What do you need to do to a house to sell it?

[FinishedAtFifty]

I always thought I’d sell my house really easily because it’s one of the cheapest options in a desirable village with a great school. However now I’ve got my kids through school the market seems very different to what I imagined.

I don’t really want to do anything to my house as I get ripped off being on my own. It took two attempts to get both the boiler and bathroom changed. Three different decorators. After this experience I stopped trying to get things done and just lived with it.

What do I realistically have to do it? It needs new external brickwork, new kitchen, new internal doors, decorating etc.

People don’t seem to want to live with other peoples choices so I feel like even if I decorated , changed the kitchen a buyer would rip it out etc.

Does it need new internal doors or do you just need to paint them? Houses need be uncluttered and clean. They can sell without that but often for less money.

If you are brave enough to post a link, or photos, people will give you honest feedback…

Get a quote (or more than one) to see what the house is worth as it stands. Ask what it would be worth if it was done up. Then decide based on the difference.

I think easy/cheap ways to make a difference are things like a fresh coat of paint in a neutral colour on walls that are looking a little shabby. Also getting rid of clutter, even if it means shoving it in a cupboard for photos/viewings. Chuck a new throw on a shabby sofa etc, even if it’s your furniture which they’re not purchasing, it adds to the effect. Fresh flowers out/little pots on display or something suggests the house is looked after/that you care about it etc.

I think easy/cheap ways to make a difference are things like a fresh coat of paint in a neutral colour on walls that are looking a little shabby. Also getting rid of clutter, even if it means shoving it in a cupboard for photos/viewings. Chuck a new throw on a shabby sofa etc, even if it’s your furniture which they’re not purchasing, it adds to the effect. Fresh flowers out/little pots on display or something suggests the house is looked after/that you care about it etc.

All you need to do is price it right. For the right price any house will sell.

Not any house maybe, but chances of a sale increase the more sensible the price.

I agree that all that really matters is price, unless there is something really wrong with it.

No house remains unsold for cosmetic reasons, so long as the price is sensible.

Yes, any house.

No matter where the house is or what state it’s in, if it’s the right price someone will buy it.

Not convinced, there are much better investments and property is now a major tax (and possible seizure by councils in the near future if empty too long) target. People don"t buy any old wreck and sit on it now because the price isn"t going to go up anymore.

Are you saying if you saw a house advertised for £1000 you wouldn’t buy it?

Extreme example perhaps, but my point being that no matter what the house, if the price reaches a low enough level then someone will consider it worth buying.

A house advertised at that price would be in a massive crime zone,or close to chemical leakage or something it wouldn"t be liveable or rentable so not worth buying IMO.

But someone would still consider it worth buying if they could get it for the right price. Whether that be to renovate it, rent it out, demolish and use the land for something else etc etc.

Like I said if it’s the right price, any house will
sell.

There are no houses that are worth £0. How much above £0 it is worth depends on the demand for it.

Don't spend money or time on doing it up.
Sell it priced based on the buyer doing improvements. Tell estate agent to sell it based on that.
Keep it very tidy and clean and decluttered during showings. Fresh flowers and nice smelling candles.

I just don"t buy that there are an endless number of people looking for property projects, most people want something ready to move in to near where they work and not in a totally shit area.

For the right price someone will buy anything. That’s my point. If a house was priced at £1000, then there probably would be a queue of thousands of people wanting to buy it.

Unless you have a real world example we will never know if that is true? People tend to think - Too cheap, must be something wrong with it.

How do I know it’s true that if you advertised a house for £1000 you would get loads of interest? Is that a serious question?

I've seen flats in my town advertised for £5,000. They still took a bit of time to shift.

Were thousands of people lining up to buy them?

Needs two doors at least due to holes. The house is clean and uncluttered. Thankyou for your advice.

Nope!

Due to personal circumstances I can’t do that. Thankyou.

Yes I think I need to do this. Thankyou.

Thankyou.