To have a much needed new kitchen if we are thinking of moving in the next 5 years

[TangerineDr3am]

Kitchen is literally falling to bits and won’t hold on for much longer- appliances, surface, taps, cupboard doors …. the list is endless.Been getting quotes but it’s so much money and seems to be eating up money for all sorts of things. I’d be ashamed to sell the house with the kitchen as it is and kind of hoping we’d get some of the money back when we sell. But are we nuts to even be considering it?

If the kitchen is that bad now it will surely reduce the value of the property when you sell it anyway?

It depends is it really falling apart? Would it even last another 5 years?

You won't get any value for a 5 year old kitchen, just a faster sale

Yes I’m thinking buyers would potentially knockoff £10k for the kitchen maybe in the state it is at the moment.

I would buy a cheapie one not my dream kitchen, because it will sell the property faster and you'll be more comfortable in the meantime.

If it's any help, we were in a similar situation with our bathroom at our first house. We ummed and ahhed but redid the bathroom for the cheapest price possible, and we sold it for over asking after the first open house of viewings (actually we had two offers). And before we sold it, being able to actually use a working bathroom was well worth the money we'd spent on getting everything functional again.

Not everything is about resale value surely? Wouldn't you want a decent kitchen for your own use, it's about 1500 days, maybe 3000 meals in a cra kitchen otherwise.

I'd get a new kitchen. 5 years is a long time. It doesn't need to be high end, I had an IKEA kitchen in my last house and it was great

I’ve done a kitchen and sold 18 months later. I got the enjoyment of the new kitchen and the satisfaction of knowing I’d done the most to maximise value. Do it but with one eye on what most people would want.

If you are going to it, do it now, so you get the 5 years. Don't procrastinate and do it in 3 years time.

I would also seriously not spend a lot as 5 years wear and tear plus taste differences and fashion changes mean you wouldn't recoup the value of a high end kitchen. Just go simple ikea or similar

Find a really good local fitter that will get an Ikea kitchen in there with basic applicances and brassware. This will prevent buyers knocking you down because the kitchen is falling to bits, and stop you having to live with a falling to bits kitchen for another five years. You won't feel too gutted at the prospect of it getting ripped out by the buyers when you leave, and you can plan your dream kitchen for your new house.

Unless you can’t afford it then I think you would be nuts to live with a crap kitchen for 5 years when you don’t have to.

Failing that, is any of it salvageable? Could just be a matter of tightening some screws, rehanging some doors, repainting. New taps, handles, worktop and replace the worst appliances.

I’ve got wonky doors on the kitchen in my rental but should be fixable with an hour and a drill.

I would do it earlier rather than later, but the cheapest reasonable looking serviceable kitchen rather than your dream kitchen. That way, you will be using a serviceable kitchen for the next few years, and will changing the house from "we'd have to get the kitchen done before we even move in" to "well, we could live with that for a few months before we replace it".

Houses that clearly need a new kitchen are valued at what the house is worth now as it is. I would put the new kitchen in because life can throw curve balls and you might not move in 5 years.

As you have had kitchen plans done I would suggest looking at DIY kitchens, they come assembled and are cheaper and better quality (like for like comparisons have been done with all the major brands) but they don't offer a design service which is why they are cheaper. They have one massive showroom in Yorkshire but lots of videos on YouTube showing the quality and people installing them.

Nick Morris is a great YouTuber who has renovated several properties for clients and lists the costs of materials and labour. He ordered the same kitchen from the major retailers and compared them. DIY kitchens came out on top.

How much are you planning on paying for a kitchen?
if you choose wisely £5k should buy you a lovely kitchen. Avoid too many drawers and end panels to keep the cost down. Builders merchants are usually cheaper but other places during the sale are ok.
Gower Rapide (google it for the cheaper end) symphony for long lasting quality
get a decent joiner rather than a kitchen fitter and look out for the ones that just see pound signs.

It’s £3-4k just for it to be fitted, then there is the surface, cupboards, white goods, floor, electrician, plumbing,tiling…..

Just do it if you can afford it.

I hate my kitchen, cupboards and worktops are about 40 years old, nothing ever looks clean, the doors are wonky as they were poorly fitted in the first place, lino is in a terrible state. Tiles are the original ones from the 60s and I hate them as well. I'm stuck with it all and it annoys me.

Depends how much, if its a big kitchen and 10-15k then i might get someone to try and patch it up. Many people change the kitchen anyway

I have been in the same predicament OP. Difficult decision but I decided to get a kitchen renovation which has influenced an early offer IMO.
That said, some people want to install their own and aren't fazed by a kitchen that needs complete renovation. Yes, very expensive to renovate but it was the right choice 4 me and attracted FAP for my property.
Good luck

Exactly, you are talking minimum 15 k

I’ve just put a kitchen in. I spent £3.5k for top of the range symphony fitted. I’ve not got loads of units and I’ve not yet sorted the tiling and I need a socket moving. There are existing stone floors that I can’t change. But it’ll be £4k in total. It only took 2 days to fit, the cupboards were already assembled! It doesn’t include white goods as I kept my existing ones as they were new in the last house where I spent £3k on a mid range symphony kitchen fitted and tiles.

It can be done to a very high standard on a small budget. Choose carefully and show any rip off tradesmen the door.

What about a freestanding kitchen? You can take it with you when you move.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1331913465/full-freestanding-kitchen-set-up?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_uk_en_gb_a-home_and_living&utm_custom1=k_Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6ZukpMrv_uDdM00ZrmxFlNwZnZU_Xju1OPx6zMDgLF8gdBV4yWGdEccaAr-yEALw_wcB_k&utm_content=go_21811975425_169452895176_717564634778_pla-303628061699_m__1331913465engb_102858184&utm_custom2=21811975425&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6ZukpMrv_uDdM00ZrmxFlNwZnZU_Xju1OPx6zMDgLF8gdBV4yWGdEccaAr-yEALw_wcB

Not necessarily, we had a new large Ikea kitchen 2 years ago for £10k, included about £1k for appliances, £2.5k fancy worktop and electrics and plastering due to swapping the dining room/kitchen ends of the room around. Can see some of it here.