How much "modernising" is worthwhile before selling a house?

[wanderings]

Estate agents will often list a house as being "in need of modernisation", when what they mean is the decor is very old-fashioned. What I am asking here is if it's worth spending a lot before selling to make a property look "modern"?

When I sold my previous flat, they advised me to paint the bedroom a neutral colour (from pale green walls): this I did. They also told me to "spend 5k modernising the bathroom: it will add 10k to the value of the flat!". I decided this was a gamble not worth taking, but I did repaint the bathroom in the same colour (white).

A few years on, I'm now in a different property, planning to sell and move in a year's time, trying to decide what would be worth doing. My issue with spending a lot to "modernise" a property is:

1. I don't get the benefit of it.
2. A buyer might be about to strip and redecorate anyway.

I do a job where I visit many houses, and I have noticed what appears to be very popular now, especially in modern detached houses: plain white walls, just a few pictures (usually large professional portraits of the family), minimal furniture.

As for how our living room looks at the moment (house built in 50's or 60's, ex-council): walls have beige patterned paper, and curtains are beige. Red fitted carpet (looking faded in places, so clearly quite old.) Loads of pictures all over the walls. Ornaments everywhere.

Is it worth changing this, or selling it "as seen"?

The plan is to have it on the market for a good year, only dropping the asking price near the end of the year, if there is not enough interest.

Let's say we redecorated the living room, with modern wallpaper, and plain carpet. Would we then have to avoid putting up pictures, so as not to make holes in the walls? (The walls are very solid, so pictures nearly always need a screw and wall plug, rather than a nail.)

Most people moving wont have much time or money left over from actually buying the property - so generally they want their new property to be liveable and ready to go, bar a bit of painting.

Also, when people are moving up the housing ladder, they subsonciously want the 'new, improved, more expensive' lifestyle they imagine comes with buying a more expensive property. So they wont want to feel as if they spent another say £50k, but now have to live with an inferior bathroom and a house they cant show off to friends.

If this is the case, they will expect to buy at a bargain price, to compensate them for the inconvenience.

If the decor, carpets, decluttering are the only problems then it is probably worth spending a few thousand sorting it. If however its new bathroom and a new kitchen too - then assuming you got a bargain buying it that way - it may be easier for you just to sell again at a discount - as seen, especially if you dont need a quick sale.

First, I suggest you get several EAs to give you value as is and value done up.