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Original poster

Selling house - kitchen dilemma

26 replies

Twopotterygoldfish · 03/02/2022 11:43

We will be selling house in summer so getting it ready now with contractors coming out to quote for various maintenance jobs. Background story house set in just under an acre of garden (mainly grass) in a Edinburgh suburb also we have let the maintenance go as husband does not like tradesmen in the house Hmm. Question is would a kitchen put you off a property? Would it affect offer price and is it better we get kitchen replaced before selling? Husband thinks garden size will sell it alone.

OP posts:
thinking123 · 03/02/2022 11:44

Honestly tidy the kitchen up and make it look nice but I wouldn't replace it. Often people want their own kitchen. It will of course effect the price you get but probably by only a similar amount to replacing the kitchen

tattychicken · 03/02/2022 11:46

I agree. As long as the current kitchen is clean and functional I'd leave it in.

prettybird · 03/02/2022 11:47

Personally, I prefer a kitchen not to have been done, so that I can put in one to my taste and requirements. Otherwise, I feel I am paying for someone else's investment - which I would possibly be ripping out Hmm

Freshen it up though with paint, new blinds, whatever and (very important) clean and declutter it ruthlessly so that viewers can get a proper impression of the space available.

nannybeach · 03/02/2022 11:47

I agree,neat and tidy. We looked at property with new kitchens that I actually hated,but it would have been criminal and wasteful to replace. Worktop maybe?

RandomQuest · 03/02/2022 11:49

If the current kitchen is clean and functional then I’d leave it and as long as it’s fairly priced then you shouldn’t have an issue. As long as a kitchen was usable for when we first move in I’d personally much rather do it myself than inherit someone else’s taste. Nothing worse than a cheapo job to sell either. Your DH is right that a great garden is a huge selling point because unlike a kitchen you can’t buy it at Howdens!!

Dammitthisisshit · 03/02/2022 11:50

Depends how bad the kitchen is. We’re looking at putting a new cheapish but presentable one in as our kitchen is so bad it will put people off. It’s likely anyone would want to do a lot to the house but I think it’s important to present to be liveable. But I’d normally never suggest this! If your kitchen is liveable I’d leave as is. An acre in Edinburgh will sell really well regardless!

zafferana · 03/02/2022 11:53

What's wrong with the kitchen OP?

tintodeverano2 · 03/02/2022 11:58

Personally, I'd prefer it to not be done, so I could do it myself.
Doing other maintenance jobs is a good idea though as if the house looks "looked after" and clean then people are more likely to think they won't need to do much else.

Original poster
Twopotterygoldfish · 03/02/2022 12:06

Thanks for all the advice.

Kitchen has a non standard (dead) built in oven that we use as storage now, (mainly cereal 😂). Also has a modern range cooker that we use. I thought that taking oven out and moving a unit to close space would be needed - husband pointed out that would affect flooring and granite work top. His idea is to clean oven out and sell kitchen with non working oven.

OP posts:
Original poster
Twopotterygoldfish · 03/02/2022 12:12

Obviously stating when selling the built in oven does not work.

OP posts:
tattychicken · 03/02/2022 12:22

Can you just buy a cheap or secondhand working oven and install that? Shouldn't be more than a few hundred quid.

RampantIvy · 03/02/2022 12:29

You won't recoup the money on buying a new kitchen, and people usually want something to their taste, so I would just smarten it up to sell.

What is your husband's objection to having work done in the house by someone else?

Original poster
Twopotterygoldfish · 03/02/2022 12:31

Would agree, an easy and cheap option but the oven is american non uk standard.

OP posts:
DisappointingAvocado · 03/02/2022 12:33

OP I am following the Edinburgh market pretty closely as we are looking to move to a bigger house in next year or two. Stuff is flying if it's a good size and in a good area, the inside doesn't seem to matter too much.

Do you mind me asking where your house is? Grin

zafferana · 03/02/2022 12:33

I would clean and leave as is, being honest about it's broken state. Many people, when buying a house, will want to put in a new kitchen anyway and if there's a working range, that's fine. People are fussy about cookers too and tend to have a preferred type, so if you buy a new one it might just be thrown away.

Original poster
Twopotterygoldfish · 03/02/2022 12:36

Anger/stress. He was shouting at me earlier about this situation, hence reason I needed to get other opinions -

OP posts:
Original poster
Twopotterygoldfish · 03/02/2022 12:39

Thanks Zafferana, probably easier just leaving it in 😀

OP posts:
PissedOffNeighbour22 · 03/02/2022 12:43

I think buyers wanting to move into a newly refurbished kitchen are in the minority. The lift in house price wouldn't be worth it for buyers as they would probably either want another new kitchen putting in to their taste or they'd be put off buying as they'd be stuck with your new one which they may not like.

Also, it's very likely you'll be asked to leave your range cooker as part of the deal. Every single viewing I had asked for mine. I did end up leaving it as my new house had one (which turned out to be so disgusting it couldn't be used).
Just tidy up your kitchen and as long as it's not dirty or has heavy damage it will be fine. Could always give the ceiling and walls a lick of paint to brighten it up.

Sprig1 · 03/02/2022 12:47

Just make sure everything is clean and tidy. With that size plot it seems likely that someone could view this as a development plot, is that likely? If so then the house as it currently stands may well be largely irrelevant.

TeacupDrama · 03/02/2022 12:58

don't just clean and tidy an estate agent told me peopl take out 40-50k kitchns by smallbone etc if it functions etc just leave it. I viewed a house with high gloss new ezxensive grey kitchen but not to my taste but it would feel wrong to take it out so if we had of bought it would have got door drawer fronts changed personally I would prefer a 1980's pine kitchen to cheap new white grey gloss kitchen
garden will sell it so long as tidy no one wants to think it is too big to maintain so get lawns cut at least and paths weeded

Original poster
Twopotterygoldfish · 03/02/2022 13:06

Thank you for all the replies. Will leave as is, do a deep clean, fresh paint job. Wink

OP posts:
Wingedharpy · 03/02/2022 14:24

Could you make the dead oven space into another storage space with a bit of creative joinery?

caringcarer · 03/02/2022 21:33

Better to leave not so good kitchen and price a little less. Most people want to choose their own kitchens anyway. When we moved into our house they had just had a new kitchen. It made house more expensive. Everything about house was perfect for us, the space, enormous garden. I was not so keen as I knew there was no way I could justify getting rid of a kitchen only 6 months old and it would be years before I got to choose my own. I was right. 13 years before I got kitchen of my choosing.

Starseeking · 03/02/2022 22:44

Just make the kitchen look presentable, clean and tidy (clear worktops) for pictures and viewings and leave as is. I wouldn't even bother painting.

The house I'm currently buying has an 80's wooden kitchen which is completely not to my taste. However the kitchen is functional, plus I don't currently have an extra £20k to refurbish it. In 3-5 years I'm planning on a kitchen diner and double storey extension, so will install a new HMKC kitchen then.

Most buyers want to put their own stamp on a property, even if it's not immediately.

Writingonthewalls · 27/08/2023 08:53

Did you sell OP?