Old outdated bathroom - would it put you off buying? Tile paint opinions!

[coffeealldayandnight]

Would appreciate opinions on this please. We are about to put our small two bed first floor flat on the market. I would say it is nicely decorated, has been taken care of by us, the kitchen is new and the living spaces are cosy, clean and decorated 'on trend'. However, flats in our area are not selling easily (no garden, SW London location where everyone seems to be moving out) and we would really like to know whether our very outdated bathroom (think 90's green tiles) would put buyers off completely? Or do buyers like the chance to put their own stamp on a place? I know it would put me off to a certain extent, in fact when we bought the flat ourselves I said to my then boyfriend that I definitely wanted to do the bathroom, but we never did. Has anyone ever used tile paint? If so, was it a success?

I would invest in a new bathroom - suite, tiles and flooring. Tile paint can be a bit meh.

It wouldn't put me off as long as it was reflected in the price. Needing a new bathroom in SW London could cost about £5-10k.

Just get the flat on the market.

Prices are dropping and you would be as well to get it on now.

Just bought a house where two bathrooms needed doing. I wasn’t put off at all
However, agree with other poster, this has to be reflected in the price.

Speak to an agent…

There are buyers who specifically want something they can put their stamp on (but want to pay accordingly) and there are buyers who want it in turnkey condition

The agent will be able to tell you which there are more of at the moment, but also which sorts of flats they want

You’re unfortunately already going to be at a disadvantage being first floor so need to get advice from the agent about your likely buyer profile

I used Frenchic paint in my fully tiled bathroom including around the shower/ bath and it's been brilliant. It needed quite a few coats on the patterned tiles, but I'd do it again in another bathroom if needed as it was cheap and easy and looks much better!

I think the fact that it is part-done and part needs doing (the bathroom) might make it difficult to sell, as people who want something they can move straight into might be put off, and people who want something to do up might also be put off. If I were in your position, I would probably do the bathroom first.

I'm not sure about that.

When we were looking a few years ago, most properties were either probate sales so needing everything doing, or probate sales that had been bought, 'done up' by a developed and put on the market.

We wanted something in the middle - that we could live and do up gradually, which is what we've done.

Is it only outdated aesthetically? Or is it in shoddy condition? The former I wouldn’t do anything about, just clean and shine and style it to look uncluttered; the latter I’d update if the rest of the flat is in move-in condition but the bathroom lets it down.

Can we see a pic?

Tile stickers are much better than tile paint. You can get all kinds but they are more expensive than paint.

I’d be put off by a brand new kitchen and/or bathroom as it would feel too wasteful to get rid of it, but I would prefer to choose one to my own taste.

@thanksamillion

Tile stickers are much better than tile paint. You can get all kinds but they are more expensive than paint.

This is what I came on to say, I covered up our kitchen tiles as a temp fix and they look ok! Plain ones aren’t too expensive

@burritofan it's just outdated. We've redone the grouting and painted the ceiling but it's so old fashioned, it's ridiculous.

@thanksamillion and @LawnFever great, I'm going to look now do they last long enough to stay looking good for 6 months or so?

Yeah ours have lasted about a year already, we want to update the kitchen eventually but just can’t afford it yet.

I refreshed the grout with a grout pen too which made a big difference along with the stickers, I got it all from Amazon

@LawnFever thanks! I wonder if they'd last in the shower though? Sounds too good to be true.

I would get it up for sale and see what sort of offers you get. Most people would just offer you £5-10k less if they realised the bathroom needed redoing. So price it appropriately expecting to drop a bit because people will want to perceive that they’re getting a deal. Ask for feedback after every viewing to see if it’s presenting a problem and if so then spend the money.

I’d advise against a cheap quick fix. If it looks like you’ve bodged it then people will wonder what else you’ve painted over to cover it up!

Tbh if you’re selling even if they start to peel just get some no more nails and glue them back down

I would rather see an old clean bathroom than a tile paint cover up. Tile paint makes me think quick fix, which makes me thinks what else has been bodged.

My tile stickers are round the sink in my downstairs loo so get splashed but not soaked. I've had them for about 2 years and they're still looking fine. Definitely better than tile paint.

Its a flat, many of your potential buyers will have been living in flatshares (like me as a Ftb) or maybe with their parents' outdated 90s bathrooms :)

I think you can do wonders with tile paint OR stickers, fresh coat of paint on woodwork, mass declutter & get it sparkling (take down & clean the light fittings etc). In a flat, bathroom is not going to be that important (eg as having right size bedrooms, decent kitchen) & buyers will update when/if they can

There was a thread a few weeks ago where a poster had repainted bathroom /bought accessories for £150. I'd do the stickers/paint, poss new lino for floor, plants & accessories - I think you can make it look good

@MsMarple

I’d be put off by a brand new kitchen and/or bathroom as it would feel too wasteful to get rid of it, but I would prefer to choose one to my own taste.

Also this - no one would rip out a brand new bathroom, but hard to get it to someone else's taste. An outdated bathroom that's been given your kind of makeover would def not be that big a deal for me in a flat & I'd rather that than paying for someone else's taste

I know someone who spent 2k doing up her bathroom so as to sell her property. It sold and she walked passed it a week later to find the new bathroom in the skip!! 😮 in my opinion ppl these days just want to put their own stamp on things anyway so I would just reduce the price slightly to accommodate the older bathroom.

Just make sure it’s clean and reduce the price to reflect the fact it needs redoing. Half hearted DIY like tile paint isn’t going to fool anyone. I for one would be more than happy to be able to do the work if the price was fair as then you can get it exactly as you want it.

And I have ripped out a new bathroom fitted by the previous owner - twice!