Page 2 | Old outdated bathroom - would it put you off buying? Tile paint opinions!

burritofan · 13/09/2021 10:19

And I have ripped out a new bathroom fitted by the previous owner - twice!
Ah, the environment was nice while it lasted eh.

Silkiescatz · 13/09/2021 10:24

Depends if it was reflected in the price and if had the cash to redo it. If work needs doing I generally take off twice what it would cost as it often costs more than you expect and its a pain to do. Bathrooms are the worst thing to do if there is only one of them.

Our estate advised either whole house done or whole house not done. Tile paint is quite variable and could make it worse.

I would look on Rightmove to see what flats have sold and what hasn't and price difference. EAs often tell you just to get things on the market and its not always the best advice though worth asking their opinion though they maybe more realistic if they have lots of flats not selling. The only thing is if you do bathroom and put it on will that mean it would sell or would there still be a risk. We had this and our estate agent advised to do the bathroom which was what I wanted but DH had been opposed.

Unfashionable · 13/09/2021 10:24

An outdated bathroom wouldn’t put me off buying if the property was otherwise suitable, but the cost and hassle factor of having it refurbished would be reflected in the price I was prepared to pay, and I would assume this would put off some other potential buyers, so my offer would likely be significantly below the asking price.

minipie · 13/09/2021 10:49

I bought my flat in a similar state - mostly new or newish but bathroom needed doing. Didn’t put me off but then my parents are very experienced with building work so I wasn’t nervous about the idea of redoing the bathroom and also I wasn’t wfh - I imagine people may be less keen on building work if they are wfh now.

I wouldn’t do tile paint or stickers etc though. These scream bodge job to me and would quite possibly put me off. Either redo it fully or not at all (but make sure it’s very clean eg grout pen, new silicone sealant if mouldy).

If it’s very outdated it’s probably back in style now…

PersonaNonGarter · 13/09/2021 11:05

The cost of renovation and the risk of delay might just wipe out any profit. Get the flat on the market and see how you go.

ChildrenGrowingUpTooFast · 13/09/2021 11:10

It wouldn't put me off. I like to slowly do up the property while living there. As long as it's livable and usable.

Original poster

coffeealldayandnight · 16/09/2021 15:23

Thanks all. We've decided to leave it and just give it a super clean with extra care on grouting and sealant x

OP posts:

emmathedilemma · 16/09/2021 15:36

I'd rather buy something that needs a new kitchen and bathroom so i can do it to my taste rather than pay for something I don't like and couldn't justify changing because it was new.

TheHouseILiveIn · 16/09/2021 15:39

@SW1amp

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

Out of interest why is first floor a disadvantage?

SimonedeBeauvoirscat · 16/09/2021 15:42

Can we see a pic? It really depends how ‘bad’ it is. I’d prefer to put my own bathroom in generally speaking - I see a lot of properties I wouldn’t offer on because the seller has just done the kitchen or bathroom and it’s hideous. Don’t want to pay top dollar for other people’s bad taste. And of course they’re resistant to a lower offer because they’ve just shelled out thousands on building work. Bad move.

evilharpy · 16/09/2021 15:44

Depends. If it was the only bathroom and I was going to live in it myself and move in straight way, needing to replace the bathroom would put me off because of the ballache of it. If there was an ensuite or if it was going to be a BTL I wouldn't mind so much. I've lived in a fixer upper while we did it ourselves bit by bit and never want to do it again!

TheHouseILiveIn · 16/09/2021 15:46

@wedwewerpink

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.

That must have been so upsetting 🤣

Sallylovesdaisy · 16/09/2021 15:47

@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?

Didn't put us off buying the property we liked. Bathroom is truly horrendous, think sparkly black sheets of thick vinyl, pipes painted black sparkly and a sparkly white ceiling. It's next on our lists of things to be done...and tbh I can't wait

Mindymomo · 16/09/2021 15:53

Just put it on the market as it is, buyers like a project. We sold FIL house last year, it desperately needed new bathroom, boiler, windows etc., it sold first day, first viewing. Other houses in same road which were ultra modern, but more expensive, took far longer to sell.

RedMarauder · 16/09/2021 16:50

@TheHouseILiveIn neighbours both above and below so potentially more noise issues.

PickAChew · 16/09/2021 16:52

As long as it's usable immediately, I wouldn't care. Better that than paying more for a home with an ugly or impractical one that's too new to want to replace.

BlueMongoose · 17/09/2021 23:37

I'm willing to bet your bathroom isn't as outdated or plain awful as ours, and it didn't put us off. Think 1970s brown and green speckly tiles with swirls on, 'gold' fittings, and hammered brown porcelain.

It just depends on the buyers you get. It would probably cost a lot more to get it all done than a buyer would knock off their offer, unless it's just the tiles that are an awful colour. Even a buyer who is the type to always have a new kitchen and bathroom anyway may still be put off if it makes the rooms look very small, though. Not everyone is good at visualising.

PenguinWings · 18/09/2021 09:34

We're waiting to complete on a house with a very dated bathroom. At some point in the future it'll need updating and I'm excited about choosing what we have.
I'd just get the flat on the market if I was you.

maofteens · 18/09/2021 13:28

I'm redoing my small bathroom and it is an upheaval - I'm without it now for at least three weeks. So that's a consideration, unless you have access to other facilities!
Personally I'd like to do it to my taste, but I think that in a flat with everything else done up I'd put a decent modern suite in with neutral tiles. Then the new owner can redo the tiles if they want a different look. Otherwise they'd be looking for a discount, even if you price it accordingly they'll still want money off, it's the inconvenience factor not just the cost of a new bathroom.
I don't think painting or using tile stickers will do it.