Shall I get a free standing kitchen?

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We're hoping to sell next year but don't have a lot of money to do up the house.

The kitchen is awful, whoever moves in will definitely have to tear it out but I can't afford to by a new fitted kitchen and have it installed. Plus it'd be a gamble, the new people might want to rip it out anyway.

WIBU to just rip it all out, paint it a nice colour and put a freestanding kitchen in? I was thinking this could be a good solution as I think I could afford it, it'd look much nicer than what we have there s o hopefully increase saleability and if they're just going to rip it out anyway then we could sell it on - or leave it there if they want it.

The current kitchen is a tatty, falling apart 80s number! I always meant to replace it but it's (just about) functional so it never reached the top of the priority list.

A free-standing seems like a straightforward solution that I think I can afford. What am I missing?! Will it put buyers off?

It's a galley kitchen which already has a freestanding range oven. (Which is probably overkill for the size of kitchen by we love it!)

FWIW my house will likely either be bought by a property developer or a young family who want to be near the good schools and can live with this house's off putting quirks to get more space for their money. (That's why we bought it, anyway. Most people moving round here are young families)

No. Don’t do it. It will be worth next to nothing. I wouldn’t want the hassle. Have you priced this up?

When redoing a kitchen it’s about far more than units. I think prospective buyers might be put off unless you look for a realistic price. I’m not sure why you didn’t redo it did for you. So you could enjoy it. Why do it to sell it? Buyers will look beyond your kitchen but they might wonder what else you haven’t looked after or bothered with.

The reason I want to do it up to sell is because no one will want to keep it.

The two groups of people I expect will be interested in buying this place are:

• property developers (no need to replace kitchen!)
• young families stretching themselves to get their first family home.

My house is an ex council house, not far from lots of lovely pretty Victorian and 1930s houses. Anyone who wants pretty will go for them if they have the money. And it has issues such as the bathroom is tiny.

Anyone who has money to spend will buy a better house!

But the problem with the lovely Victorian houses (I looked at LOADS when we were house hunting) is that in this price bracket, the rooms are tiny. We were looking at places that had a small double as the main bedroom then two box rooms as bedrooms 2 and 3.

When we saw this place, it was a relief to find somewhere with decent sized rooms that we could afford. Because it hasn't got "kerb appeal" and because of the small bathroom etc, it's at the very bottom of the prices for a 3 bed round here. But it's in a great location.

So, I suspect the people who will be interested in buying it and actually living in it may not have a lot of money to do it up, at least at first. And so I think it'd make sense to have a kitchen that isn't totally off-putting at least.

Do people really hate free standing kitchens though?

I’m not sure why you didn’t redo it did for you at first, because I had a young baby and couldn't be doing with the hassle. Moving while pregnant was enough. And then, lack of time and money.

God no don't do it. It's such a waste of time and money and will put off so many buyers. If you want to sell, put it on as soon as possible to try to get in before the stamp duty holiday ends.

Freestanding kitchens are awful, I wouldn't even view a house with one.

But you won’t price the same as the pretty smart houses will you? Never assume who will buy? Whoever it is, they may well renovate it. To their taste. Why are you thinking about what money the buyers have or don’t have? Just get it competitively priced to reflect its issues . Location location location! Good sized rooms! These are your selling points!

But you won’t price the same as the pretty smart houses will you?

You're right, I won't. It'll go on the market for about £200k. The nicer ones are £260k+ It will be one of the cheapest 3 beds in the area.

But I think if we don't improve the kitchen, then we'll put off buyers who don't have the time or money to buy and install a new kitchen, and who want the place in move-in condition.

Young families who are first time buyers, basically.

This house won't go to someone with money. It'll likely either go to a developer who will likely then rent it out to a young family (as happened with the last house that was sold a few doors down) or to a young family who's just managing to get on the property ladder.

I worry if it's not in move-in condition then we'll only be able to sell to property developers.

We'll be able to put in a stand alone kitchen pretty cheaply. I'm good at shopping around for deals. When I sold my flat (flat with large rooms and a small bathroom and kitchen in a sought after area) I did it up before I sold. And managed to put in a new kitchen for well under £3k.

Just get it competitively priced to reflect its issues ah, but I don't want to knock more money off. I'd rather invest in making it appeal to a wider audience.

We're moving to another area we can only just afford and I need every penny!

It would be better to replace it with an ikea fitted kitchen and diy. Its not hard and you can get a great result.

Free standing kitchens waste a lot of space.

@Gemma2019

God no don't do it. It's such a waste of time and money and will put off so many buyers. If you want to sell, put it on as soon as possible to try to get in before the stamp duty holiday ends.

Freestanding kitchens are awful, I wouldn't even view a house with one.

Good reminder about the stamp duty holiday, thanks.

I don't think we'll make it but you never know...

I wonder what you have in mind when you think of a freestanding kitchen. Are you thinking of mismatched cupboards / the rustic look?

Are you sure you'd choose the 80s kitchen over one of these?!

(80s kitchen not mine, but a similar style! And one of these is way out of my price range, but is a free standing kitchen - just for comparison... )

I have heard of people not getting loan approval for a particular house when the kitchen isnt fitted because it adds to their costs for living in the house and so affects the affordability of them living there and/or the resale value of the house even if the freestanding kitchen stays

@Frenchfancy

It would be better to replace it with an ikea fitted kitchen and diy. Its not hard and you can get a great result.

