When buying a house... Is a modern kitchen/bathroom a priority to you?

[Itsfineactually]

Or would you be happy enough to buy a house with a dated kitchen or bathroom with the intention of changing it?

Also, how much does a modern kitchen/bathroom impact value of house?

Thanks

I'm looking at the moment and my priority is space big enough to make into a kitchen diner. If the space isn't there I'm not interested but am happy to do the work.

Yes. Having gone through replacing the bathroom and kitchen the old house it's not something I'd want to do again.

Oh and value, we put ours up with an old kitchen up and got an offer of £82k (terrace up north) we fitted a whole new kitchen and we sold it for £103k. Kitchen cost around £7k

We were happy to buy a house that needed a new bathroom and kitchen (and completely redecorated) because we got more for our money than if we'd bought a 'perfect' house. We looked at the space we were buying as our first priority.

Okay, so two different opinions. Thanks.

@drankthekoolaid that’s made me think, as we have a separate kitchen/dining room and I think it would look fab as a kitchen diner.

Not a priority to me because although I don’t feel my tastes are particularly outlandish, I can’t imagine any kitchen or bathroom would be exactly to my taste so I would be looking to change it.
Naturally as long as it was serviceable I’d be happy to use it until I could replace it. And I wouldn’t expect a reduction in price just because a modern kitchen/bathroom wasn’t to my taste. That’s why I prefer dated houses where the price reflects what needs doing, rather than top whack price houses done to someone else’s taste.

Wow @hartof that’s impressive. But also my worry as I’m desperate to get house on the market as we at making ends meet every month due to mortgage. But worry that we’ll lose out massively if we don’t do some work, but can’t afford a 7k kitchen.

Looking just now. Having had to put new kitchens/bathrooms in in our last two places, not having to go through the hassle would be a big plus for me. I’d only think about doing it again if the price was very keen.

Thanks @MrsFezziwig... it is a working kitchen. I’ll add some pics

This gives you an idea of how dated it is

It depends. If it's just an old shit kitchen then it would depend how much other work was required, how much I loved the property and if the price was at a level to allow for a replacement,

However I did buy a house with a decades old kitchen, but it was a hand made oak one, sadly it had to go, but if I'd chosen to live with it I could have done so,

I would actively be put off by a new kitchen, I hate the current trend for grey / shiney / slab doors, but would feel I couldn't rip out a perfectly serviceable kitchen. I'd much prefer a dated shabby one that I could replace guilt free, ditto bathrooms. The price of the house should reflect the work needed of course.

With a kitchen like that, I'd want to pay the 'full refurb needed' price for the house. In 99% of cases it makes sense for you to get things done before selling. You'll get back loads more than you invest (as long as the refurb is tasteful and usable).

I am happy with an old kitchen as long as it isn't falling to bits. I recoil at the bright red glossy one my neighbours have, and hate the plastic looking finishes as well as the glossy ones. I had a brand new gloss finish kitchen the first time they were in fashion and it was better quality than they are these days, but won't go there again.

Decent wooden doors would be a bonus, but would be equally prepared to buy one with those good solid 70's doors that never fall off and can be painted.

Anything grey and unpaintable would put me off.

Bathrooms, as long as it worked I would be OK with it, especially an enamel bath. Really hate baths that look like elongated buckets, and square toilets so that would put me off.

Thanks. Kind of split 😬
The rest of the house is modernised, new wooden floors, fire place, carpets, paint etc. It’s just the kitchen and bathroom left.

BTW I would think about replacing the doors rather than the entire kitchen although there are companies that deal in second hand kitchens too.

Our bathroom had a separate corner bath and shower. It’s a wet room because the last owner was elderly and disabled. It’s a similar floor you get at swimming pool changing rooms, so not fancy. But we’ve put in a new shower unit. It’s cream tiles which are eurgh!!

Kitchen and bathrooms refurbishment typically add more value than the cost of them. So really it's more a case of either pricing it to reflect the works needed or putting up with the hassle of the works in order to get a swifter and higher sale.

We did remedial works in our kitchen then fitted a whole new bathroom (took it back to the brick and started again) in the 6m before we sold. We knew without these works we would have a longer listing time and a much lower price than we could sell for. It was worth it as it added circa 10k onto the list price, and we sold within 4 days at 3k over asking.

@DontCallMeShitley I think of we changed it cheaply it would be paint the doors, change the worktop/sink and do something with the tiles!

I’m incredibly fussy and have never seen a house with a kitchen I’ve liked so would buy with the full intention of ripping out whatever was there, even if it was brand new. So I’d think the old kitchen and bathrooms would be great as it would mean I wasn’t paying a premium for someone else’s taste!

Tbh I'd just list as is but be realistic about the work needed and it's actual value in its current state. Repainting individual doors and tiles etc is such a laborious task and isn't cheap. And it will likely still look like it "needs replacing at some point".

At dated, but functional, kitchen/bathroom is fine by me. I'd rather that than a new one which isn't to my taste that I'm being expected to pay a premium for.

I would rather have a house that needs redecorated/kitchen and bathroom replacing as if someone’s put some cheap crap in to sell it it’s more likely to be more expensive and I’d probably still want to replace it anyway!

I rent and I don't even consider places with old fashioned bathrooms or manky kitchens (so there's not much choice!) 😂

I would change the worktop and redo the tiles, you will be amazed the difference that will make.