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Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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Original poster

Change stairs before selling?

26 replies

Fedupofallthemud · 19/09/2016 16:50

We moved last year but couldn't sell our house so had to rent it. Our tenant is now planning to leave and we are deciding whether to rent or sell it. Having read some threads on here about spiral staircases I am wondering whether we would be better getting rid of ours.
It's a very sturdy staircase and we (including young children) never had any issues but I'm wondering if it maybe put a lot of people off previously and that's part of why it didn't sell. Would it be crazy to change to a more normal staircase given the likely expense of this? Or would it be worth it in terms of more people considering it?
Any thoughts would be appreciated

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SolomanDaisy · 19/09/2016 16:53

Is it the main staircase in the house or for a loft conversion? If it was the main staircase it would definitely put me off if I couldn't see a way to change it, but our house had an unsafe staircase and we replaced it as soon as we bought it.

Original poster

Fedupofallthemud · 19/09/2016 17:32

It's the only stairs to the first floor

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Original poster

Fedupofallthemud · 19/09/2016 17:34

I think it would be reasonably easy to change but would cost money which might put people off. The original house plans were for normal stairs but the people who bought it before us changed this to super fancy super expensive spiral staircase which does look spectacular but I'm worried people wouldn't even view because of it

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Nervybuyer2016 · 19/09/2016 18:27

We viewed houses that size wise were meant for families but then had spiral staircases. Was a big no for us, I'd change them if you can.

NapQueen · 19/09/2016 18:29

I wouldn't buy a house with a spiral staircase.

Original poster

Fedupofallthemud · 19/09/2016 18:30

Yes it's a family size house - but also locally it would probably appeal to older couples due to its location, and they are the group who are most able to move house in the current climate. So I'm worried we could be alienating a huge number of potential viewers.
On the other hand we are skint and don't quite know how we would afford to do it 😕

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Cakescakescakes · 19/09/2016 18:33

I wouldn't buy a house with a spiral staircase.

HerRoyalNotness · 19/09/2016 18:36

Could you get three quotes and then offer that as a reduction in house price f you can't get it done yourself? The agent could put it in the particulars. Don't include a photo of the stairs if possible, to get people through the door

Tiredandtested · 19/09/2016 18:39

You bought it with the existing staircase so somebody else will too.
It sounds a pricey job to replace it so I'd keep the money for the move.

BackforGood · 19/09/2016 18:41

I would find a spiral staircase very offputting - even if not on a day to day basis, how do you get all your furniture in and out ?

Original poster

Fedupofallthemud · 19/09/2016 18:50

That's a good idea herroyal thanks.
We always managed with it fine, including getting a super king bed up the stairs (very heavy), not easy but we did it.

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SolomanDaisy · 19/09/2016 19:42

I think I'd probably replace it if I was you. Most people won't have a clue how much replacing a staircase costs or how much hassle it would be (not as much as I expected for either), so in a buyers' market will go for something easier. Both your target markets are likely to be put off by a spiral staircase.

PippaFawcett · 19/09/2016 19:43

I wouldn't mind one, why do people hate them so much?

user1471549018 · 19/09/2016 19:54

I think you should ask a few estate agents. If it's likely to be young families buying then yes I would remove the staircase (I wonder if you could sell it if it's super expensive to help pay for a bog standard new one?) However if it's more mature families with school age children I'd just leave it as a feature and accept some will love them and some will be put off.

Nervybuyer2016 · 19/09/2016 20:00

pippa every time I saw one I thought :

Death trap
No staircase will go on
Always feel really inconvieniently places in comparison to traditional stairs
Generally don't like the look of them (but that's personal not practical preference)

Also I fell down some as a child and was in casts for months, so that probably tars my view on the matter!

didireallysaythat · 19/09/2016 20:26

We just replaced our stairs (straight run but really steep and shallow). Assuming you can accommodate them, and you need a joist they can sit on, you don't have electric cables in the way etc, they were made off site, then 3-4 days to fit, a day or so to redecorate, re carpet or whatever. The actual stairs were around £700 - the labour around the same. So not a massive outlay (and you maybe able to do for less). But probably off putting for some - it took us 3 years to get around to doing it, and we should have done it immediately. My point is, get measured up, get quotes, and then perhaps do it. I think it's probably more off-putting to a buyer than the lack of an ensuite on every bedroom (which I've recently learn is a deal breaker for half of mn).

Original poster

Fedupofallthemud · 19/09/2016 21:10

Lots of interesting thoughts on this. I think we will try to get some quotes and work out how much upheaval it would be.
didI lack of ensuites puts people off? I can never understand why anyone would want so many bathrooms! All those toilets to clean 😫
Our house has 3 plus a downstairs loo and I think that's too many!!

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Qwebec · 19/09/2016 23:52

Did you ask your agent what your viewers said about the house and why id did not sell? You say it is a fancy staircase, can we see a picture?
I would make sure this is the issue before doing that kind of work.

Believeitornot · 20/09/2016 15:30

I would try and sell and see what happens. A buyer might take a bit longer to find but you bought it?

seven201 · 20/09/2016 15:38

It would put me off if it was being sold as a 'done up already' house. Ask the agent and get some quotes. I think it would probably be worth changing. It probably won't affect value but will make it more sellable.

Original poster

Fedupofallthemud · 20/09/2016 18:41

qwebec
A few people did comment on the stairs when viewing, asking how the kids coped with it, some were surprised they were the only stairs. And now that I think about it, no one over the age of 60 viewed the house which is probably a bit unusual round here. It didn't really occur to me till now!

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DianaBathesInTango · 21/09/2016 07:31

Could you sell the existing staircase? If it is very fancy/expensive you might find someone will pay good money for it which you could use to offset the cost of putting in new stairs.

Original poster

Fedupofallthemud · 21/09/2016 13:56

Possibly could. It would be divisible into sections but would be very heavy as combination of stainless steel and beech. I have no idea what it would be worth now but believe it cost over £6k when new, but that is about 10 years ago. It's certainly in good condition but not pristine by any means

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namechangedtoday15 · 21/09/2016 14:16

I'm not sure getting quotes and then offering to reduce by that much would help. People will look online and see the stairs and won't even bother to view. If elderly people are part of your target market, you need to change them, surely?

Original poster

Fedupofallthemud · 21/09/2016 19:42

name I think the suggestion was to not show the stairs in the pictures so people wouldn't automatically write the house off before viewing. After all you wouldn't necessarily expect to see a photo of a staircase would you?

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