The kitchen diner dilemma: Knock through and sell or just sell?

[christineandjonathan]

So we've got a traditional 3 bed detached house in Cheshire and wanted to seek others advice on here..

While we like the area, we're not so keen on the exact road as we are on a School road, primary school at the end of the road, High School within walking distance. Parents drop off and park here every day making it a hit with parents... it'd be lovely if you had small children and it's a very nice area.. safe and properties gaining in value by up to 20% according to Zoopla.

Our Children are

1. 23 and living in another City - Liverpool
2. 21 and at University in London

So we are essentially empty nesters now... We are thinking of a move to somewhere with a little more land and space around us, semi rural and not to far away from current location but somewhere where our pound gets us more space, as we are currently very town centre near, with 2 of Cheshires most popular towns, Alderley Edge and Wilmslow in walking distance.

Our current house is a traditional layout downstairs, front room lounge, middle sitting room, traditional conservatory then separate (small) kitchen and downstairs loo.. plus boiler room - integral single Garage.

Upstairs we have a nice bathroom Shower, 2 good sized bedrooms and a 3rd box room... all in good condition, with a boarded floor loft for storage.

Outdoors we've during COVID added a fully wired up Timber based Office with fast Broadband - a real work from home boon.

Recently we had plans which to extend into a full width Kitchen / Family room at the back by removing and replacing the traditional conservatory. However 3 quotes of around £100k without Kitchen made us think again... a bridge too far...

So instead, we recently reduced out ambitions and have asked for a smaller quote for a knock through kitchen / family room on the same floor plan. By building up the Conservatory into a proper Room (Walls and Windows) facing into the existing rear garden then knock through of Kitchen into middle room and new Kitchen, floors etc..
Quote of £50k plus Kitchen for this option - better...

So the question to you all, do we?

1. Just market the property as is with the full extension plans and our plan B idea to a new Family buyer?

On the basis that whatever we do might not be what the next buyer wants?

1. Knock through and do the Kitchen Diner, take 2 months or more of disruption, choose a new kitchen etc - then sell and move?

On the basis that it will put money onto the property and be easier to sell, though there does seem to be a lack of property in this area...

Will option 2 pay back the investment on the sale price, would we get our money back if we still plan to move because of the location?

What do you think?

Looking at houses for a spring time move. Actively discounting anything that's been recently done up as I want to design my own kitchen not be forced to live with someone else's taste. Don't waste your time and energy doing the work.

That's been massively useful, thank you all for your feedback, views and opinions...

Definitely not worth bothering with the hassle then... Estate agents next week then and cancel the Builder, save the cash and see if we can find our next move..

Only difficulty we forsee is the general lack of property on the market, though spring is a coming now that we've turned the new year.

But as ever - sell first then go shopping!

Cheers and Happy New Year to all those that assisted with this query..

A great use of Mumsnet

No.1. We more or less did this and it maximised how much we got.

However we may not have realised the full cost of the works if we had actually done them, and that would be even less likely now with the increase in labour costs and materials.

Definitely No.1!

I had an interesting conversation with my daughter in law recently. I've always wanted to knock our kitchen and dining room together but we can't because it's listed and there are features on the adjoining wall. She said she actually prefers separate dining (albeit with a table in the kitchen as well). I got the impression
It's more desirable generally now to have them separate.

@Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep

Looking at houses for a spring time move. Actively discounting anything that's been recently done up as I want to design my own kitchen not be forced to live with someone else's taste. Don't waste your time and energy doing the work.

Thank you - again great to hear the reality from the other side...

Just sell as what you do might not be what someone else wants anyway.

Does it all value to sell with planning permission but not do the actual work yourself?

As a recent buyer and seller , I haven’t wanted to pay top whack for a brand new kitchen not of my choosing.

Plus, given the Labour and materials market it will be a nightmare.

You’ve been watching too many house development programmes. If it was a semi-derelict terrace that you could revive with a smart but economical re-furb it might pay off financially.

In your case: highly unlikely.

If I was in Cheshire, I'd be your target market as I have primary aged DC, one of each sex, so 3 bedrooms is my ideal.

I can't afford a renovated and extended property in my price range, so would prefer something pre-works, exactly as you've described, which I can improve over time.

I would go with your number 1, and I bet your house will fly off the market, maybe even pre-launch if you appoint the right agent. Good luck with the sale!