putting home on the market

Mabon1
Unfortunately most people can’t see past the oak kitchen and the dated bathroom.
It’s not always about the money, people don’t want the upheaval.

I don’t agree
Most (young) couples will want a new kitchen and/or bathroom and as long as that is reflected in the price why waste your money.
Sounds like the wrong EA - I’d change.

I'd be tempted to change estate agents, you employ them (and pay for the privilege) to sell your home. You at least want one that will market it appropriately.

Get another estate agent. A lot of people want to renovate a house to their own taste.. you are not being unreasonable

I would ask another agent to look at it, as this one doesn't seem to respect you or your home. Ask whether the house should be marketed as 'in need of modernisation', and how much you should knock off for that. If it is in a good street in a popular area you will probably find that people are willing to live with something a bit out of date for a while to get a house they can afford, and do it up at their leisure. We did that with the house before this one - unfortunately the massive rise in interest rates (late 80s) meant that the modernisation was slower than we'd planned, but we were young and glad to have a house in the location we wanted. If it had had a new bathroom and kitchen we wouldn't have been able to afford it.

Honestly, I think that if you are realistic about the price, you will sell it and new buyers often like the idea of changing things to their own taste anyway.

I agree with the other posters. Why go to the expense of ripping out a solid kitchen and replace it with a budget one? New buyers may well decide to rip out your replacement as well as not being to their taste. There are always buyers looking for a "doer upper" but they will expect it to be reflected in the price.

I have quite a low opinion of estate agents who tend to get above themselves. I can remember back when I was renting and one of them came to do an "inspection" and was snippy with me. She said that the kitchen was cluttered and was about to take photos (without my permission) whereupon I shooed her out of the house. Some of them have no idea how to talk to clients and really do need to be put in their place.

I would find another EA.

I think your estate agent's advice is rubbish. Many buyers have their own ideas about what they want in the kitchen and bathroom department. In any case a solid oak kitchen could be updated in many ways, painted for example, without ripping it all out, but that would be for prospective buyers to decide.

Do what others here have suggested get other estate agents round, you need several opinions, you are not being unreasonable, don't let this one woman upset you. Very good luck with your sale and future purchase.

Also. I am currently looking at kitchens, as I plan to do mine fairly soon, and according to the magazine gurus natural wood is coming back into fashion. Keep that in mind, too.

mabon1

Recently I put my home on the market. The estate agent called to see it and told me in no uncertain terms that I would need to "rip the bathroom and kitchen (solid oak) out and replace them" to sell my home. I am elderly 80 years of age and do not have a fortune to spend on my home. It is in an excellent state of repair and a C rated for insulation. I told her not to be so rude "This house is my home, it is warm and comfortable and this is how I like it. Any buyer can do those jobs themselves" Am I being unreasonable?

Ignore him or her.

Whatever kitchen you put in, no doubt new owners would change it again.

Why go to the expense of ripping out a solid kitchen and replace it with a budget one? New buyers may well decide to rip out your replacement as well as not being to their taste

Yes. If there are separate kitchen and dining rooms, no doubt the new owners will want to knock through too.

Bathroom? If it's coloured, the seem to be coming back into fashion again!

Use another estate agent, one who can get the best possible price for you.

Doodledog

Also. I am currently looking at kitchens, as I plan to do mine fairly soon, and according to the magazine gurus natural wood is coming back into fashion. Keep that in mind, too.

Oh good!! 😁

You do need a new real estate agent as you cannot work well together

However, this is a house you want to sell and your decor wont be liked by everybody

As long as the house is properly lowerly priced to match cost of the renovations - your home appeals to a sector of buyers

Others want a ready to move home and wont even consider your house unless there is a huge pro that compensates the con

I don't think the real estate agent was ride - this is business and real estate agent probably knows more about the market than you do

Best of luck!

My friend was given the opposite advice by her estate agent. She was told to leave things as they were and this included a green bath etc. dating back to when we all had coloured bathroom suites. She did just that and the house was sold within the week.

