How much to do to a house before selling?

[JumpingJackSprat]

DP and I currently live in a 2 bed terrace and need to upscale to a three bed probably next year. Our house has no double glazing or central heating but we have redecorated throughout and revamped the garden so its now usable. It has a few minor repairs needed such as a new porch which we are being quoted for this week. It could do with some things like a couple of new internal doors and repainting the bathroom. If you were going to sell, how much effort would you put into both cosmetic stuff and investment such as double glazing/CH as we are not going to see the benefit? Im trying to arrange an estate agent to come round to value so will be asking them the same question but just wondered if anyone has any personal experience.

I've not sold a house but as a buyer DG and GCH were on my 'must have' list. Decor didn't interest me in slightest as I know I'll have redone it all to my own taste in the next year or so...

After my student days I would never consider a house without central heating! No point redecorating if someone is going to have to mess it all up to install central heating & double glazing!

We're in a similar position and did the double glazing. Central heating isn't overly necessary as in this day of energy prices we're saving a ton with properly set storage heaters. We offered our bills to the agent as proof! Its also warm all day. I suspect it will still limit potential viewings but its a starter home and cheap heating is a plus!

We've also been advised that good decor (as in reasonably freshly painted, not as in show home) helps around here, rooms set out as they would be used and less clutter.

We're staying here for a couple of years now but hope to move again in a few years so will watch thread!

There will be a percentage of potential buyers who won't even look at a house without Central heating or double glazing. A smaller percentage will look at a house with Central heating but no double glazing, especially if the windows are period. If you market it as it stands you'll have to put it on a slower price, but those viewers that you do get will still put in low offers.

There's no doubt that you'll get more viewings and a higher price if you put in heating and double glazing.

I think most people will see it as a house they need to add central heating to, so they'll either be put off if it doesn't have it, or buy it with the intention of adding it and won't care about the decorations. So if you sell it without CH you'll be selling it as a house that needs updating. I don't think the windows are quite as important. But if you plan to move maybe it's easier to sell it at a lower price and let someone else have the hassle of adding CH rather than do it yourself and sell.

A lot of people won't touch a home with no central heating as a) it costs a fortune and is a right mess to install b) if the vendors have not bothered to modernise their home for the 21st century, what else have they neglected regarding its upkeep and maintenance?

My general feeling would be that unless it is an obvious "doer-upper" it is probably best to try to sell in "move-in" condition.
Get a quote for double glazing and central heating - you may well find they costs less than you think. You may also find that potential buyers are likely to over-estimate the cost of installing these things, and expect to knock a disproportionate amount off the purchasing price.

That odd. Other houses in our street (not connected to gas, would need a has connection first) have got market rates for similar houses around here. I don't think in our case we'd reclaim the cost of adding central heating to a house never designed to have central heating.

Similarly many flats don't have /need central heating. I really think it depends which end of the market you're looking at to be honest.

I think it depends on where you are and how the market is. If you're in a part of the country where the market has picked up and there are lots of potential buyers looking for a property like yours, then I'd suggest you could get away with just doing the central heating.

However if you're in a slow market, not many buyers about, then you have to make your house more attractive than the competition. You do that by pricing it cheaply (but suggest even by doing that, you're limiting your potential huyers to people who are prepared to do the work) or you do the work and make it sought after because its all newly renovated / decorated.

Someone posted the other day about estate agents always saying you don't need to do the work. Firstly they want your property on the market now (so don't want a delay whilst you fo work) and it doesnt really make any difference to their commission - 1% of £200k is £2000, 1% of £220k is £2200 - £200 is not much of a difference for them. So bear that in mind when you speak to an EA - not renowned for their impartial advice

I think it depends if you are likely to sell to an investor, who will probably be happy to fit central heating and double glazing and increase their profit, or a first time buyer who most likely wont have the money and possibly confidence to take on a house that needs this doing.

I'd ask the agent what type of buyers tend to buy your sort of properties in your area, and if you decide not to get the work done it might be worth having quotes so that the agent can give buyers an idea of the cost. It might be less than they think, but if they have to find this out for themselves they may just be scared off and rule your house out without investigating further.

We fit double glazing in our first house. This didn't scare us despite DH and I having not practical skills. I knew having windows replaced was a relatively clean and easy job. No way would I have bought anything without central heating.

I think you will need to take a lower price and accept it will probably take longer to sell with no central heating. Its not worth you putting it in, but most people wouldn't even consider it without.

We have just sold that house - repainted throughout for sale to look clean and bright (toddler DS is not kind to paintwork) and replaced an old carpet on the stairs. We also fixed a loose tile in the bathroom. Other than a major declutter and a thorough clean, that was it. We sold to an investor within 6 weeks.

I agree with what some have said re decor, I'm more curious about structure, damp, roof, windows... However, my oh can't imagine different decor so seeing a bland clean space is really helpful.