How much home improvement to do whilst house hunting?

[OpenTheBloodyWindow]

We are house hunting at the moment, have been vaguely looking for a year, but more seriously since February. There's nothing suitable coming on and realistically we might be looking for another year. I know, it's insane! Combination of very slow market, looking for something unusual and very fussy DH

Anyway, there are a few bits and pieces around the house and garden that are getting a bit tired, and if we planned to stay we'd definitely do them. For example, our garage is quite run down and doors could be replaced, side garden is very bare and underused and we'd do a bit of landscaping, side gate and fence looking old and done in, kids rooms have built in wardrobes I'd like to pull out and rejig the layout.

There are also some big jobs we'd ideally do if we were staying - floor loft, replace some of the windows and the front door etc.

We're feeling a bit stuck as to how far we should go with improvements/upkeep of the house and garden. I am not inclined to spend a lot of money especially as new owners often change things themselves, but at the same time if and when we finally move I don't want it being at the 'very scruffy' stage!

Any thoughts?

I'd definitely do the side garden. Can you paint the garage door rather than replace?

Thanks. I wonder what we could do to the side garden to make it look more lived without spending too much.

We painted the garage doors last year at the start of lockdown so they are better than they were but they are wooden and 30 years old and actually rotting now the quote for new ones was nearly £4k

Get a few big pots and plant them up - you can take them with you. I’d make everything look as good as possible - if things look done in before they even get in the house they will think it has not been maintained and worry there may be a lot of hidden things wrong too. Depending on your price point, a few thousand invested now may earn itself back.

You're totally right, a moderate outlay will reap rewards. Eventually!

I'll take a look at some plants etc for the side and go round fixing the wee niggly things.

I find it hard enough keeping on top of washing, toys etc without trying to smarten up the house for sale as well but it has to be done!

I plastered and painted a room and decorated my kids rooms and re carpeted those rooms too.

They needed done and dd was arriving (supposed to move before dd was born but fell through) so we decided to just go ahead.

I did the rooms on a small budget. It can be done.

You can get garage doors much cheaper: www.diy.com/departments/georgian-made-to-measure-framed-white-sectional-garage-door/1011299_BQ.prd

Yeah, I'm not sure I'd be spending £4K on new garage doors if you're moving anyway

A DF bought her new garage doors on ebay, think they were about £100.

I think we spent just less than 1k before putting ours on the market, between little bits of work that needed doing like getting someone in to paint some rooms, painting others ourselves, then just boxed a lot away and bought a few new decor items to make the house look a little better

It entirely depends on the market in your area and the point at which you will be pitching your house. The best thing you can do is get in one (or more) estate shrubs to quote for you business and ask them directly.

I sold recently and was at the point where it was just ahead of my big annual spring clean so interior and exterior paint needed refreshing, grouting had gone a bit grotty etc. My agent (and those who I didn’t go with) advised me not to spend a single penny more on it and to keep all my money for the next place. It was the right advice in my situation but it might be entirely different in yours.

Agents are best placed to advise.