New kitchen when wanting to move

[Nik2015]

Would you fit a new kitchen when you want to move?
The current one isn’t in that bad condition, it looks new. But it has split in places with heat/water damage. One cupboard is rotten. You wouldn’t necessarily notice if you were viewing.
I feel terrible leaving it for someone else to sort out, but equally don’t want to waste money on a new kitchen when we want to move and the new people might not even like it.
Have looked at wrapping and that’s not possible, also can’t get replacement doors for the split ones as they’re not available.

What would you do?

YABU - don’t replace it, sell it as is and keep quiet
YANBU - replace it

I can't stand seeing new kitchens I don't like in a property.

I'm happy to put a new kitchen in. I'd not want to buy one that had been redone not to my taste.

Sell as is but point out the defects to potential buyer like pp they will probably prefer to fit one to their taste rather than having a new one they are not keen on.

Absolutely don't replace if you're moving.

Waste of money and they might not like what you choose and replace it again anyway.

Don't put in a new kitchen if the old one is functional albeit a bit tatty. It won't increase the value of the property and not everything has to be top notch when you sell a house. "Kitchen in need of modernisation" in the ad should be enough.

Given the choice I think most people would rather put their own kitchen in rather than having to live with your taste or ripping out a brand new kitchen.

Estate agent told not to bother decorating etc as new owners will do stuff to their liking

Not a chance, your idea of a fitting a new kitchen may very well be a reason for got getting a sale. If somewhere had a new kitchen but I didn't like it I would probably pass and look for somewhere else with an older kitchen with the idea of replacing it myself sooner rather than later.

If you feel guilty, mention that the kitchen needs upgrading. It makes no sense to put money into cabinets that the next owners might hate.

Just to be different...I had a new kitchen put in 6 months ago and have just sold my house ( in 4 days) The kitchen was a huge selling point and has definitely made its money back.

Is it useable? We happily bought our old house with an old but useable kitchen which we then replaced once we'd saved up.

Just bought and same position again! We viewed a couple of places that had already been done up. Whilst it would have saved us a lot of work and uncertainty over costs, the brand new kitchens out is off as they weren't to our taste or family life and our appliances wouldn't have fitted in.

I would much rather the vendor left the kitchen as-is and knocked off half of the £30k (or whatever) you would spend on the kitchen.

We all want a blank canvas, not someone else's taste.

Ah, thanks for the advice.
Would you tidy it up a bit?

Depends what you mean by tidy it up. Clean and tidy definitely. If you can do something about slightly wonky doors then do it. We painted over some scratches in the painted doors. Decor we made sure that all evidence of the leak from upstairs (long since repaired!) had vanished from the ceiling. Make it look uncluttered.

It would not bother me replacing a tatty kitchen however it would really irk me if I had to replace a brand new kitchen due to it not being my taste- I'd feel like I was being wasteful.
Leave it as it is but tidy it as much as you can.

No! Let the buyers get the house for a few pounds less then they can fit their choice of kitchen

Brill, thanks all!