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Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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Original poster

How much work should I do?

27 replies

ohsmeg · 12/07/2022 22:12

I have very sadly just inherited my dm's house in Berkshire. 3 bed end terrace that hasn't had anything done to it since the 80s. It was lived in by a smoker with a dog who wouldn't let anyone help clean it and tbh it looks and smells bad.

It needs all new flooring, decor, kitchen and bathrooms, possibly more. This is a lot of work and I've no idea how I'd pay for any of it. What I really want to know is if it's really worth trying to do it up, or if I should try to sell as is. Or maybe do some and leave others? How much could this end up costing? Any advice gratefully received.

OP posts:

Isseywith3witchycats · 12/07/2022 22:21

the kitchen and bathroom arent worth doing as buyers want a kitchen and bathroom to their taste i would maybe hire a carpet shampooer (rug doctor ) for a weekend shampoo all the carpets maybe paint all the walls a neutral colour and paint skirtings and door architraves white gloss , clean the kitchen cupboards and bathroom, give the windows and frames a good clean, wash down the doors and take it that yes you will get less for the house but freshened up will hopefully attract buyers

Isseywith3witchycats · 12/07/2022 22:22

this by the way is from someone who bought a house like you DMs think 80s florid carpets mould in corners a 1980s kitchen and bathroom

Babamamananarama · 12/07/2022 22:24

I'm sorry for your loss.
Having watched someone attempt to slowly do their parent's house up on a budget, I'd say save yourself the pain and expense. Unless you have good trades connections and can do it quickly and in a detached manner the cost (financial and headache/heartache) won't be worth the extra you'll make on it at sale.
Lots of people will be interested in it as a project house, starting from scratch. Clean and empty it and market as is I think.

LoudingVoice · 12/07/2022 22:26

Sorry for your loss OP.

I honestly wouldn’t spend time and money doing it up, it’s not worth it.

Get it cleared and as clean as you can, if the carpets need to go get them removed and sell it as a doer-upper at the appropriate price to take that into account.

Plenty of people are looking for houses that need work, it’s not worth taking it on yourself.

MeatballMeatball · 13/07/2022 07:16

As above. Get an estate agent round. You might want to get it cleared first. Sorry, it’s a horrible time and the stress of trying to do it up wouldn’t be nice.

BlueMongoose · 13/07/2022 17:01

Find a good local house agent and ask them to visit and suggest what will pay you back for doing and what won't. Try more than one agent if necessary. We did this and it definitely paid to ask- left to ourselves we'd have done work we'd not have got a payback on, and not done cheaper things which increased the price we got more than what we spent. When we'd done the work we got the same agent to sell it for us- they didn't charge for the advice, though we offered to pay at the time. Only a good agent knows what's worth doing where. No point spending time and money if there's a ceiling on what houses on that stret will go for, for example. And agents know what people in different parts of the market regard as fashionable/desirable.

Shakeitshakeitbaby · 13/07/2022 17:02

Air it and give it a clean. That's all I would do, speaking as someone who bought a house in similar condition.

badgermushrooms · 13/07/2022 17:22

Definitely do what others have suggested re consulting local estate agents. But also consider that if the building has been neglected for decades there's a good chance there are more issues that will only become apparent once you've started work. If you don't have experience and or friends in trades who will help you out, it could get really expensive and also stressful, on top of the emotional aspect of it being your mum's house.

EluneBePraised · 13/07/2022 20:59

Sorry for your loss OP.

Two years ago I sold my DFs home. It wasn't great inside - blue bathroom suite, artex everywhere, wood panelling, no central heating. We had 26 offers at closing date and was sold to a developer who flipped it. DH has just sold his childhood home, again to a developer. House was very neglected but two offers were made before it even made it to the open market.

If properties are selling quickly in your area then I wouldn't even bother doing much to it.

whenindoubtgotothelibrary · 13/07/2022 21:18

I agree - do the absolute bare minimum and get it on the market as soon as possible. Someone will want it. I've been one of those buyers myself!

stratforduponavon · 13/07/2022 21:21

Having sold DF’s house which he had left to rack and ruin. It seems the majority of older people who then pass on leave their houses in a terrible state.

Why do they do this? It took years for DF to trash his house yet it didn’t seem to bother him.

Mellowyellow222 · 13/07/2022 21:47

unless You have experience flipping houses I would just clean and air it.

I have seen people spend a fortune doing up houses for sale - and getting it really wrong. A relative did this with a house he inherited. Put in a really cheap kitchen that I am sure was ripped out by whoever bough the house.

chipsandpeas · 13/07/2022 21:52

i lost my mum at the beginning of the year and now just clearing out the house to sell it soon and an estate agent recommeneded not doing a thing to the house, cleaning it up and selling as it is, will take a price hit but its better than me spending the money to do it up and it may not to be everyones taste and may not get the return back

reno22 · 13/07/2022 21:56

Sorry for your loss . I'd air it/get the carpets cleaned then put on the market as is. I say this as someone who's just exchanged on a 1930s semi that was owned for 55 years by a woman who's now gone into a home.
We are changing everything so it would have been a waste of time and effort if they'd done anything. Plus gives you wiggle room if they want money off.

