's concerned, new handles sounds like a good idea. Could you replace/refinish cupboard fronts and/or worktops?

That said, like others have said, people might just redo them anyway once they move in. I know someone who had a kitchen redone in a brand new house even!

[Cakealicious]

Yes it would be pointless to replace the kitchen only for someone to rip it out when they bought it.

I know someone who replaced a new granite work top with another granite work top.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

We definetly couldnt stretch to a new kitchen only to sell it.

I know there are people whose boys and girls share til 10 etc, but I just think its nice for them to have their own space before then.