AIBU to replace all the old carpets before putting house on market - difference is £500

[MordredsOrrery]

About to put our house on the market in a bit of a hurry. We knew the main carpet (lounge, diner, stairs, landing) would need replacing first thanks carpet moths so we've just had a quote for a serviceable but not marvellous carpet.

My AIBU is should we spend an extra £500 and replace the remaining old, but undamaged, carpets at the same time to help sell. If you're a buyer, would you prefer new carpeting throughout?

I think for that price you might get a good return.

If it needs replacing yes, because it’s such a nuisance to change! I’d say fir the extra £500, do everything.

Yes, do it.

I expensive and neutral carpet throughout that matches.
While you're at it, if you can be bothered, give everything a lick of paint and declutter.

It will help your property sell so much quicker.

Also if its new carpet get people to put shoe protectors on when they come to view so they can see you are maintaining the new carpet.

Yes do. We bought our house with some crappy carpets in situ - but that's because we knew we had enough to replace them immediately. The house had been on the market for a long time before we saw it, and consequently we bought it at a very reasonable price without having to get into a closed bids situation (we're in Scotland). I think the carpets were the reason because everything else about it is fab - and other houses round here sell in no time.

I'd say no. I'd never want to live with someone else's carpet so I'd be planning to replace it all anyway. I wouldn't bother even replacing the damaged areas.

Carpet moths? I hope you got them treated no way would I buy a house full price with visible moth activity

Thanks all!

@44PumpLane I've spent the last week decluttering like a demon and updating paintwork! Thankfully all but one room are painted white anyway so it hasn't been too much. Just doing a massive clean before valuations.

@MaggieAndHopey That's what I'm concerned about - we're trying to balance wanting to sell quickly with still achieving the amount we need. I don't want too much haggling because the carpets are in poor nick

@eurochic DH suggested that too, but the damage is very extensive (we left it because the DCs are very young and weaning is messy ) so weren't planning to change it for a couple of years

@slipperywhensparticus yes, all treated, just didn't replace because of small children and mess.

Replace. Damage like moths will put buyers off and reduce price.

Normally id say no but in your case yes. You get money back in price

I'm not sure how big the area is but for 500 I'm not sure you could get decent carpets and I'd probably rip it out anyway. (Well.... actually I'd rather buy it with the old carpet so I can choose nice ones than have to live with something I hate. When we bought our current house we chose the one that needed redoing over the one that was redone but not to my taste as I would have hated the shiny modern interior but I care about the environment too much to throw away something brand new.)

The house that we eventually purchased had brand new carpets throughout because there had been a flood. They were a neutral colour and of decent quality. But hen we looked at houses to do up (varying degrees) and I just couldn’t be arsed! I’d say change them as it will look fresh and clean and have no signs of moths!

Yes definitely I would. You will get a return on that money.

Depends on the quality of the carpet. I would be put off it it was a new carpet but cheap and nasty.

No, I wouldn't replace any as many buyers may prefer wooden floors so plan to rip them out

For £500 to look smart, definitely yes. I wouldn't normally suggest making changes like that, but in your case with actual damage it's worthwhile just to help the first impressions.

Yes definitely. People tend to overestimate the cost of how much it will cost to replace outdated or worn out things. Freshly painted walls and brand new carpets of the same neutral colour throughout will do wonders even without painting the woodwork.

Perhaps go for a slight mottled colour and not too light as this disguises stains better. Ask the carpet company to show you the most popular carpets for rental properties. This will be relatively cheap but wear well enough in the short term and hopefully easy to clean. You’ll possibly need to replace the underlay. New underlay makes carpets sit better. Just choose something basic, not necessarily included in the price of the carpet.

Yes I would do it. It will also help the house smell new and fresh which always helps houses to sell.

As someone who has been dealing with moths (like a lot of London it seems) I would be put off by a moth eaten carpet so I would say replace them.

Yes, I would. It makes a real difference to the viewing I think. Especially so in a buyers market.

yes, do it.
new owners usually want something they can live withuntil they safe enough for big changes.
keep it neutral

£500 to re-carpet a house seems very cheap. Is that inc. fitting?

A cheap badly fitted carpet right through the house would impress me no better than tatty old carpets. I think unless it's decent laminate or wood (so easy to clean) most people will just replace flooring anyway when they move to a new home.

I was put off by a house that had recently recarpeted. They had just spent a load and I would rip them out. So I didn't go for that house as I thought what a waste. Plus extra time I would have to spend ripping them out.

I sold a property earlier this year. I didn't realise until I started shifting furniture about to move that there were bald patches due to carpet moths. I contacted the buyers and asked if they wanted the carpets to stay or not? Luckily they were planning hard floors so I removed the carpets and had the rooms treated.
In your position I'd either replace now or tell any prospective buyers that the carpets aren't staying (don't say why, it could put them off) and reduce the price accordingly.

You can buy felt backed carpet quite cheaply on the Internet and fit it yourself, it doesn’t need to be stretched like normal carpet so you just lay it and tuck it over the carpet grippers.