Original poster

ohsmeg · 14/07/2022 00:38

Thank you so much for all your kind words and useful advice. I have a local agent who's supposed to be quite good coming to look tomorrow. I have asked for a realistic valuation and honest advice. On the phone he said in that area a garden shed will sell in no time and he's probably seen worse anyway.

I'm inclined to follow your advice and sell it as is after airing and cleaning. I can't imagine how I can rip up my dm's insane pschadelic carpets and beatles and Mr Men wallpaper! Far better to sell up and pretend they want to keep it. Everything is so hard as it is.

OP posts:

WhatsInAMolatovMocktail · 14/07/2022 10:53

Hi OP, I just wanted to send you a big hug, and agree with the pps. Make it clean, air it out, sell it on. I’m doing the same with my dm’s place. It is really hard to say good bye to a house that has so many memories, but I’m content that someone will come along and make it fit for a whole new family, a whole new host of memories. I couldn’t bear to flip the house myself though, it would break my heart.

Silverfinch · 14/07/2022 11:30

I'm sorry for your loss.

I agree with everybody else...it's a seller's market, it will sell. All I would do is clear it, air it and clean it.

BlueMongoose · 14/07/2022 14:35

Mellowyellow222 · 13/07/2022 21:47

unless You have experience flipping houses I would just clean and air it.

We were advised by our HA to remove our expensive wood kitchen we'd thought would be a selling point and put in a cheap white gloss one, because wood was 'old fashioned'. So we did, packed up the good one for reuse in our new house, and put in a gloss white one. Did a few other bits like carpets and painting, but that was it. The HA then upvalued the house significantly, we suggested a little more, and the house got 3 asking price offers from the first three viewings. We got back far more than we'd spent on it. And had a lovely top of the range wood kitchen for free for the new house..... As I said before, if you get a HA who kows the local market, they can be worth listening to. We'd thought about replacing the bathroom, but they said, no point, you'd not get your money back on that, so we didn't.

DoingJustFine · 14/07/2022 14:43

Is it in Wokingham? If so, I'll buy it! We're looking to move and we'd love a fixer-upper!

CoastalWave · 14/07/2022 14:45

Just flog it. We bought that house - we've spent £45k so far and still not at the point of carpets or decoration!! Let the buyers sort it out.

Talipesmum · 14/07/2022 14:52

my dm's insane pschadelic carpets and beatles and Mr Men wallpaper!

No advice on the house but just want to say your mum sounded amazing. A random stranger on the internet is now grinning like a kid at the bonkers glorious picture this presents. But I really am very sorry for your loss and wish you all the best with the house. Ours was the house of an old lady who had died, and while it was in quite a state, it was obvious to us that there had been a very happy family raised and loved in the house, and this is one reason I fell for it xx

caringcarer · 14/07/2022 15:12

I tend to disagree with majority but I have renovated many houses on a tight budget. I would make sure you air it and get rid of smell of smoke or dog as that is very off-putting for a buyer. You will have to clear everything out regardless. That is the worse bit in my opinion. I start by ripping out kitchen, tiling kitchen floor, getting good quality pre used kitchen off eBay. Have it fitted with new worktops and possibly cabinet door handles. Get tiling between base and wall cabinets done to match floor. Get rid of old doors and replace with modern ones and handles, rip out old carpets that will smell of smoking and dog and have a laminate put down stairs. Get rid of old wall paper, however many layers there are, and get the walls skimmed, then paint in light colour. Replace bathroom with new suite. You can get white budget one at B&Q. New bathroom floor tiles. I have managed to do this including workmen for £10k and the price for house went up £17k and received 2 offers at full Asking price and one offer above asking price by £1k. I got work completed in just over 10 weeks. I did ripping out kitchen, carpets and stripping wall paper myself. It depends if you can get money to invest to upgrade it. Sort out any garden/yard as totally overgrown with knock price down.

Sprig1 · 14/07/2022 15:21

People still live a doer upper and will pay over the odds for it. In your position I would book a professional clean, I including carpet shampoo and get it on the market.

Original poster

ohsmeg · 14/07/2022 19:47

Thank you all, it's so good to have so many helpful responses.

The estate agent was lovely and he says it will sell in a matter of days as it is for 300k and he wouldn't bother doing anything other than empty it. He said far better to sell it as a place to do up and make your own.

OP posts:

Original poster

ohsmeg · 14/07/2022 19:48

DoingJustFine · 14/07/2022 14:43

Is it in Wokingham? If so, I'll buy it! We're looking to move and we'd love a fixer-upper!

Very close, it's Finchampstead. It will be months before we're that dar along though!

OP posts:

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