Free standing kitchens waste a lot of space.

I think you're right. I'm just not sure I can afford it.

I think it depends on space- we have a free standing kitchen and I love it but it's a large kitchen. Fitted sounds like it would make better use of the space.

@Pogmaasal

I have heard of people not getting loan approval for a particular house when the kitchen isnt fitted because it adds to their costs for living in the house and so affects the affordability of them living there and/or the resale value of the house even if the freestanding kitchen stays

Wow, really? On what basis? I don't understand.

That would really throw a spanner in the works if so!

I would just put it on the market as it is and see how it goes. I think you'd be surprised. Lots of people want to keep their mortgage low and do up the house themselves. You bought it so why wouldn't anyone else. Agree with others that forking out for the kitchen just to sell is a waste of money.

We've just ripped out a kitchen that probably cost the previous owners a lot of money and they thought was a selling point. But the layout didn't work for us and I hated the worktops and the cupboards!

We've just ripped out a kitchen that probably cost the previous owners a lot of money and they thought was a selling point. But the layout didn't work for us and I hated the worktops and the cupboards! Yes, but I'd hazard a guess you're not going to buy my house in the first place. You'd buy one of the nicer ones up the road.

You bought it so why wouldn't anyone else Fair point - but that was 10 years ago. The kitchen is a LOT tattier than it was then. I'd shy away from it now I think. The cupboards are in a poor state of repair.

There were only 2 buyers interested in the house as I recall. Us and a property developer, who pulled out.

I would just put it on the market as it is and see how it goes.

I must admit it is tempting though...

Pop it on the market as it is, wait for the feedback to define if it's worth spending anything at all. I've developed and I've bought homes to live in and on all occasions I've replaced the kitchen first.

Also if yours is the cheapest then someone smart like you will see the benefits but may have budgeted higher and can do it straight away.

We had one agent tell us to replace all the secondary glazing before marketing, we didn't but we priced up wood frame windows, 1 year later we drive past and the people that bought it had done full UPVC, so if we'd spent it would of been a total waste of time and effort.

Meant to add, just make sure it's clean! Dated and old is ok but a modern dirty kitchen is worse!

@dhisreadingmypostsagain

Meant to add, just make sure it's clean! Dated and old is ok but a modern dirty kitchen is worse!

I'd definitely make it spotless!

Cleaning isn't going to get it looking nice though. It's not just old, it's tatty and broken. There's a missing cupboard door. Part of the unit with the cutlery draw is warped from heat from being too close to the old oven. (I think I'll have to take that out whatever we do.)

The cupboards by the sink are damaged from a leak a while back, which you can see if you open the doors.

Some of the trim is missing on the worksurface.

It really is a nightmare!

" We've just ripped out a kitchen that probably cost the previous owners a lot of money and they thought was a selling point. But the layout didn't work for us and I hated the worktops and the cupboards! Yes, but I'd hazard a guess you're not going to buy my house in the first place. You'd buy one of the nicer ones up the road."

Nope not necessarily true. Always buy the worst house on the best street. Not that I'm saying your house is going to be the worst but you know what I mean!

A kitchen is such an expensive thing to change and everyone would want different things from it. Focus on the good points. Draw attention to the bigger rooms. It's in a great location so there will be interest. You've grown sick and tired of it but someone else would be perfectly prepared to live with an outdated kitchen for a while if it meant getting a house in the location they wanted for a price they can afford.

Could you just replace the doors and counter top but keep the carcasses ?

@LadyEloise

Could you just replace the doors and counter top but keep the carcasses ?

I like your thinking and I did look into this a while back.

But the units are 50cm wide instead of the standard 60cm these days which narrows the choice, the budget options are mainly the standard 60cm IIRC. And it worked out surprisingly expensive.

Plus the carcass isn't in good nick since the damage from a leak.

Thanks for the reminder though, it was a couple of years ago I looked at this, perhaps there are cheaper options now, possibly worth another look...

Freestanding kitchens are awful, I wouldn't even view a house with one.

Strange, because I would. I have one run of built in units between two stone fireplaces, and the rest are freestanding pieces that I have collected over the decades and that work for me; I have a triple cupboard that acts as a larder and storage, and down the dining end, a tall IKEA cream cabinet for glass and china,; an enormous plate rack that holds my china, and under that, a quadruple low cupboard that used to be in a school and houses all my glassware and some more of the larger dishes and Dartington bowls.

If your house is worth £200k then you simply have to price it to take a new kitchen into account. Where is the cupboard door that’s missing? Put a curtain up instead. Match the trim that’s missing. Don’t worry about what’s inside a cupboard. They will be ripped out!

Your politics is getting in the way of clear sight about your sale of this house in my view. Are people who improve properties and let them out the devil? I suggest you take their money if they offer it and move on. They are just running a business. If you didn’t want this possibility and wanted a nice little family to have your house it might have bern better to maintain it. So now you are not in the position to choose buyers or look at buyers through rose tinted glasses. Just try and sell it. If it’s getting negative feedback you will have to weigh up the cost of improvement and then it’s not what buyers like!

I don’t consider what thecatsmother is describing to be a proper kitchen. Kitchens are cooked, hobs, work surfaces, sinks etc. A loose collection of furniture with little work surface isn’t what most people think of as a kitchen. The cost for a new owner is still there. There is, essentially, no kitchen!