Is this layout dated (pic attached)

[Pinkyandthebrainbrainbrain]

Hi all,

thinking of putting our house on the market. Would this layout put you off? We can’t afford to renovate to sell by knocking through etc, but we’re going to spruce up with decorating etc, but wondering if anyone would be put off and think the layout was dated so it wouldn’t matter anyway?

Not at all, I wouldn’t bother doing a whole lot of decorating either tbh, make sure it’s clean tidy, courted free and priced correctly and it’ll sell.

It wouldn’t put me off but the first thing I’d do is knock through so I wouldn’t pay a premium for any decorating done to the kitchen, dining or sitting rooms.

looks like it’s got lots of potential for knocking through. What does your estate agent say about decorating?

I don’t think it’s dated but with so many people WFH still you could label the rear sitting room a study and photograph with a desk in there.

I prefer separate rooms though for several reasons so if was completely knocked through I wouldn’t view it!

It’s fine as it is, some people will like it.

I don’t like the open plan thing and last time I looked for a house didn’t visit any that didn’t have a separate kitchen.

It is dated but if it’s priced accordingly it will be fine. I would be looking to knock through to the dining room and sitting room to create a big kitchen / dining sitting room with utility and keeping the front room separate. I would also be factoring trying to get a downstairs loo in. But no, if the price was right I would be interested but I wouldn’t want to pay extra for new decoration as I would be doing building work asap and o think most people would be

I might shift the dining room/living room around to make the space seem more generous by combining the living room sitting room spaces.

It's not 'dated'. If anything it's appealing to more buyers. Those looking to create the knocked through space and those that prefer separate rooms.

Don't bother decorating, just declutter and clean, and do any little maintenance jobs that are noticeable.

I think a lot of people are regretting open plan given how energy bills have soared and prefer rooms they can heat separately. Also rooms where can wfh that can be closed off. People with open plan double height spaces couldn’t afford to heat them last winter. So I think separate rooms will be making a comeback.

I think it’s excellent, just what we were looking for last time and didn’t quite manage to find ( hall between kitchen and dining room.)

I agree.
It's got so many options your buying market is wide.

I avoid completely open plan houses. If I want to knock down any walls then I would want to do it how I want, not what worked for the previous owner. Your layout would make me more inclined to view!

I don't necessarily think that it is "dates" but I do think that lots of people would knock through the rooms at the back. I really wouldn't spend much money redecorating as I think that the buyers will change the layout.

Thanks everyone, interesting responses. When we moved in we have wanted to knock through but couldn’t afford it in the end so replaced the kitchen as it was and had an understairs toilet put in.

im a little worried that no matter how nice it might look, people might recoil at the layout / absolutely not be interested if they haven’t got the funds to knock through.

I suppose what I’m asking is, do you think people would see it as a total renovation project if they wanted walls knocking down etc

This ^

I think that kind of layout doesn't work for the vast majority of families any more (assuming you're trying to appeal to families) who at least want some kind of kitchen diner, even if not wholly open plan.

Unfortunately, I think the hype around the cost of building works now would put off people who might have previously been prepared to do the work themselves. Its just not cost effective for lots of people now, unless as above, the price of the house accommodates that kind of spend.

No, it's only a total renovation project if it's in a total state. But if it's ready to live in, even if changes have to happen, that's fine. It's almost always true that people make changes to the house when they move in anyway, and you can't predict what they'd do. Some people on this thread would create one big kitchen/dining/sitting area. Others might want to carve out some space for a utility or bathroom. Others might push the kitchen back too .... so whatever you do to "modernise" the layout, may well still not be right.

Ensure it's tidy and in good condition and, assuming it's priced right, you'll be fine. There might be people who will say no becuase of the layout, but there'll be as many people who say no for the same reason if you change the layout.

I wouldn't consider that dated? Not everyone wants all open plan. We're buying a house at the moment with similar layout and we're not planning to change it. We like rooms! I wouldn't bother decorating either, just make sure the house is clean, tidy and clutter free.

You say you had a toilet put in under the stairs, but I can't see that from the floorplan? That's the first thing I look at and it puts me off straight away if I can't see one downstairs!

I prefer a separate kitchen. This layout would be ideal for me.

@Dobbycraft yes we’ve had it done (it’s the cupboard under the stairs on the layout), this is the old floor plan - but it’s still the same, except the pantry thing under the stairs is now a loo

Same

Even if it was just knocking through to the dining room, but it would mean I wouldn't want to pay 'full price' if others nearby already had an open plan kitchen already.

(But I'd take a cheaper renovation any day to get the perfect kitchen I wanted 😉)

Also agree with PP re downstairs toilet, if it's there make sure it's reflective on plans, especially if there's just one famil bathroom

I’d be more interested in your house as it is OP. I don’t like open plan living myself and prefer designated rooms. Your place has lots of potential for many buyers.

I wouldn’t want open plan, yours looks perfect.