selling: do we need to replace broken oven?

[threeleftfeet]

We're selling our flat. Everything is newly decorated and it looks great. However I realised the other day that the oven is broken - the handle's gone.

We haven't actually lived in the flat since before we had tenants (who have gone now) and although we've been there lots of times I didn't notice until I did some toast for DS when we were there the other day.

Do I need to replace this before putting it on the market? Or just leave it as it is and the buyers can put in what they like when they move in?

If I were you I'd get a cheap 2nd hand replacement. Chances are the buyers will replace but the kitchen is a major selling point in any property. If the buyers are looking to move in and do up they will want an oven in reasonable nick.

That's a really good idea thanks :) I'll have a look at ebay ...

OK. Stupid question alert!

Is it easy to change a built-in under-the-counter oven? Do they usually just kind of slide out of the kitchen unit or it it a more involved job?

Can you contact the manufacturer to see if it is possible to buy a replacement handle/ door?

If the oven is electric, it would be easy enough to replace it yourself if you can get one exactly the right size. If it if gas you will obviously need someone to unconnected the old and connect the new to the gas supply.

Sorry, didn't mean 'obvious' in a snarky way .

It's electric.

And don't worry, I'm pretty easy to offend (particularly when you're giving helpful advice) - no snarkiness imagined here! :)

It was a really cheap oven. I forget where we got it from - magnet maybe?

I'd just be upfront that it was broken to be honest, and maybe see what the cheapest replacement cost and inform buyers of this. If it was really a sticking point for a sale you could always replace with the cheapest possible but not doing so initially gives people a choice to replace with a higher specification oven if they want.

If its just the oven door handle can't you replace it. Try www.espares.co.uk- they do spares for ovens, hoovers, washing machines etc for all the major manufacturers. Its a brillant site we use it loads when things break.They have 976 oven door handles!- i just checked, so see if theyve got yours. Much cheaper than replacing the oven.

tyler80 we think along the same lines!

I think that's would be a great idea if it was the only job for the new buyer. However we're already taking that approach for a couple more things ... we're also ripping out the horrible old carpet. I was going to put a new one down, but all the EAs said not to bother, just to rip it out. It's concrete underneath. For that, I'm going to get a few quotes and samples from local carpet suppliers, so the buyer can choose.

Also the front of the house needs paining. All three flats in the conversion need to chip in for it. I know the others would be happy to do it, so that's another job already.

This just seemed like perhaps a job too far - the work is building up!

The rest of the flat incidentally is in mint condition - newly plastered and painted, and the kitchen and bathroom were new just two years ago (and freshly painted).

You're right also, if we don't replace it then I reckon it's best to be honest about it.

Else they might think what else haven't they mentioned?! (Answer: nothing! So a shame if they get that perception!)

Ikea do a built in electric oven for £150. It's small change compared to carpets really. I wouldn't have thought it was a significant job that would put someone off buying because of it but you never know.

One thing you might want to check is if there is a plug or if it's hard wired in. If a plug it's literally a ten minute job to switch an oven around. Hard wired and you should technically be getting an electrician in so involves more hassle.

I guess it also depends on your target market. Tbh I would have thought the fact that other things will need doing lends itself more to people who wouldn't care about the oven. If it was the only thing that stopped the house being in 100% ready to move in condition I think it might be more of an issue, as it is it'll just be a something for people to factor in.

It's a plug. I'm thinking we should probably do it.

Our target market is first time buyers. The rest of the flat - bar the carpet - is ready to move in to. Hmm. I'm having a rethink. Off to start a thread about carpet ...

Or at least I think it's a plug? I'd better check!

built-in appliances are always more work to replace. That's why I go for free-standing.

Bit late to change it for free-standing, we'd have to change the whole kitchen!

It doesn't sound like it's too hard to change though?

Normally when you open the oven door, there'll be two screws at either side which are fixing the oven in place.

Unscrew and the oven should just slide out. New oven then just slides in. Easier than a free standing oven imo because I can carry a built in oven on my own

Yes that rings a bell actually, thanks! (From 10 years ago when we put it in).