'Preparing' house to be sold - How much preparation?

[slotnicki]

I'm thinking about putting my house on the market, but am not sure how much money/time we should invest in getting it ready. We really need a new kitchen, but I'm wary about spending too much money - we're hopeless at diy, so would have to pay for installation. On the other hand, I would seriously dread the words 'in need of cosmetic improvements' when the estate agents info came out. We live in an area of London where it appears to be relatively easy to sell. On the other hand, the pictures I see of properties for sale do suggest that people go to quite a lot of trouble. What do you think?

TIA

Is it possible to revamp the kitchen with just new cupboard doors and perhaps a few pieces of new equipment?

Yes B&Q still have lots of doors at half price atm. But hurry, sale ends soon!

Paint, paint, paint! Make it white or other clean, fresh colours, giving the viewers a "blank canvas" to imagine their own lives/furniture on etc. That will instantly make your house look better. I like the idea of new doors for kitchen rather than replace the whole thing. If that's not possible, spend a bit on funky new handles for all the cupboard doors to modernise the look. Get a new white roller blind or fresh nets for the windows etc, don't spend a fortune, just make changes where you can. Get rid of clutter and throw out anything you don't intend taking with you to new house - it'll amke house seem bigger and more inviting. Good luck.
Try googling for tips on selling your home.

Definitely agree with Bibiboo. Our house had been rented out and we had it repainted throughout in cream and carpeted/laminated (cheaply) before we moved back in. We also decluttered quite ruthlessly. Most viewers commented on how well it "presented" and it sold quickly for not far off the asking price.

SLotnicki, why not get a couple of Estate Agents to come around and value it and ask their advice? Make them work for the ridiculous amount of money they will get paid!

When we last moved house we:
painted everywhere;
put down new carpets (but only because the old ones were truly appalling, a steam clean would be just as good);
painted the kitchen cabinets and put new handles on;
cleaned upholstery, including the sofas;
cleaned the windows;
repainted the outside window frames on the ground floor;
put pretty pots of plants outside the front door;
threw away/put away tons of stuff so that every surface was clear;
put Neutradol in a hidden place in every room;
emptied the bin every day so that there was no smell;
re-tiled around the bath with white tiles (instead of 1980's green);
put out a few life-style accessories like a trendy kettle and toaster.

I think twogorgeousboys idea about the new doors is excellent, and perhaps a new counter as well if yours is worn or scratched.

Tinker do you work for B&Q ?

ditto what everyone else has said. I think aswell if you know major works may need doing dont bank on getting your asking price and be prepared to be in for dropping it at survey time

Just spend half my life in there Fio

I know I must do to Tinker because I know the half price sale on the doors ends today

I went into an estate agents today and asked what they thought. They said that it wasn't worth installing a new kitchen but to just do a revamp...I think that it's off to B&Q then!

It's a nightmare trying to keep a house tidy. We have 2 kids and a dog and it's like fighting a constant battle. Can't wait until it's 'sold' when I can relax again!

lordy, pamina, spending half an hour before work tidying up is the way to keep the house tidy with 2 kids! either that or ask your cleaner to come in more often.

I'm just wondering, when you actually go and view houses, are they in a pristine state?

Last time I looked at a house, it was really worn and the estate agent explained that it had been let to a young family!

I also noticed when scrutinising some photographs in some estate agent's info on an individual house, that they had captured a row of shoes; a tesco carrier bag and other similar stuff. Maybe I've been watching too many 'sell your house' programmes!

When we sold our last house we had actually given up & started doing it up for ourselves. DH cleared every room of all clutter & repainted everywhere. We also replaced the very worn carpet in the lounge with a very cheap nylon one that looked clean! What was annoying was that after living for 12 years with a horrible gas fire with just 2 settings- inferno or fridge- we bought a nice new one (thinking we would have to stay in the house), only to then get a buyer. How I resented that direct debit leaving my account for the next 2 years!!!!!

I think the people who sold us this house must have tidied up by painting everywhere a pale peach in the cheapest paint they could find. Every time we wiped the walls loads of paint came off.

TBH I never take any notice of clutter or anyone else's furniture/taste in decor when I look at a house. I just look at the size of the rooms & the layout. (I think I may be in a minority!) One thing that DID put us off a house though was when the man took us in the kitchen & both of their cats were up on the work surfaces. We have cats ourselves but they aren't allowed up, & it just made me think ugh.