New kitchen for sale / rental

[Oakbutterfly]

Hi all,

I posted a while ago - but still really stuck on this.

I moved to an area (home counties) to be with my ex, and we split on completion day. I really want to get out of here as I've been miserable here all year. One option is to study in another city far away from here for two years (I have been accepted), and then probably move back to London. Another is to London/ Brighton / Oxford etc..

Anyway - I'm still not sure whether I'm selling or renting it out - and I keep going in a loop about the kitchen situation. It is an awful, small kitchen, installed when the house was built in 2000 - so 26 years ago! Carcasses are peeling, fridge is only under counter, sink and oven and washing machine need replacing. Worktop really old, and yellow tiles not great. But I know this is going to cost me around £8-10k at least. And the place needs new flooring downstairs. I'm in such a twist about whether it is worth doing or not. I can't really rent it out as is, but if I sell - would the sellers prefer to put their own kitchen in. Is it worth me spending a good chunk of my savings on?

Was hoping the rent from this would enable me to rent in the new city and elsewhere until I find where I will settle next. I made a big mistake on this house after losing the one of my dreams, and I'm on my own and find the whole selling process very anxiety producing, although I not under any illusions about how stressful renting would be either..

Any suggestions? Thanks

Roughly what percentage of the total selling price is 8-10 grand?

One issue is that is the kitchen is really bad It’s going to draw attention to the fact that the flat is neglected and people are wary of buying properties that haven’t been looked after.

I would suggest a poor kitchen simply needs to be really clean as it will be replaced and the new owners are unlikely to want what you choose. You could perhaps get a big company to do a design (IKEA or magnet or something) so they can see you had plans but are now moving.

Follow your dreams ...

Being a landlord is not easy. It's quite expensive and there are a lot of hoops to jump through now days. I would sell if possible.

I wouldn't be a landlord and the fees will probably eat a large portion of the rent if you use an agent.

I'd sell it as 'needs' work - I'd rather replace a kitchen as a buyer with something I want and I might want to rejig the layout etc. Advice from our estate agent (about to sell elderly relatives house) is to make sure it's really clean and let the buyers do the work - you're unlikely to get the money back for any work you do and they might rip it out anyway.

Another that wouldn't be a landlord.
Sell and move on with life, one less possible problem.

Is there anyway that you can smarten the kitchen up, it's pretty well known that the first rooms buyers will change are the kitchen and bathroom. Seems silly to waste money if you won't make it back if selling.

If the doors are laminate and peeling, you can often remove the laminate and paint, which we did with IKEA doors.

Don't be a reluctant landlord. Don't fit a new kitchen, tart it up a bit so it's ok, you will never recoup the investment if you replace. Price to sell, make it somebody else's problem.

So I bought the place for £395k a year ago. It's a two-bed house.