New kitchen to sell or not - it's really bad

[irishmist]

Worried that our kitchen is so bad we need to.
We hope to put our house on the market in March but debating whether it's worth installing a new but cheap kitchen to sell.
DH thinks it's not worth it but I'm worried our awful kitchen will put viewers off - laminate peeling off etc - grim.
We did other work in the house - it's the only room that lets the house down, I think
I haven't tidied the kitchen so please ignore mess.

I think it looks fine. I definitely wouldn't replace it. If someone wants to change it then they can.

I would make it look as good as you can without spending real money on it.
Clean it within an inch of its life.
Tighten up wobbly handles and hinges. With a bit of effort and time, you can usually improve crooked doors, they just need the screws on the hinges adjusted.
You want to make it good enough to live with while new owners plan a new one.
The room looks a good enough size

Loose the 199Os blinds- nothing says 1996 like a scalloped blind.
I know we’ve established it’s not a blind but a kitchen, but scallops – on blinds, lampshades, anywhere an interior designer can put them – are absolutely having an interiors moment! They’re entirely 2022!

It wouldn’t put me off, if it was priced accordingly

I agree with everyone else. But maybe take off that cupboard that's on the wall between the two windows. It'll open up the space a bit more.

I bought a house with a much worse kitchen than that. It was 1970s, no extractor, limited cupboards, holes in the walls where cupboards had been removed, a weird dresser type thing. We ripped it all out and now have the kitchen of our dreams

@Charley50 - it's the only upper cupboard - but I know what you mean.
@Stuntbubbles - that gives me hope but really?? weird

@everyone - thank you for taking the time to reply & give suggestions- I was feeling really sad & teary about our chance of selling.
I've been decluttering throughout & we plan to have it ready for Easter - wfh & family stuff mean it can't be before then.

No need to re paint! Just change the doors and drawer fronts
It's really easy to do and v cheap

Other wise it's a lovely kitchen.... I personally would leave it as is but don't know what the rest of the house looks like

As said, clean it within an inch of its life. Declutter.

As importantly, make sure all devices you leave behind, e.g. stove/oven/dishwasher actually work.

Done.

@stuntbubbles

Loose the 199Os blinds- nothing says 1996 like a scalloped blind. I know we’ve established it’s not a blind but a kitchen, but scallops – on blinds, lampshades, anywhere an interior designer can put them – are absolutely having an interiors moment! They’re entirely 2022!

Oh cmon now, those scallops are dated and look their age.

Op, I think the tiles are the major issue to be honest. I suspect they look worse in real life, and If thr worktop is damaged it will look quite bad

I think I would remove the scallops, I’d paint the tiles, a bright white, and if I had some money spare I’d look to replace the worktop, just a laminate. It will likely make the kitchen look a lot better in real life.

No way, that looks fine to sell like that! it’s clean and tidy and looks totally usable- anyone moving in can do their own thing but that kitchen wouldn’t put people off I don’t think.

Get rid of the weird pelmets though!

You could paint it

I'm not big on trying to save the planet but I wouldn't do it before you sell as it's so likely that the new owners will redo it. I had a neighbour who did their whole house out and sold at a ridiculously high amount for our area. New owners have ripped out the new bathrooms and kitchen. You don't know who's going to buy.

I also passed a new build the other day that had a tip out full of the ripped out new carpet. We are a strange sort of creature.

I would definitely paint it (join the Frenchic fans group on Facebook), de clutter and maybe change the blinds. I think it looks a bit dated and dark at the moment and so regardless of the rest of the house I’d expect the house to be priced to anticipate replacing it. Also you will be absolutely amazed how fantastic it will look if you paint it something like cream or sage green.

The main problem is dealing with the tradesmen. There is is reasonable chance that will be a fucking nightmare and will make your life a misery for several weeks or months. In your position I definitely would not do it, and would sell it as a blank canvass for the buyer.

(If I was buying there is no way I would buy it though for the reason stated )

I’d prefer to buy at a reasonable price and put my own preferred kitchen in than buy and not want to change a new but not particularly nice one

No don't bother. A cheap new kitchen is worse than a worn outdated one.

I think it’s fine! Nothing worse than a house with a new kitchen you don’t like! If your house is priced accordingly it won’t make a difference (but I don’t think it’s that bad anyway - it’s not amazing but it’s not hideous by any stretch, just a bit dated - I could certainly live with it for a few years!)

The actual units look passable, I'd change the blind/valance thing as it is dating

It's a hell of a lot better than ours was! We were v honest about how shit the kitchen was, but the house sold insanely quickly anyway. At a decent price too. Dh was convinced we needed to 'speculate to accumulate' cos he's a dick. I was right and saved us a shit load of hassle.

Your kitchen is fine to sell as it is, I wouldn't bother putting in a new one; leave it for the new owner to do! Just make sure you price accordingly.

Straighten doors, tighten handles, replace the dresser with a comfortable chair for reading in the window, refresh pain on walls, add beautiful in door plant near the window, declutter surfaces and dress table.

No need to replace, its a waste of resources and money and it may not be the buyers taste.

@irishmist Yes mate, the scallopcalypse is here!

www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/five-years-matilda-goad