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Original poster

Selling house with Aga - good or bad?

30 replies

Cooki3Monst3r · 15/01/2015 08:05

Hi

We're selling our 3 bed rural cottage. We have a modern, 2 oven electric Aga and nothing else (oven wise).

How can we 'sell' the Aga to make sure it doesn't put off non-agaists!

Should we say on house details that price incl Aga but that we can offer reduction to take it with us?

Or offer to replace with a decent electric range (we don't have gas) if Aga not wanted.

If you don't like an Aga, how much would it out you off, and what would make it a non-issue for you?

OP posts:
Chandon · 15/01/2015 08:07

Aga's are lovely, especially when selling a house in winter.

I never used to have one but love my electric one so much now

Just wait and see what potential buyers say.

Chandon · 15/01/2015 08:07

I would not offer reduction on forehand.

MrsFlorrick · 15/01/2015 08:08

Don't offer anything. People will negotiate.

I'm not into Agas but it wouldn't put me off buying I house I really liked with one in.

For every person who doesn't like Agas there is another for whom an AGA is a life long dream and it could actually prove a selling point for your house.

You're overthinking it. Grin

wowfudge · 15/01/2015 08:09

I'd agree - cross that bridge when you come to it. The marketing details could state 'currently fitted with electric Aga' in the kitchen description.

werenotreallyhere · 15/01/2015 08:09

An oven is not included in the sale usually, we paid for the oven in one house and didn't pay for the oven in the next house and they took it. Can't you just charge it in the extra breakdown sheet and if they don't want it sell it?

Original poster
Cooki3Monst3r · 15/01/2015 08:14

Thanks all - lots of lovely quick responses! Smile

We tried selling last summer for a few months but got no offers after only a few viewings. Everyone asked about the Aga but didn't let on if they were in to the idea or not.

Our agent tells us it is very unusual to not include it and he thinks it's a big selling point.

wow 'currently' genius idea! That will sow the seed of thought without committing to anything.

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BikeRunSki · 15/01/2015 08:24

It would be a positive for me, but I grew up with Agas. I think people's concerns will be around the cost of running it and cooking on it. Maybe be prepared with typical tunning costs, and research Aga cookery courses to reassure potential buyers. Promote its positives - airing and drying clothes, keeps the downstairs warm....

Would you really move it ? How much does this cost? DM looked into it last time she moved (was 15 years ago) and it wasn't cost effective. Have you somewhere to store it? What if your next house doesn't have space for it or already has one?

goshhhhhh · 15/01/2015 08:27

The Aga is what made me buy our house.

Original poster
Cooki3Monst3r · 15/01/2015 08:32

No BikeRun I wouldn't want to take it really as I can't stand the bloody thing!!!

But I believe it would be £1000 to take out then I'd flog it on eBay. I'd happily do that if I had to, to sell the house.

It's costs us about £100 a month to run. People tend to not ask anymore questions after I tell them that! I'm going to have to think of a way of rewording that withou bare faced lying!!

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AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons · 15/01/2015 08:39

I'm a big Aga fan. I couldn't live happily in a house with no Aga. Electric Agas are awful though. So the details should say kitchen fitted with 2 oven/4 oven Aga (don't bother to specify its fuel).

I read somewhere that houses with Agas sell much quicker than houses without. So certainly mention it.

Good luck.

Original poster
Cooki3Monst3r · 15/01/2015 08:49

Why are electric ovens awful?

I've never used any other kind.

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voluptuagoodshag · 15/01/2015 08:55

You could try selling it on eBay before moving then the buyer has to pay for the uplift of it.
I sold our Raeburn on EBay. Hated it with a passion and as well as getting £250 for it (it was old, brown and hellish looking), the men with the van came to uplift it. I still don't know how they managed but it took four of them to get it into the van. How I cheered when it left my threshold.
But would agree with previous posts about using the 'currently' word.

