To do or not to do?

[LouLouLouL]

Hi,

When we bought our very large house it hadn’t been updated for 30 years. We’ve done some straightforward updating like new kitchens, bathrooms, fireplace, wooden/stone floors, patio, etc.

We’re looking to move next year and everything else has suffered insufficient funds, laziness and three small free range children.

I have a list of jobs to do and I’m wondering if I should do them or not.

1- New windows - they are just about watertight but past it. Should we replace?

2- Utility room - 1980’s cupboards, yellow walls, DIY shelving. Should I gut it and white wash it?

3- Downstairs loo - salmon coloured toilet and sink, yellow walls, smells. Should I replace or just white wash walls?

4- Stained carpets - freerange children + large paint pot as a step. Replace carpet or leave?

5 - Two bedrooms that need ceiling and walls skimming after a walls was moved. Skim it and paint it, paint over it or leave it?

6 - Garden - Plant up the beds or weed cloth and mulch them?

Thanks

1.expemsive, will require redecorating but probably quite important to buyer.

1. Minor nif naf
2. Find out why it smells. If the soil pipe is leaking this really would put people off and could come upon a survey.
3. Polypropalyne carpet is about £8 a metre. Ok after 3 years its flat and hard but it's tough and cheap.
4. Maybe patch plaster and lining paper. I hate painted plaster - always get cracks!

1. I'd possible think about ground fabrick and slate chippings rather than mulch. Online its about £120 a ton ( don't pay £8 a bag from wickes!)

I renovate properties for selling on. I would do the less expensive jobs - people either want a move in ready or a gut job but a half way done house will tend to be seen as a gut job.
I'd leave the windows. It's expensive and you could get a quote as people don't know how much it is but you'll have proof it will cost, say, £5000 and not the £10,000 they'll try to get off the asking price.
Utility room and loo - paint off white and get them both scrupulously clean. What's the smell?
I'd replace carpets (have you tried renting a carpet cleaner first?). It's not that expensive but don't go bargain basement and do have decent underlay.
I'd skim and paint bedrooms. Again it's not that expensive to get a plasterer in and you then paint it.
Garden I'd weed and lay turf, or if just talking beds then yes mulch them ready for planting - again not expensive if you do it yourself, whereas unless getting big expensive specimens it won't make it look better having a few small plants fitted about. A few colourful pots near a seating area (get a patio set for about £50) to set a scene will look nice. You can take those with you.
If the majority of rooms look done and clean and decluttered then having one or two rooms that need updating (utility and loo) is fine. Having several rooms that need finishing and people will start looking for a lot off the asking price. Spend a couple thousand now will do much in terms of presentation. Spend £15,000 now you may not get it back and will have to live through the work.