It seems to be in fashion to strip and paint wooden kitchen units so I definitely don’t think your oak kitchen would put people off.
I remember saying to the estate agent selling our house this is what we are selling.The only feedback I wanted was whether the house was sold.She was phoning me telling me daft things like the rooms were too big/small.
If you are not comfortable with her and feel she won’t market your house appropriately I would use another agent.

I don't agree, if someone had put a new shiny white kitchen in I would take it out and change it. The same with a bathroom, some like a wet room, or walk-in shower and some a bath.

I would change estate agents.

Callistemon21

Doodledog

Also. I am currently looking at kitchens, as I plan to do mine fairly soon, and according to the magazine gurus natural wood is coming back into fashion. Keep that in mind, too.

Oh good!! 😁

Yes, Don't tell Mr Dog, or he'll moan about getting mine revamped 🤫

Hi Maboni
No, you are certainly not being unreasonable, it's your home and yours to sell however you see fit and practical.
Don't listen to or be bullied by this estate agent, it sounds like she hasn't had appropriate training for her job.
She needs to respect her clients or she will lose them.
I would call one or two others and then decide who you want to give the sale of your house to.
Good luck with the sale, I'm sure you'll find a buyer whe loves your home just as it is.

Relatives of mine had a modern white bathroom installed prior to selling their house. The new owners immediately replaced it with a bathroom suite of their own choice. So leave things as they are. You don't need the hassle.

Whoever buys your home will want to put their own stamp on it and there's no saying that even if you were to install a new kitchen and bathroom that it would be to their taste. And if the carcass and layout of the kitchen is good, they'd probably just repaint it anyway. Get yourself a new estate agent, there's no future in trying to do a business transaction with someone you're so at odds with.

Is it a seller's market or buyer's market? It makes a huge difference

Every house we have had (13!) We have redone the bathrooms and kitchen to our own taste within a year of buying the house regardless of the condition of them. To be honest we have redone the whole of the houses too, again regardless of condition. Some I have thought we wouldn't need to do anything to them, but no, after living in them I find that someone else's choice is never mine. So, no, don't redo either room, chances are the new owners will change everything once they have moved in.

Leave things as they are. Viewers will have varying tastes and ideas. You won’t please them all. Good luck !
P.S. Change EA

Agreed. The new owners will rip out the kitchen and bathroom and enjoy doing it. Their mark will make it their home.

My DMiL house is currently on the market. It has a "dated" kitchen and bathroom but is in clean condition with everything working well. It's a good deal better value than the brand new houses down the road. Bigger rooms, larger mature garden but best of all, great position with fabulous views and much cheaper.

I think it’s all very well an EA advising about the state of the market, and perhaps highlighting some issues in a property that may hinder or help the sale. Observations made to the EA, to be passed onto the vendor after viewings could reflect those
comments re. the kitchen etc,
However, to be told, in ‘no uncertain terms’, is just plain rude and unnecessary. I’m wondering if the OP has invited 2 or 3 EAs to view and value the property, which is what I would’ve done, before making a decision on which EA to instruct.
It’s certainly true that a lot of people just can’t see beyond the decor which is why viewing show houses is so popular.
As others have said there shouldn’t be a problem, if the house is priced to reflect any necessary work.
However, it really sounds as if the OP should instruct a different agent - remember they work for you, not for the purchaser. You are the dog, not the tail!
Fingers crossed for a sold sign soon.

Yu should treat estate agents like any other professional person you employ (painter, decorator, plumber) Ask 3 estate agents to come and visit you, and your property put a value on it and discuss how they would market it.

Choose the one you fell most confortable with and treats you with the most courtesy. Forget the Useless Eustace you have seen so far and ask three others in.

Look at Rightmove you will see every possible kind of property from the done up to the nines to the frankly pretty grotty. Price will reflect consition, but being one of a family of house renovators, a house like yours would interest us as it is, far more than if it came with a new kitchen & bathroom.