AlphaBravoHenryFoxtons · 15/01/2015 09:21

Electric Agas are widely recognised as the inferior Aga model.

Original poster
Cooki3Monst3r · 15/01/2015 09:24

But why?

(And is this thought by anyone other than those with gas/oil Agas?!)

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Doilooklikeatourist · 15/01/2015 09:45

We had our oil fired Ag converted to electricity
It costs a fortune to run , but it does provide the hot water too , as well as keeping the kitchen warm and drys clothes
It's lovely to stand next to with a cup of coffee in the morning
Be positive about it !

FunMitFlags · 15/01/2015 10:09

If you're selling a house in winter it will be a huge bonus, I imagine, as it will make the kitchen seem very warm and cosy.

When we were looking to buy this house (which came with an aga) we had it in our minds that an aga was a negative (primarily as we didn't know how to cook on one) but as we looked at various houses it became a non issue. In fact, all the houses we looked at had them so we realised that we'd just have to adapt our expectations. Having now lived with one I wouldn't be without it. It is wonderful to have a warm room 24/7 in a cold, old house.

I'm surprised that yours costs 100/ to run. Ours (oil fired) is £17/week, and probably less now that oil prices have fallen. I was told by the chap who services it that electric ones were so efficient that they only cost £5/week to run.

I can only see it being a negative if you don't have any other way of cooking. Do you have an electric oven and hob for summer?

I certainly wouldn't talk about it as a negative or offer a price reduction. Lots of people will want the rural living, aga-based dream.

MythicalKings · 15/01/2015 10:12

First thing we did was rip out the Aga.

Original poster
Cooki3Monst3r · 15/01/2015 10:14

No other oven Fun. So it's blooming nightmare in summer. And we were last trying to sell in the summer. So I guess we need to get on the market pronto.

I don't know for sure how much it costs. Our electric bill is avg £140 pm including everything. We run the dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer a LOT.

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Original poster
Cooki3Monst3r · 15/01/2015 10:16

We're home all day though. So it's on 12hrs a day, every day. Except in August.

Before DCs we'd have it on timer to come up to temperature for when we got home in the evening.

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specialsubject · 15/01/2015 10:25

it won't stop the show. Worth mentioning that your fuel bill isn't that bad, although if you have oil heating that is now the cheapest way to heat a house per unit.

although I would get rid of it if I bought your house, and put in an electric oven and an LPG hob. This is the standard solution for those off the mains gas that don't like agas. Which as noted are 'marmite' !

SingRingPing · 15/01/2015 15:41

We bought our dream home in the summer and it's has absolutely everything - but as I said to dH, the only thing missing is an Aga Grin

I'd say it would be a definite selling point and I can't imagine anyone would not buy a house (especially one with character) because it had an Aga.

whats4teamum · 15/01/2015 18:14

I wouldn't even bother to view a house with an aga. My GM had one and it has succeeded in putting me off for life.

I notice that all friends who have had them move to properties without and are pleased to get away from them.

loiner45 · 15/01/2015 18:19

I love my aga - had it for 21 yrs. Simply turn it off in summer and put two induction hobs on top for pans. Bring out the halogen oven for any oven cooking. I would hate to live in a house without one - where would I put the washing to dry overnight in winter for one thing!

Bunbaker · 15/01/2015 18:26

"It's costs us about £100 a month to run"

Shock

It's a no from me then.

Original poster
Cooki3Monst3r · 15/01/2015 18:49

Bun that's an estimate. But, my oil bill is reduced because the heating goes on later in the year and goes off earlier because the Aga takes the edge of the cold. It's not an exact science. But definitely not the cheapest option. A family out at work all day would cost them less than half what it costs us.

Oh, and I use www.ecotricity.co.uk so the electric we use is 100% renewable, just to cancel out any guilt I have about using so much electric.

whats4teamum if the house otherwise ticked all your boxes, would you not even look thinking that there might be an option to change the Aga? Negotiate etc?

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